WILLEMSTAD.- According to Attorney Geraldine Scheperboer-Parris, the detention and situation of a group of 33 undocumented immigrants from Venezuela is not in accordance with the law. For these reasons, they must get their freedom. Scheperboer-Parris is the leader of a team of lawyers that defends 33 undocumented persons from Venezuela. Human Rights Caribbean supports a group of undocumented people. According to this Defense Team, there is enough jurisprudence for this group to obtain their freedom.
The European Court of Human Rights recently decided that the group has to stay in Curaçao, for now. Because they do not have adequate detention, there is no other option than to release them according to Scheperboer-Parris: ‘To top it all they are not criminals, they are not allowed to ‘air’ while detained. This situation cannot continue’.
Judge Martinez last Friday suspended the Court session and went to observe the situation of the barracks. According to Scheperboer-Parris, the Judge noted that the capacity is not enough for this group of 33 people including a 16-year-old girl. The judge will make a decision this week. According to Scheperboer-Parris, the Judge has to read a lot of jurisprudence. She believes that the judge will have no choice but to free the group of 33 undocumented persons.
As is known, the European Court made the decision based on the ‘Rule 39’ so that people can stay in Curaçao. Along with this decision, the European Court prepared a list of questions that both the Lawyers of these persons and the Government of Curaçao must answer. The two parties have to answer before May 23 next. Based on these responses, the European Court will determine if the case should be initiated or if they can extend the period that a person can or should stay in Curaçao. The European Court may also indicate that it will not treat or deal with the case, because they are not authorized in this regard.
