SUPERVISION OF BROKERS AND ASSET MANAGERS IN CURACAO
New Ordinance will enter into force in 2017
In the course of 2017, the Curaçao ‘Landsverordening toezicht effectenbemiddelaars en vermogensbeheerders’ (National Ordinance on the supervision of securities brokers and asset managers) will come into force.
The primary aim of the new Ordinance is to introduce a supervisory regime for brokers in the securities business and for managers of assets, in order to raise the operation of the capital markets and other financial markets in Curaçao to the next level, as well as to further protect the position of existing and potential investors in these markets against risks. This objective is …
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THE ARUBA PUBLIC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
Managing and supervisory directors’ liability
I will refer only to the Aruba NV type of company, otherwise known as the public limited liability company, governed by the Commercial Code of Aruba. Furthermore, I will discuss only the basic concept of managing and supervisory directors’ liability.
Duties
Section 106(1) of the Aruba Commercial Code (ACC) provides that, in performing their duties, each member of the management board should focus on the interests of the NV. In accordance with the “stakeholder model”, a.k.a. “stakeholder orientation”, the board must take into account various interests, not only those of the company, its business and …
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HIRE A LAWYER AND GET ONE FOR FREE?
Law firms differ from shoe selling businesses
There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to shoes. There is also no one-size-fits-all lawyer as a solution for all your legal matters. In many cases and for many clients, the size of a law firm is not of much importance. What is important may differ from client to client, however the following more or less general concepts will undoubtedly play a role: the attitude of the professional, the quality of the services provided, timely response, personal attention, the ability to stand in the client’s shoes, creativity and pricing. The job of a …
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THE ENFORCEMENT OF A JUDGEMENT BY THE COURTS IN ST. MAARTEN
Judgments are immediately enforceable most of the time
According to Article 55, par. 1 of the St. Maarten Code of Civil Procedure, opposition (in the case of a default judgment) or appeal (in the event of adversarial proceedings) prevent the enforcement (execution) of a judgment unless the decision is ‘enforceable notwithstanding opposition or appeal’ a.k.a. a judgment which is declared ‘immediately enforceable’ (uitvoerbaar bij voorraad is verklaard).
The submission of an appeal results, therefore, in a stay of execution, unless the first-instance court, on a motion by one of the parties, has declared its judgment enforceable even if it is …
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APPELLATE PROCEEDINGS IN CURACAO
Full review of the case
Appellate proceedings in Curaçao provide for a full review of the appealed decision: the grounds on which the Joint Court of Appeal can reverse the original judgment are not, as in certain other jurisdictions, limited to procedural matters. It is furthermore permissible to introduce new documentary evidence in the course of appellate proceedings. If the appealed judgment contains a final decision as regards the dispute the Joint Court of Appeal will either confirm the judgment or it will itself render a replacing decision: the case will not be referred back to the Court of First …
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TYPES OF LIABILITY IN ARUBA
A three-part distinction
With regard to liability a three-part distinction can be made. The first distinction relates to the basis of the liability: liability pursuant to a contractual relationship (the attributable failure in this respect) and liability pursuant to a wrongful act.
Another distinction relates to the personal liability (thus for the party’s own actions or omissions) and vicarious and/or strict liability: liability for or the acts and omissions of others (vicarious liability) or liability for certain things that happen (strict liability).
For example, employers can be held vicariously liable for certain actions of their employees. According to the Aruba …
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PRELIMINARY RELIEF PROCEEDINGS
When a case needs an urgent decision
The procedure for provisional measures in summary proceedings (kort geding), a.k.a. preliminary relief proceedings or interlocutory proceedings, is an interim injunction procedure before the court. Such proceedings, under Dutch Caribbean law, are aimed at obtaining temporary instructions from the court, not at receiving a final decision in the case.
These proceedings are characterized by their more or less summary character and their relatively quick nature. There is a clear relationship to a procedure on the merits, which always may be instituted and sometimes even must be followed. Provisional measures that are prescribed in …
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THE BINDING EFFECT OF JUDGMENTS
Limited to the parties involved in the proceedings
Court decisions, even decisions by the Dutch Supreme Court, are not binding on courts when deciding future cases. However, the Code of Civil Procedure prevents parties from litigating twice on the same legal issue. The principle that a final judgment of a competent court is conclusive upon the parties in any subsequent litigation involving the same cause of action is known as ‘res judicata ’.
A Dutch court case is described below illustrating this principle: Utrecht District Court of 19 March 2009 (NJF 2009/291).
In initial litigation, the claimant had sought payment …
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BRIBERY
A criminal act
With regard to anti-corruption the Criminal Codes of Aruba, Curaçao, St. Maarten and the BES-islands include criminal acts such as fraud, bribery and abuse of authorities. The bribery offence closely resembles the bribery provisions under the Dutch Criminal Code. The Codes also stipulate regulations on criminal acts committed by judges, ministers, members of Parliament and civil servants. Amendments were introduced to the Criminal Code specifically to implement the Anti-Bribery Convention. The bribery offences in the Criminal Codes mirror very closely those in the Dutch Criminal Code.
The relevant anti-bribery provisions are integrated in the Dutch Caribbean Criminal …
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TRADE-BASED MONEY LAUNDERING
More Trade Transparency Units Needed
Smuggling and trade fraud are on the rise, according to Viêt Nam News (27 October 2015). The Telegraph reports that the authorities in China have arrested 21 people on suspicion of defrauding almost one million Chinese investors of 50bn yuan (£5.3 billion) after an online peer-to-peer lender turned out to be a giant Ponzi scheme (1 February 2016). Money laundering and fraud seem to be on the increase. Trade-Based Money Laundering (TBML) is one of the big threats facing us today.
According to Premium Times (21 December 2015; Read the rest »
DISCHARGING THE MANAGEMENT BOARD
Only for matters evident from the accounts
The shareholders of a Dutch Caribbean limited liability company (NV or BV) may provide a discharge (décharge) to members of the management board for matters evident from the annual accounts, or matters otherwise made known to the general shareholders meeting. This is a standard item on the agenda for shareholders meetings at which a company’s annual accounts are adopted.
The aim of this discharge is that the company generally has no longer a legal cause of action against a management board member.
The effect of a discharge is limited. A discharge does not …
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INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN
The UNCITRAL Model Law is applicable
Parties with a legal dispute can turn to the public court system to settle the dispute; however, instead of bringing a lawsuit in a public court, they can also opt for arbitration. Arbitration is a form of private dispute settlement in which the parties instruct one or more persons (arbitrators) to render a binding decision on their dispute. The arbitrators may be jurists, but they can also be laypersons. People with specific expertise or experience in a certain branch or industry are often chosen as arbitrator.
Parties can include a so-called arbitration clause in …
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