Foundation for legal aid and equal treatment established

SABA/STATIA/BONAIRE--Residents of Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba will soon have a dedicated, physical location where they can receive free legal information, advice, and support. The new Foundation for Legal Aid and Equal Treatment for the three islands has been officially established to provide these services and strengthen legal protection across the three islands.

Known locally as Lokèt Hurídiko on Bonaire and Legal Desk on St. Eustatius and Saba, the foundation builds on the success of the pilot project that began years ago on Saba and recently expanded to St. Eustatius.

Once operational, the foundation will offer:

• Independent information and advice on legal matters such as labor disputes, rental issues, and family affairs.

• A place to report discrimination, for instance when someone is treated unfairly because of their background, origin, or disability.

This marks a significant step toward ensuring that residents of the Caribbean Netherlands enjoy the same access to justice and protection against discrimination as those in the European Netherlands.

In the coming months, the foundation will recruit staff and set up offices on all three islands. Services are expected to begin during the first half of 2026. Once the locations and opening hours are confirmed, they will be announced publicly and published on rijksdienstcn.com

The foundation will be led by Executive Director Suhendra Leon, an experienced professional in the field of legal protection. A Supervisory Board has also been appointed, consisting of Shirma Rouse, Reza Asgarali, and Marga Buys-Trimp, who will serve as Chair.

Executive Director Suhendra Leon: “For many people, it is not always clear where to go when they face a legal problem or experience unequal treatment. With this foundation, we aim to change that. Every resident of Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba should have easy access to independent information and advice about their rights and obligations.”

Chair of the Supervisory Board, Marga Buys-Trimp: “As a Supervisory Board, we are committed to supporting the Director in launching this facility as soon as possible. The demand is high, and it is vital that the Legal Desk remains accessible and well known to the public.”

The establishment of the foundation has been welcomed by Dutch officials.

State Secretary Rutte (Justice and Security): “This is an important milestone. Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba now have a foundation that will offer legal advice and protection against discrimination through accessible, physical locations. This strengthens equal treatment and ensures that everyone has a clear path to justice.”

Minister Rijkaart (Interior and Kingdom Relations): “On October 7, the Senate approved the Anti-Discrimination Protection Act for Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba. With this new foundation, residents will have an easily accessible place to turn to if they face unequal treatment. This is a crucial development, and I am confident that the new management and Supervisory Board will carry out this mission with dedication.”

Under the new legislation, the National Institute for Human Rights Caribbean Netherlands will also play a formal role in assessing discrimination cases. Residents will be able to request the Institute to review and determine whether discrimination has occurred in their specific situation.

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Caption: Executive Director Suhendra Leon