WILLEMSTAD - Overtime and the associated costs must be reduced at the Curaçao Police Force (KPC). This has to do with the budget for 2023, which is 6 million guilders less than in 2022. This is the conclusion from discussions between the police and trade unions.
The police unions NAPB and SAP indicate that they are concerned about the cutbacks and whether there is enough staff, making overtime unnecessary. The union says that overtime is not a voluntary choice of the police officers, but that it is mandatory.
There is a structural shortage of personnel within the KPC. The KPC has room for 902 full-time employees, of which 687 are currently employed. The shortage in personnel has various causes, such as a part that is ill for a long time, guarding buildings and protecting ministers. In addition, the situation is becoming more distressing by the day due to aging and the Early Voluntary Outflow (VVU).
The management of the KPC is waiting for permission to start new classes in police training. The KPC indicates that it has a plan ready, but that this still needs to be addressed in the Council of Ministers, then to be discussed later within the Centrally Organized Consultation in Civil Service Affairs (CGOA).