SINT- MAARTEN: VISE PRESIDENTE SALIENTE WOUTERS TA REFLEHÁ RIBA E PERIODO DI GOBERNASHON: “HUSTISIA MESTER PAPIA E IDIOMA DI E PUEBLO”

Philipsburg,- Gertjan Wouters a kuminsá su periodo komo Vise Presidente di Korte Konhunto di Hustisia na St. Maarten

na ougùstùs 2022. E periodo ei ta yega na su fin na yüni aki. Anteriormente staciona na Dordrecht, el a

ta kòrda un momentu añanan pasá ora el a mira un potrèt di komparashon hasí pa un kolega di e

sala di korte na Dordrecht i esun na Sint Maarten.

El a keda asotá mesora pa nan

similaridatnan físiko—e pilarnan, algun elemento estilístiko—i asta organisatoriamente, tur dos ta

relativamente na eskala chikí. Pero e similaridatnan ta kaba einan: Dordrecht tabatin un tim di 200; Sint Maarten, solamente 25.

E Korte Konhunto a bin ta trahando aktivamente riba loke Wouters ta yama e “Karibenseashon” di su

operashonnan, ku un enfoke fuerte riba rekrutá hende den tur funshon for di e komunidatnan

e korte ta sirbi. “E korte den Karibe mester ta karibense,” e ta bisa. “Nos mester di huesnan

for di Caribe of cu un antecedente Caribense. Esaki ta un mester.”

Sinembargo, e kaminda no ta sin opstákulo. “E reto pa Sint Maarten ta e chikitu di

e komunidat. Liñanan mas kòrtiku por krea konfliktonan di interes real òf persepí den transkurso di tempu,” el a

notanan. Otro hurisdikshonnan denter di e Korte Konhunto a hasi pasonan mas visibel: na Kòrsou, e

banki ta partí uniformemente entre huesnan Karibense i Hulandes; na Aruba, e proporcion ta 60/40. “Sint

Maarten ta mas chikí. Por tin preshon riba imparsialidat i independensia. Mi ta komprondé. ami

mi mes no ta un ermitaño—mi no ta biba bou di un baranka, pues mi konosé hopi hende na Sint Maarten. Pero

Mi ta bai pronto, i mi konekshonnan personal mas profundo aki ta limitá. Esei ta yuda… i na

e mesun tempu e por stroba.”

Ainda, Wouters ta enfatisá ku huesnan mester haña un balansa. “Un hues nunka lo ta bo amigu.

Pero nan mester ta un persona amistoso—un hende ku ta konektá ku hende den sala di korte.

Hende no ta bin korte normalmente pa motibunan felis. Nan mester por lo ménos sali sinti e

hues a scucha y a haci su best pa compronde nan.”

Riba Idioma i Akseso Un barera signifikante pa partisipashon mas amplio di Karibe den poder hudisial, partikularmente na Sint Maarten, ta idioma. “E lei, i pues e korte, ta operá na hulandes,” Wouters ta splika.

“Esei ta e idioma di e desishonnan.” Pero hulandes no ta wòrdu papia hopi na Sint Maarten,

spesialmente pafó di ambientenan formal. “Esaki ta un piedra di trompeká pa hopi hende. Si bo no

papia esaki na kas, riba kaya, òf na bo klup di deporte, e ta difísil.”

Rekonosiendo e deskonekshon aki, Wouters i su koleganan hues a hasi esfuersonan deliberadamente pa

inkorporá ingles den prosedimentunan di korte—derecho sivil, penal i atministrativo. “Nos

purba nos best cu Ingles. Nos ke pa hende sa kiko ta pasando i kiko nan ta konfrontando.”

Algun hues a bai mas leu—dunando resúmennan na ingles di nan desishonnan, ounke e

desishonnan ofisial ta keda na hulandes. Wouters ta un di nan.

Den kasonan sivil, ku yudansa di herment meskos ku DeepL, e tambe ta proveé ​​tradukshonnan no ofisial di akuerdonan di areglo. “Tin biaha

hende no tin un abogado, i asta ora nan tin, nan meresé di komprondé kompletamente kiko

nan ta firmando.”

Su kolega Gerben Drenth ta organisá tournan mensual di e edifisio di korte, ku e meta pa mustra e

konstruí, desmistifiká e sistema hurídiko i enkurashá interes den e profeshon hurídiko. I

banda di esei, e edifisio di korte ta organisá dianan habrí i tour pa studiantenan.

No ta un Unicornio Legal

E idea di un huez local no ta un fantasia. “E ta apsolutamente posibel,” Wouters ta insistí. “Tin un

chiste chikitu ku mi gusta konta: nos tabatin un hues suplente di Sint Maarten… pero el a bai pa bira

Gobernador. E bon notisia? E por sirbi dos periodo komo Gobernador, i e ta yòn ainda—kisas

e lo bin bèk!” Aktualmente, un sekretaria hurídiko ta kabando su estudio di lei i kisas e lo

bira e promé hues lokal di Sint Maarten. Konekshonnan Profeshonal

Kontrali na algun persepshon, Wouters ta kere ku e relashonnan profeshonal entre huesnan,

abogadonan, y fiscalnan ta fuerte. “E konektividat aki ta vital pa e atministrashon di hustisia.

Ta importante pa nos por tin un diálogo habrí i profeshonal ku otro.”

E ta remarca cu mayoria abogado na Sint Maarten ta di Caribe, contrario na mayoria hues y

fiskalnan. “Esaki por wòrdu mira komo un brecha, pero mi ta mira oportunidat.”

Na sèptèmber 2024, el a organisá e promé reunion profeshonal konhunto di huesnan, abogadonan i fiskalnan—ku eks-Gobernador Eugene Holiday dunando e diskurso prinsipal. “E evento ei a habri diskushon.

E abogadonan i fiskalnan a papia sinsero tokante nan preokupashonnan, i nos, e huesnan tambe. E

a yuda konstruí nos relashonnan.” Un entrenamentu konhunto di dos dia i un reunion profeshonal a sigui na februari, y un di tres lo coincidi cu su despedida na april. “Mi ta spera ku e seshonnan aki lo

sigui despues ku mi bai. Kontinuidat semper ta un reto.”

Pa awor, Wouters ta bisa ku e konosé mayoria di e abogadonan i fiskalnan pa nan promé nòmber.

“Nan ta den mi sala di korte, i mi ta mira nan den komunidat. Nos tur mester biba huntu.”

Dispelá Mitonan di TV “No tin hurado?” Wouters ta bisa ku e ta un pregunta komun—hopi bia lanta pa legal merikano

dramanan. “No solamente aki, pero tambe na Hulanda.Hende ta kere cu e ta funciona manera na television.”

Tambe e ta aclaria cu abogadonan ta liber pa papia publicamente y ta critico. “Nan no mester tin miedu

represaya di huesnan. E abogadonan ta hasiendo loke ta mihó pa nan klientenan.”

E ta rekonosé algun duda rònt di asentamentunan. “Tin un sintimentu ku nenga di regla

por kondusí na un mal huisio. Esei no ta e kaso. No ta trata solamente di gana—e ta tokante

hustisia.” Haltu, Baho, i Lèsnan

Wouters pronto lo regresá Rotterdam pa sirbi komo Hefe di e Huesnan Investigadó, liderando un

tim di 50 spesialista—un kontraste fuerte ku su tim aktual di 25 persona, ounke ainda ta wòrdu konsiderá chikitu na Hulanda.

E ta bisa ku un di e puntonan haltu di su tempu na Sint Maarten tabata “traha ku e hendenan.

Mi lo sinti nan falta masha hopi mes—speshalmente esnan den e sala di korte, i hopi di e abogadonan i

fiscalnan tambe. Mi ta kontentu di a invertí den e relashonnan ei.”

Na Hulanda, interakshon regular entre huesnan i polítikonan ta skars. “Pero aki, nos ta

bisiñanan cu Parlamento. Nos por papia abiertamente. No tin influensia—djis diálogo.” E

ta kòrda relashonnan konstruktivo ku tantu ministernan di hustisia aktual komo anterior i promé

ministernan.

Un speransa ku e ta karga ta ku Parlamento i Gobièrnu lo priorisá derechonan di víktima

mas kompletamente: “E nesesidat ei ta eksistí, i e mester wòrdu reflehá den legislashon.”

Tambe Wouters tin bon y caluroso relacionnan cu e Gobernantenan na Statia y Saba. E

a inverti den tin bon contacto cu nan y e hendenan riba e islanan aki. E ta hopi orguyoso

ku e Korte Konhunto a habri na 2023 propio kasnan di korte einan.

E ta sintié privilegiá ku e tambe tabata kapas pa sirbi e pueblo Statian i Saban den su ròl komo hues (hefe)

Asina mes, no ta tur kos tabata fásil. Wouters ta papia abiertamente tokante di a wòrdu heridá ora su gerensia

estilo a wòrdu kritiká. “Mi sa ku mi por ta direkto i firme, i kulturalmente esei no ta wòrdu aseptá semper.”

Esaki a bira un lès mas den konsientisashon kultural i diferensianan sosial p’e. E

eksperensia, ounke duru e tempu ei, awor ta un takeaway simbóliko pa Wouters.

E Hues di Siklismo Su konekshon ku e hendenan ta ekstendé hopi mas leu ku e edifisio di korte. Konosí kariñosamente pa

algun komo “e hues riba baiskel,” Wouters hopi bia ta kòmbersá ku miembronan di komunidat—inkluso un

shofùr di taksi ku e apodo Cobra, kende hopi bia ta stashoná pafó di e edifisio di korte. “E regularmente

a pidi mi pa laga Theo [Heyliger] sali. E sa ku mi no por, pero e ta sinti su mes sufisiente liber pa puntra.

Y, esey ta importante.” “Mi kasá i ami lo sinti hopi falta di Sint Maarten.Nos a pasa un tremendo tempu trahando i bibando

riba e isla amistoso aki. E manera ku nos, na Sint Maarten, ta saludá otro, e sentido di konekshon.

Mi ta topa ku abogadonan, fiskalnan i klientenan, asta den supermerkado, i algun di nan lo bisa,

‘Bo Honor’ òf ‘Bon Dia Hues’. Esei no ta nesesario pafó di e edifisio di korte—pero e

ta mustra rèspèt mutuo i un sintimentu ku nos tur ta parti di e mesun komunidat.

Sint Maarten, bo ta den mi kurason i bou di mi kueru!”

FUENTE: OM SINT-MAARTEN/LIVE99FM

ENGELS:

OUTGOING VICE PRESIDENT WOUTERS REFLECTS ON TENURE: “JUSTICE MUST SPEAK THE LANGUAGE OF THE PEOPLE”

Philipsburg,- Gertjan Wouters began his tenure as Vice President of the Joint Court of Justice on St. Maarten in August 2022. That tenure comes to an end this June.

Previously stationed in Dordrecht, he recalls a moment years ago when he saw a comparison photo made by a colleague of the courthouse in Dordrecht and the one in Sint Maarten. He was immediately struck by their physical similarities—the pillars, some stylistic elements—and even organizationally, both are relatively small-scale. But the similarities end there: Dordrecht had a team of 200; Sint Maarten, only 25. The Joint Court has been actively working on what Wouters calls the “Caribbeanisation” of its operations, with a strong focus on recruiting people across all functions from the communities the court serves. “

The court in the Caribbean must be Caribbean,” he says. “We need judges from the Caribbean or with a Caribbean background. This is a must.” However, the path is not without obstacles. “The challenge for Sint Maarten is the smallness of the community. Shorter lines can create real or perceived conflicts of interest over time,” he notes.

Other jurisdictions within the Joint Court have made more visible strides: in Curaçao, the bench is evenly split between Caribbean and Dutch judges; in Aruba, the ratio is 60/40. “Sint Maarten is smaller. There can be pressure on impartiality and independence. I understand it. I myself am not a hermit—I don’t live under a rock, so I know a lot of people in Sint Maarten. But I’ll be leaving soon, and my deeper personal connections here are limited.

That helps… and at the same time it can hinder.” Still, Wouters emphasizes that judges must strike a balance. “A judge will never be your friend. But they should be a friendly person—someone who connects with people in the courtroom. People don’t usually come to court for happy reasons. They should at least leave feeling the judge listened and did his best to understand them.” On Language and Access A significant barrier to broader Caribbean participation in the judiciary, particularly in Sint Maarten, is language.

“The law, and therefore the court, operates in Dutch,” Wouters explains. “That’s the language of the decisions.” But Dutch is not widely spoken in Sint Maarten, especially outside of formal settings. “This is a stumbling block for many people. If you don’t speak it at home, in the streets, or at your sports club, it’s difficult.” Recognizing this disconnect, Wouters and his fellow judges have made deliberate efforts to incorporate English into courtroom proceedings—civil, criminal and administrative law. “We try our best with English.

We want people to know what’s happening and what they’re facing.” Some judges have gone further—providing English summaries of their rulings, even though the official decisions remain in Dutch. Wouters is one of them. In civil cases, with the help of tools like DeepL, he also provides unofficial translations of settlement agreements. “Sometimes people don’t have a lawyer, and even when they do, they deserve to fully understand what they’re signing.

” His colleague Gerben Drenth hosts monthly tours of the courthouse, aimed at showing the building, demystifying the legal system and encouraging interest in the legal profession. And besides that, the courthouse organizes open days and tours for students. Not a Legal Unicorn The idea of a local judge is not a fantasy. “It’s absolutely possible,” Wouters insists.

“There’s a little joke I like to tell: we had a deputy judge from Sint Maarten… but he left to become Governor. The good news? He can serve two terms as Governor, and he’s still young—maybe he’ll come back!” Currently, a legal secretary is finishing her law study and maybe she’ll become Sint Maarten’s first local judge. Professional Connections Contrary to some perceptions, Wouters believes the professional relationships between judges, lawyers, and prosecutors are strong. “This connectivity is vital for the administration of justice.

It’s important we can have open, professional dialogue with each other.” He notes that most lawyers in Sint Maarten are from the Caribbean, unlike most judges and prosecutors. “This could be seen as a gap, but I see opportunity.” In September 2024, he organized the first-ever joint professional meeting of judges, lawyers, and prosecutors—with former Governor Eugene Holiday delivering the keynote. “That event opened up discussion. The lawyers and prosecutors spoke candidly about their concerns, and so did we, the judges. It helped building our relationships.”

A two-day joint training and professional meeting followed in February, and a third will coincide with his farewell in April. “I hope these sessions will continue after I’m gone. Continuity is always a challenge.” By now, Wouters says he knows most of the lawyers and prosecutors by their first names. “They’re in my courtroom, and I see them in the community. We all have to live together.” Dispelling TV Myths “There’s no jury?” Wouters says it’s a common question—often prompted by American legal dramas.

“Not just here, but also in the Netherlands. People think it works like on television.” He also clarifies that lawyers are free to speak out publicly and be critical. “They shouldn’t fear retaliation from judges. The lawyers are doing what’s best for their clients.” He acknowledges some hesitation around settlements. “There’s a feeling that refusing to settle might lead to a bad judgment. That’s not the case. It’s not just about winning—it’s about justice.” Highs, Lows, and Lessons Wouters will soon return to Rotterdam to serve as Chief of the Investigating Judges, leading a team of 50 specialists—a sharp contrast to his current 25-person team, though still considered small in the Netherlands. He says one of the high points of his time in Sint Maarten has been “working with the people. I’ll miss them dearly—especially those in the courthouse, and many of the lawyers and prosecutors as well. I’m happy to have invested in those relationships.”

In the Netherlands, regular interaction between judges and politicians is rare. “But here, we’re neighbors with the Parliament. We can talk openly. There’s no influence—just dialogue.” He recalls constructive relationships with both current and former ministers of justice and prime ministers. One hope he carries is that Parliament and Government will prioritize victims’ rights more fully: “That need exists, and it needs to be reflected in legislation.

” Wouters also has good and warm relationships with the Governors on Statia and Saba. He invested in having good contacts with them and the people on these islands. He is very proud that the Joint Court opened in 2023 own courthouses there. He feels privileged that he also was able to serve the Statian and Saban people in his role as (chief) judge. Still, not everything was easy. Wouters speaks openly about being hurt when his management style was criticized.

“I know I can be direct and firm, and culturally that’s not always accepted.” This became a further lesson in cultural awareness and societal differences for him. The experience, though harsh at the time, is now a symbolic takeaway for Wouters. The Cycling Judge His connection to the people extends well beyond the courthouse. Known affectionately by some as “the judge on the bicycle,” Wouters often chats with community members—including a taxi driver nicknamed Cobra, who is often stationed outside of the courthouse.

“He regularly asked me to get Theo [Heyliger] released. He knows I can’t, but he feels free enough to ask. And, that’s important.” “My wife and I will deeply miss Sint Maarten. We had a tremendous time working and living on this friendly island.

The way we, on Sint Maarten, greet each other, the sense of connection. I run into lawyers, prosecutors and clients, even in the supermarket, and some of them will say, ‘Your Honour’ or ‘Goodmorning Judge’. That’s not necessary outside the courthouse—but it shows mutual respect and a feeling that we’re all part of the same community. Sint Maarten, you are in my heart and under my skin!”