Minister of Justice of Curacao should step down The Antilliaans Dagblad today published the letter sent by Minister of Justice, Elmer ‘Kadè’ Wilsoe (PS), to Hillary Rodham Clinton and Eric H. Holder on 25 April 2012. From this letter it follows that Wilsoe tried to interfere with the investigation by the Public Prosecutor (OM) into… Continue reading MINISTER OF JUSTICE ECONOMICAL WITH THE TRUTH
DUTCH CARIBBEAN LEGAL PORTAL
Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, St. Maarten, St. Eustatius and Saba There is a large legal community in the Dutch Caribbean. Until 2007 there was no website with news and general information about the legal system of the Dutch Caribbean, its institutions and its practitioners. Dutch Caribbean Legal Portal aims to fill this void and strives to… Continue reading DUTCH CARIBBEAN LEGAL PORTAL
INQUIRY PROCEDURE IN CURACAO
Important court decision for the local trust practice On 30 March 2012 the first petition for an inquiry procedure under the new law was dealt with by the Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curacao and St. Maarten, and of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. Karel Frielink and Dinesh Mishre had the honor of acting… Continue reading INQUIRY PROCEDURE IN CURACAO
BANKING SUPERVISION IN CURACAO AND SINT MAARTEN
Prudential rules and requirements The Central Bank of Curacao and St. Maarten is responsible for the care of the financial system’s health, effected through on and off site inspections of the banking and other financial institutions authorized to operate in Curacao and St. Maarten. The National ordinance on the supervision of banks and credit institutions… Continue reading BANKING SUPERVISION IN CURACAO AND SINT MAARTEN
SURPRISE RULING BY SINT MAARTEN COURT
Court introduces non-statutory transfer of employees In the Netherlands (the European part of the Kingdom), when an undertaking (onderneming) is transferred from one person or entity to another, by operation of law the employees have an employment relationship with the new owner on the terms and conditions agreed with the old employer. For example, such… Continue reading SURPRISE RULING BY SINT MAARTEN COURT
ASSIGNMENT OF RECEIVABLES IN CURACAO
Notification no longer necessary for perfection of assignment Under Curacao law the transfer of ownership requires transfer of title (levering) pursuant to a valid legal title (geldige titel) by a person who has the power of disposal over the asset (beschikkingsbevoegheid) being transferred. The rules on transfer of title (levering) are equally applicable to the… Continue reading ASSIGNMENT OF RECEIVABLES IN CURACAO
REGULATORY LEGISLATION IN CURACAO
General requirements on the business operation Regulatory legislation in Curacao does not distinguish between different kinds of products, such as for instance hedge funds, but is of a more general nature. The regulatory legislation of Curacao applicable to financial institutions is divided into four categories being: credit institutions, institutional investors, investment institutions & administrators and… Continue reading REGULATORY LEGISLATION IN CURACAO
CURACAO TRUST LEGISLATION
Entered into force on 1 January 2012 On January 1st 2012, new legalization entered into force pursuant to which it is now possible to set up a trust, similar to the trust in Anglo-Saxon common law jurisdictions, in Curacao. This trust is a legal exception to the paritas creditorum rule as we know it and… Continue reading CURACAO TRUST LEGISLATION
PARALLEL DEBT IN CURACAO
New legislation It has become market practice in Curacao, and also in the Netherlands, to create a separate (parallel) obligation, owed by the borrower (or guarantor) to the security agent in its own name, on the terms and in an amount equal to the original (principal) obligations owing by the borrower (or guarantor) to the… Continue reading PARALLEL DEBT IN CURACAO
ON THE GERMAN – DUTCH CARIBBEAN RELATIONSHIP
Interesting editorial in The Daily Herald (St. Maarten) Economic powerhouse “The visit of German ambassador Heinz-Peter Behr last week should serve as an eye-opener on the largely untapped possibilities that European market offers. Up to now much of the attention regarding the “Old Continent” understandably regards the Netherlands and France from which “The Friendly Island”… Continue reading ON THE GERMAN – DUTCH CARIBBEAN RELATIONSHIP
INQUIRY PROCEDURE INTRODUCED IN CURACAO
The Joint Court is the forum of choice for corporate disputes As per January 1, 2012 the amended Corporate Code (Book 2 Civil Code) of Curacao entered into force. The new legislation introduces a so-called inquiry procedure for, amongst others, limited liability companies. The inquiry procedure (a.k.a. investigation proceedings) can result in a court ordered… Continue reading INQUIRY PROCEDURE INTRODUCED IN CURACAO
WILL 2012 BE A BETTER YEAR?
It depends on us! What do you and I have in common? That we probably, just like all other people on earth, are descended from a people that lived in Africa in a far past. Thus considered we are all brothers and sisters. One big family, one big community, but not as closely and not… Continue reading WILL 2012 BE A BETTER YEAR?