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30 LOCAL NEWS AWEMainta Diahuebs, 5 October 2023

Coast Guard Welcomes a New Deputy Director

AS of October 2nd, the Coast Guard for the Dutch Caribbean has a new
Deputy Director, Mrs. Joëlle De Jong-Mercelina. The new Deputy Director
will be responsible for the execution of tasks within the Coast Guard
and the internal management of the Coast Guard, effectively leading the

organization on a daily basis.

Mrs. De Jong-Mercelina is well-suited for this role, thanks to her impres-
sive career, including her previous position as Deputy Secretary-General

at the Ministry of Justice in Curaçao. Her extensive knowledge of law
enforcement, international law, maritime law, and her background in
foreign relations can be applied effectively at the Coast Guard.

In addition to this, she served as an alternate member of the Presidium
of the Coast Guard Commission on behalf of Curaçao and has experi-
ence as a former lecturer in International Public Law at the University of
the Dutch Caribbean/Curaçao. She is also a former member of the VKC

‘Vrijwilligerskorps’ of the Dutch Caribbean. Joëlle is the first woman to
take on the role of Deputy Director at the Coast Guard (PDKW). The Coast
Guard extends a warm welcome to Joëlle De Jong-Mercelina and wishes
her great success in her new role.