GREAT BAY--Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling will represent St. Maarten as justice ministers from across the Kingdom of the Netherlands gather in Curaçao from September 1 to 3 for the semiannual Judicial Four-Party Consultation, JVO.
The meeting brings together the justice ministers of St. Maarten, Curaçao, Aruba and the Netherlands to discuss shared justice and security priorities, review progress on earlier agreements and determine where deeper cooperation is required. Curaçao Justice Minister Shalten Hato will chair the meeting as host.
The three-day program begins Tuesday, September 1, with senior justice officials preparing the issues for ministerial consideration. A strategic session follows on Wednesday, September 2, with the ministerial meeting scheduled for Thursday, September 3. Curaçao has said the objective is to move shared priorities toward clearer agreements and practical results.
The meeting follows the previous JVO hosted by St. Maarten in January, where Tackling introduced a revised three-day format that included a dedicated strategic session. The ministers subsequently agreed to maintain that approach for the Curaçao meeting.
Several significant justice matters discussed in St. Maarten earlier this year are expected to remain relevant as the ministers assess progress. These include shortages of personnel and capacity throughout the justice chain, detention and prison capacity, forensic care, youth crime, information sharing and cooperation against organized and undermining crime.
The January meeting also resulted in agreements and initiatives covering regional investigative cooperation, detention reform, data protection and coordination among law enforcement agencies.
Among the outcomes highlighted by Tackling following the St. Maarten meeting were approval of the Judicial Policy Plan for the Caribbean Coast Guard for 2026-2029, renewal of the Taskforce on Detention, adoption of the 2026 Joint Investigation Cooperation Plan and the RST Budget Framework for 2027-2030, as well as further work on forensic care and regional cooperation against organized crime.
One of the broader concerns confronting the four countries is the capacity of the entire justice chain. Previous discussions have focused on ensuring that increased investigative capacity is matched by sufficient personnel and resources within police forces, prosecution services, courts, prisons and related institutions.
The countries previously agreed to develop a clearer picture of staffing and capacity shortages across their respective justice systems, making the Curaçao meeting an opportunity to assess what progress has been made since January.
Detention is particularly relevant for St. Maarten, where reform of the prison system remains underway. During the January JVO, Kingdom representatives visited the Point Blanche Prison and received an update on construction of the new prison facility. The ministers also participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the project.
Cross-border crime will also remain part of the wider justice cooperation discussion. Previous agreements have addressed organized crime, drug trafficking, illegal firearms and the need for greater information sharing among police, customs, Coast Guard and investigative services throughout the Kingdom.
The JVO is held twice annually and serves as the principal forum through which the four countries coordinate on justice matters that extend beyond their individual jurisdictions. The Dutch government has described the consultation as central to achieving a joint and effective approach to justice issues within the Kingdom.
