Jane Jansen, first Aruban woman installed as vice president of the Court of First Instance.
ORANJESTAD—The official installation of three new judges for the Court of First Instance of Aruba was held recently. Minister of Justice Mr. Arthur Dowers expressed his satisfaction with this significant development in our judicial system.
Minister Dowers indicated that this installation is a sign of progress and opens the door for the participation of more locals in the legal system in Aruba and other parts of the Kingdom. “It is fundamental to have a court balanced with people who view the law from different perspectives and life experiences,” the Minister stated. He added, “Aruba is a small community, where everyone knows each other, and thus it is good to have judges from other backgrounds to ensure impartiality and objectivity.”
One of the installed judges is Mr. Jane Jansen, the first Aruban woman to hold the position of vice president of the Court of First Instance of Aruba. She is part of the daily management of the Common Court of Justice of Aruba, Curaçao, St. Maarten, and the BES Islands. Judge Mr. Jansen has extensive experience in tax law, both in Aruba and other parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The other two installed judges are criminal judges from the Netherlands who came to Aruba as part of the “fight against undermining.”
The Minister reminded that 15 years ago, the Ministry of Justice accomplished the Court of First Instance transition per the Kingdom Act. At that time, there were many backlogged cases, which put enormous pressure on the judicial system. The Ministry of Justice then had to provide support to relieve this pressure on the Court of First Instance. It also emphasized legislation and legal development, which, in cooperation with the court, could provide structural support to handle cases more quickly and efficiently. Yet, the Minister said, the same problems as 15 years ago—lack of money, lack of personnel, and material shortages—were mentioned again in the speeches of Judges de Kort and Jansen.
Lack of investment in our judicial system, especially human capital, has led to stagnation and inefficiency. It applies to the Court of First Instance and several departments under the Ministry of Justice. It directly affects the quality of service to which the people are entitled. The Minister of Justice reiterated his commitment to continue working towards a stronger, more efficient, and just justice system with the institutional support it deserves.