On February 27th and 28th, the conference ‘Towards a strong foundation for effective collaboration’ took place in Bonaire, focusing on the administrative approach to undermining crime. Participants indicated that it is beneficial for the autonomous countries and the Dutch Caribbean to seek cooperation within the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. Criminal activities do not stop at the island borders, and it is essential to prevent criminal activities from moving between the islands.
Learning from each other
The autonomous countries and the Dutch Caribbean face similar trends in crime and are developing similar administrative tools to combat undermining crime. Therefore, they see the need for cooperation. Much can be learned from each other. Additionally, continuous administrative commitment from all governments is necessary. In June, during the ‘Justitiele Vierpartiet Overleg,’ an assessment of the progress achieved will be presented.
Regional Information and Expertise Center Dutch Caribbean (RIEC CN)
The conference emerged from the working group on administrative cooperation operating under the banner of the ‘Justitiele Vierpartiet Overleg,’ which includes Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, BZK, and J&V. Last year, the Regional Information and Expertise Center (RIEC CN) started on Bonaire, establishing an alliance of security partners to gain more insight into how organized and undermining crime manifests itself in the Dutch Caribbean. The Caribbean countries want to expand their network and explore how cooperation with RIEC CN is possible, exchanging knowledge and expertise. For this reason, Bonaire was chosen as the location for the conference.
One million for administrative approach
In the case of undermining administrative approach, alongside a criminal approach, administrative tools can also be used to prevent, detect, and combat potential undermining crime. This includes denying or revoking exploitation permits, conducting screenings during purchases and demolitions, closing buildings, or intervening by modifying destination plans.
Starting in 2022, BZK is allocating one million euros to the Caribbean islands Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten for initiatives in the field of administrative approach. To regulate this properly, a protocol was stipulated and published in 2023 in the Staatscourant: Staatscourant 2023, 33574 | Overheid.nl > Officiële bekendmakingen (officielebekendmakingen.nl).
Reflection on the conference program
During the conference, various topics were discussed, including:
- The history of administrative approach in the European Netherlands and best practices with administrative tools
- Ongoing projects in the Caribbean islands to promote administrative approach
- The methodology of RIEC CN
- The Dutch assistance plan for addressing undermining crime in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region.
- The Bibob law, a tool for screening permits and real estate transactions by the government.
- Collaboration of Financial Intelligence Units in the Kingdom as best practices.
By using administrative tools instead of criminal tools, the conference emphasized the importance of RIECs (Regional Information and Expertise Centers) where services can share information administratively to reduce the risk of undermining. Bonaire has one such center. Lastly, the Bibob law (Promotion of Integrity Assessments by Public Administration) was discussed, a tool implemented in Aruba to assist the government in screening individuals/organizations to prevent facilitating criminal activities.
