PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling has provided an update on significant administrative and infrastructural advancements within the justice chain, including progress on long-awaited personnel payments and key facility upgrades.
A significant focus has been the validation and issuance of National Decrees (LBs) for justice personnel, a process that is now nearing completion. The Ministry detailed the status of several batches:
• Batch 14, consisting of 29 staff members, was expected from the Governor on December 3 for immediate countersigning.
• Batch 15, which includes 32 staff members, has been completed and was scheduled for signing on the same day.
• Batch 16, with 39 staff members, is currently under review with the Controller at the Ministry.
• Batch 17, the final batch of 43 staff members, is awaiting final validations before it can be processed.
Alongside the LB process, the Ministry has finalized significant retroactive payments. This includes 35 advices for KPSM on-call services totaling approximately XCG 754,000, and 12 advices for KPSM Jubilees amounting to XCG 118,769.01.
Several other retroactive payments remain actively in process:
• 19 advices for HVB Jubilees are with the Governor.
• 9 advices for KPSM Jubilees are pending.
• 2 advises for KPSM on-call services are pending.
• 14 advises for Immigration retroactive overtime are under review.
• 4 advices for Landsrecherche retroactive on-call services are under review.
• The department's HR team is processing KPSM retroactive overtime.
The Ministry clarified that the backlog of retroactive payments accumulated over several years following the enactment of a new function book and legal position regulation for KPSM, which required the recalculation of salaries and allowances. Previous administrations had not fully processed these recalculations, but the current team is working intensively to correct the outstanding payments.
On the infrastructure front, the Ministry has finalized the advice for the renovation of the Foreign Detention Center (FDC). This project, valued at approximately XCG 1 million, is part of a broader commitment to strengthen the entire detention chain.
Furthermore, the Detention Sector Reform Program (DSRP) is advancing with international partners. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has conducted extensive stakeholder consultations to improve rehabilitation, reintegration, and staff training. Concurrently, the construction company contracted through the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) has entered the mobilization phase, marking a crucial step toward building a modern and secure detention facility. To ensure transparency, a dedicated webpage will be launched to provide public updates on the DSRP's progress.
