Bonaire – The Honorable Minister of Justice Anna E. Richardson paid a courtesy visit to Fundashon Krusada (Krusada Foundation) during her working visit to Bonaire which began on Monday, June 27, 2022, with the first Justice Tripartite meeting between the Caribbean countries of the Dutch Kingdom; Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten. The Krusada Foundation provides guidance to former substance abusers, former inmates and at-risk youth. The foundation carries out projects for former inmates with a resocialization purpose and a half-way program aiding them in their transition from prison back into society. The Director of the Krusada Foundation, Mr. Junny Josephina has been leading the program for the past 6 years however, the program has been in existence for more than 20 years.
The layout of the foundation’s half-way housing is a neighborhood concept. The setting and environment allow clients the opportunity to work towards healthy socialization and independent living in the near future. The foundation provides a workshop where goods such as furniture are built by inmates of the prison of Bonaire, as well as other clients of the program. There is also a greenhouse where plants and vegetables are grown. The products of these two work programs are sold to the community. This commercial aspect to the work program creates a stable extra source of income for the clients and the foundation.
Director Josephina is quite passionate about this program and the positive support it gives to persons who have served time, and need the skills and support to transition back into society. In support of Minister Richardson’s pursuit to establish and offer inmates of the Point Blanche Prison and the Miss Lalie Youth Correctional Centre the same support, Director Josephina is planning a trip to St. Maarten within short to explore possible locations and assist in the development of programs that will allow for a pilot program to be launched at the soonest.
Minister Richardson stated, “I’d like to thank Mr. Josephina and the Krusada Foundation team for sharing the positive work the foundation carries out and for being open to the possibility of establishing such an entity that would aid in the strengthening of St. Maarten’s Justice and Social sectors. There are grant opportunities for programs such as these, and as Minister of Justice, I intend to explore funding on every possible level to help bring these much-needed programs into operation on St. Maarten.”
Photo Caption: Director Fundashon Krusada Junny Josephina, Minister of Justice Hon. Anna E. Richardson, Senior Policy Advisor Johishi Romney and Senior Legal Policy Advisor Geertje van Haperen.
Minister Richardson visits Fundashon Krusada Bonaire
The High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) is an initiative held by the United Nations (UN), which seeks to reflect on recovery policies that can reverse the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prime Minister Jacobs will be in attendance on behalf of the Kingdom of the Netherlands from Wednesday, July13, to Friday, July 15.
Also in attendance are the Minister for Trade and Development Cooperation, Liesje Schreinemacher and, the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Dennis Wiersma of the Netherlands. The Prime Minister of Aruba, Evelyn Wever-Croes will also be present.
During the speaking moments at the Ministerial Discussion Panel and Flagship event on July 14, Prime Minister Jacobs will be raising awareness and pushing the agenda of Small Island Developing States, as they face a diverse range of issues when it comes to sustainable development and climate adaptation.
“My upcoming visit to the United Nations is a move toward building a stronger Sint Maarten and establishing our voice as one that is deserving of being heard. One of my objectives during this visit is to use the platform as a podium for best practices that increase climate resilience of ecosystems, society and economic sectors.” said the Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs, Silveria E. Jacobs.
The theme, ‘Building back better from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,’ is not only essential for country Sint Maarten to hear, but also to be at the forefront of. It will be a great opportunity to mobilize UN member states and other stakeholders to come forward with voluntary commitments in the margins of the UN 2023 Water Conference.
The government has been working diligently to rebuild and strengthen the country of Sint Maarten, as well as solidify its position on a global level. To do so, there is a need to enact policies that will positively affect the people. The Forum creates a foundation for being less reactive and more proactive, especially where the wellbeing of the people of Sint Maarten is concerned. Sustainability plays a key role in the implementation as it will ensure our people’s benefit for generations to come.
Prime Minister Jacobs went on to elaborate, “When we were struck with the plight of COVID-19 the government was faced with new challenges that were previously unheard of. We had to learn, grow, and adapt in the moment. New policies were formed, and unlike with Hurricanes Irma and Maria, there were no definitive answers, as the world dealt with wave after wave; variant after variant.”
“It is during these moments, we can learn from other world leaders, share our concerns, and add our positions to the discussion. When we become part of the initiatives, we can better plan and develop. I urge the people of Sint Maarten to not only read about the forum, but also to continue to work on community projects and initiatives that can be sustainable for our country.”
For more information on the HLPF, please visit the website at https://hlpf.un.org/.
