One of the main concerns is the legal position of the officers as and after the transition is made to Country Status for both Curacao & St. Maarten. The Minister says those concerns can only be addressed by the Island Territory because the responsibility is being handed over by the Central Government.

“Right now we are facilitating them so that they can also build up what they need to do,” Jacoba said.

The Justice Minister repeated the fact that St. Maarten needs to build infrastructure that exists in Curacao already and re-pledged the Central Government’s support in setting up the new Justice Ministry. So far no formal request has been made for the Justice Ministry to be transferred, but that does not bother the Minister, who also believes the workers should stay calm as well.

“I don’t think they need to be so concerned about that matter because for the time being St. Maarten didn’t do the request so they will stay in the Federal Government,” she said.

The lack of a request is not the only buffer. Officers can take comfort in the Social Statute that dictates how they should be treated both now and in the new situation. That document includes a guarantee that each officer will maintain at least their current position.