Foundation for Legal Aid and Equal Treatment established in the Caribbean Netherlands – Meet the New Director and Supervisory Board
For the first time, Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba will have a physical location where residents can go for free information, advice, and support concerning legal issues and discrimination. The foundation that will offer these services has now been officially established.
The foundation's local name on Bonaire is Lokèt Hurídiko, while on St. Eustatius and Saba it is called Legal Desk. This foundation serves as a structural continuation of the successful Legal Desk pilot project, which has been operational on Saba for a long time and recently began operating on St. Eustatius as well.
At this new foundation, you will soon be able to:
- Receive information and advice on legal matters, such as conflicts with an employer, issues concerning rent, or family affairs.
- Report discrimination that you experience, for instance, when you are treated unequally because of your background (origin) or a disability.
This is an important step to ensure that everyone in the Caribbean part of the Netherlands receives the same protection as in the European Netherlands.
What happens next?
In the coming months, the foundation will hire staff and set up locations on the three islands. The goal is to strengthen the legal protection of residents, so that you know where to go with legal problems or concerns.
The service will start in the first half of 2026. As soon as the locations for the desks and the opening hours are known, they will be shared with the public, including via https://www.rijksdienstcn.com/.
Who will lead the Foundation?
With the establishment, the first faces of the foundation are also known. Suhendra Leon, who has extensive experience in the field of legal protection, has been appointed as the Executive Director.
Additionally, a Supervisory Board has been formed with Shirma Rouse, Reza Asgarali, and Marga Buys-Trimp serving as its Chair.
Executive Director Suhendra Leon:
“For many people, it is not self-evident where to turn when they have a legal problem or are treated unequally. With this foundation, we want to change that. Every resident of Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba must be able to access independent information and advice concerning their rights and obligations.”
Chair of the Supervisory Board, Marga Buys-Trimp:
“As the Supervisory Board, we are highly motivated to support the Director in launching this facility quickly. The demand for it is great, and it is important that the desk is low-threshold (easily accessible) and widely known.”
The relevant government officials also underline the significance of the foundation's establishment:
State Secretary Rutte (Justice and Security):
“This is a significant milestone: Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba now have a foundation that will provide physical desks for aid and advise on legal issues and protection against discrimination. With this, we ensure accessible legal assistance and open the door to justice and equal treatment for everyone. This is a facility that has long been needed on the islands.”
Minister Rijkaart (Interior and Kingdom Relations):
“On 7 October, the Senate approved the Anti-Discrimination Protection Act for Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba. As a result, all laws protecting against discrimination will soon apply throughout the entire country. With this foundation, we ensure that residents of Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba also have an easily accessible place to turn to if they are treated unequally. This is tremendously important, and I have every confidence that the new management and Supervisory Board will carry out this work with dedication.”
With the new Anti-Discrimination Protection Act for Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, the National Institute for Human Rights Caribbean Netherlands will also be given a role in assessing discrimination cases on the islands. This means that residents can submit a request to the Institute to assess whether discrimination has occurred in their situation.