Joint Court clarifies where complaints about notaries on Bonaire can be filed

KRALENDIJK – The Joint Court of Justice has provided further clarity on how residents of Bonaire can file complaints against notaries. This follows earlier reports of long waiting times, poor accessibility, and signs of frustration among clients.

According to the court’s registrar, complaints against (candidate) notaries can be submitted in writing to the Chamber of Supervision. For Bonaire, this is done through the registry of the court on the island.

“The registry then ensures that the complaint is forwarded internally to the Chamber of Supervision for further handling,” the registrar stated in a response to Bonaire.nu.

Reference to supervision page

The Joint Court also provided a reference to the dedicated information page of the Chamber of Supervision for Notaries Bonaire on the Court’s website. That page offers further explanation on filing complaints and the role of the supervisory body.

Earlier reporting by Bonaire.nu revealed that many residents are unaware of where to turn when they experience issues with notary offices on Bonaire.

Problems surrounding notarial services remain a topic of discussion

The clarification comes after multiple residents reported difficulties in accessing notarial services. Concerns raised included long waiting times, unanswered emails, and the perception that smaller private matters receive lower priority.

There are also reports from clients who feel their concerns are not being heard, or who suspect they are being treated differently from other applicants.

Parliamentary questions already submitted

The issue has now reached national politics as well. CDA Members of Parliament Tijs van den Brink and Straatman recently submitted parliamentary questions to the State Secretary for Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations and the Minister of Justice and Security regarding the accessibility of notarial services on Bonaire.

Among other things, the questions address the long waiting times, indications of possible unequal treatment, and the functioning of notarial supervision on the island.

Questions and complaints about notarial services on Bonaire can be submitted on the following page.