No fewer than seven new judges were installed at the Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba last month. Two of them are “from local soil,” Eunice Saleh, President of the Court, proudly stated in her speech during the installation.
Saleh emphasized the importance of the Court’s ‘Caribbeanization’ for the countries and the judiciary. In that context, she says, significant steps have been taken in recent years: almost 50 percent of the members come from one of the (egg) countries. Five local judges were appointed between September 2018 and September 2019 alone. “The Court has always expressed in the same breath with Caribbean that assistance from judges from the Netherlands, who bring their own experience and expertise, remains highly desirable,” said Saleh, who said that the Court will continue the policy of Caribbeanization in the coming years.
Also when presenting the annual report of the Common Court it was emphasized that the Court continues to strive to attract more local judges.
CASE LAW
The Common Court of Justice, which celebrated its 150th anniversary on 1 May, has four branches that serve all six (egg) countries. The Court takes care of the case law in first instance and on appeal on the islands and is formed by a president and the other members and deputy members. The members deal with civil, criminal and administrative matters, including tax issues, both at first instance and on appeal.
https://www.mr-online.nl/gemeenschappelijk-hof-van-justitie-caribiseert/