We listen first.
Before anything else, we hear what happened in your own words. No forms, no rushed intake. You lead the conversation.
Our Mission.
Lokèt Hurídiko / Legal Desk makes justice accessible to the residents of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba. We offer independent, accessible, and expert first-line legal assistance, and also provide support regarding discrimination and unequal treatment. We help people understand their rights and options, support them in finding a suitable solution, and make targeted referrals when further legal assistance is needed. In doing so, we collaborate with local organizations and agencies whenever possible, ensuring that problems are identified early and that people are not sent from one agency to another seeking an answer.
Our Vision.
We believe that every resident of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba should be able to obtain justice, regardless of their income, background, language, or personal situation. Lokèt Hurídiko / Legal Desk does not only help individual residents. Based on our daily practice, we also see where legislation, policy, or implementation falls short, and we make this visible. In this way, we are growing into a recognizable, reliable, and independent service on all three islands, where people learn about their rights and address problems in a timely manner, and where discrimination and unequal treatment are seriously recognized and combated. Our goal is a Caribbean Netherlands where legal protection is not a dead letter, but something people can actually count on.
How we help.
FreeConfidentialIndependentNo judgment
We're not a government office. Nothing you share with us leaves the desk without your permission.
HOW WE WORK
Three habits we hold ourselves to.
No long forms, no rushed intake, no jargon. Just these three.
We speak plain language.
We translate the law into normal words. If a rule affects your situation, we'll show you exactly how, and what your options are.
We find the next step together.
We don't just hand you a brochure. We help you decide what to do next, and if you need a lawyer, mediator, or another organisation, we refer you.
We do
- Explain what a letter, contract, or decision means.
- Advise on your rights and options.
- Help you report discrimination under the BES Equal Treatment Act.
- Refer you to a lawyer, mediator, or agency when needed.
We don't
- Represent you in court.
- Take on your case as your legal counsel.
- Share anything you tell us without your permission.
- Charge you, ever.
OUR TEAM
Meet the team.
A small, local team across three islands. In your language.
Suhendra Leon
Managing Director
Thiphany Bryan
Legal advisor
Jaryl Kanhai
Legal advisor
Governance.
Lokèt Hurídiko / Legal Desk is an independent foundation with a statutory mandate. The foundation has a Supervisory Board to which the Managing Director is accountable. Lokèt Hurídiko / Legal Desk receives subsidies from the Ministry of Justice and Security and the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. The foundation is financially accountable to these ministries and prepares annual reports, but does not communicate with them regarding the content of the matters we handle.
Supervisory Board
Marga Buys
Chair, Supervisory Board
Shirma Rouse
Member, Supervisory Board
Reza Asgarali
Member, Supervisory Board
Have a question? Let's go through it together.
We're here Monday to Thursday. Free, confidential, and in your language.
