WILLEMSTAD - On Wednesday, October 8, 2025, the Council of Ministers received an official visit from the Council of Advice, known in Dutch as the Raad van Advies (RvA). During the meeting, Mrs. Lizanne Dindial, Vice President of the Council of Advice, gave a brief introduction about the role and responsibilities of the Council in the legislative process of the country.

The Council of Advice consists of a maximum of nine members, each an expert in their respective field, who contribute to the nation’s governance impartially and objectively. Mrs. Dindial explained that the Council’s role is advisory, providing legal and policy recommendations, while it remains the Government’s prerogative to decide what action to take based on those recommendations.

The conversation also touched on the important role of the Directorate of Legislation and Legal Affairs (WJZ) within the Ministry of General Affairs, which guides the legislative process. The WJZ currently faces a shortage of legal drafters, making it essential to strengthen the organization to ensure that legislative procedures run smoothly and efficiently. The Council of Ministers, in turn, noted that the Government’s participation in the upcoming FRED Expo in the Netherlands on October 18 will, among other goals, focus on recruiting qualified legal professionals.

Finally, the Council of Advice urged the Council of Ministers to anticipate legislative processes in their annual planning to avoid unnecessary delays. In recent years, a relatively high number of cases have reached the Council as urgent requests (“spoedadvies”), which, according to the RvA, could be reduced through better planning and early coordination.

Mrs. Lizanne Dindial was accompanied by fellow Council members Mrs. Charlene Alberto and Mr. Luigi Virginia during the visit.