The Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten and Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius organized a moot court together with the Caribbean Netherlands Public Prosecution Service. Teenagers from forms three, four and five from the Saba Comprehensive School were invited to the main office of the RCN, in the Bottom, where they were given a presentation by the President of the Joint Court of Justice, Mr. Mauritsz de Kort, the Chief Prosecutor for Bonaire Saba and Sint Eustatius, Mr. Walter Kupers, and the local Deputy Judge of Instruction, Mr. Gerald Simmons – de Jong. During the presentation, the gentlemen shared with the teenagers and their parents how an average day looks like for a judge, a prosecutor, and a lawyer and why they chose to pursue a career in law.
“Working for the Public Prosecution Service is working for justice in society. Prosecution ensures that rules and regulations are enforced. We lead the criminal investigation and prosecute the people that break the rules. We do that for the safety and freedoms of all the people. Working at the Public Prosecution Service is dynamic, exciting and important, but above all very relevant for the society and its people.” Said Chief Prosecutor Walter Kupers.
For especially the smaller and more secluded islands Saba and Sint Eustatius, it is important that the judiciary and prosecutor office actively keep improving the presence and availability of prosecutorial and judiciary services. Access to the law and justice is something that is important for the community. An important goal for this day was also to make teenagers more enthusiastic for a possible study and career in law. Last week both organizations were also represented in the Netherlands during the national career day event. This day on Saba was meant as a part of an awareness and recruitment initiative. Both the prosecution office and the judiciary are also always open to look at internship or traineeship possibilities for children from the islands. During these traineeships students can get to know the organization better and see if a law career is something for them.
The students were divided in four groups. The moot court case that they got was that of a fight between three friends on Saba that led to a potential attempted murder. From form three the following students joined: Cianda and Kendra Gomez, Laryan del Carmen Carrion, Espermal Hassell, Benjamin Hermans, Sergio Hughes, Stefan Johnson, Zenaida Matthew, Lex Plijter, Rashijden Riley, Kerry-Ann Simmons, Preston TenHolt, Noah Zagers and Sheldon Blair. From form four the following students joined: Thejhonae Campbell, Bea Durand, Trevon Johnson, Keon Peterson. And from form 5 the following students joined. Kadesha Daniel, Lorena Hassell, Elizabeth Henry, Theoni Wrigley and Mario Zaegors. The first group were tasked as the prosecutor who had to present the indictment to the panel of judges. The second group were tasked with the defense of the first suspect. The third group were tasked with the defense of the second suspect. The fourth and final group had the job to judge all three presenting groups and decide who won.
The different teams were supported by Mauritsz, Walter and Gerald, and teachers Ms. Martie and Ms. Veronica. After the moot court session Gerald handed each student a Moot Court certificate of participation signed by the President of the Joint Court of Justice and Chief Prosecutor. Ms. Jessica Besselink, the Principal of the Saba Comprehensive School, thanked the different organizations from Curacao and Bonaire for this great educational opportunity that they provided for our Saba students. “This event was very much appreciated, and we are very honored to be included in a program such as this.”
“The Joint Court of Justice services all six islands, but only has branches on four of them. This means that it is important to improve and work on our presence on the islands Saba and Sint Eustatius and with that improve the access the Saban and Statian residents have to the judiciary. For this reason, I made use of this special day on Saba to also announce during my meeting with the Island Governor Johnson and the State secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations, Ms. Alexandra van Huffelen, that within a short term we will be opening a branch of the Joint Court of Justice on Saba as well” said Mauritsz de Kort.
