WILLEMSTAD - An important point in the 'Government Program 2022-2025: On the path to recovery and improving the quality of life for the people' is to address the various challenges faced by the governmental apparatus in the field of service delivery and addressing the major social issues known in the country. In this context, a journey began in 2022, which has resulted in a plan that includes a number of improvement proposals. These proposals should lead to a sustainable and improved functioning of the government as a whole, with added value for both internal and external services as the main theme. In this journey, the Government, led by the Minister of Governance, Planning, and Public Service, Mr. Ornelio Martina, has once again taken several significant steps.
Last year, an investigation was initiated regarding the functioning of the government. Many reports were studied on how the governmental apparatus has been operating from the period 2010 to 2022. Over fifty in-depth conversations and interviews were conducted with officials and public servants from the nine ministries. External stakeholders also participated in the exchanges and discussions. This journey resulted in the report "Niets doen is geen optie meer!" (Doing nothing is no longer an option!). The report contains improvement proposals for the higher structure, direction, and organization of the ministries, the distribution of roles and responsibilities between the minister and higher government officials, internal and external services, management and control of work processes within the ministries, and inter-ministerial cooperation. On November 30, 2022, the Council of Ministers, in principle, agreed with the improvement proposals in the report.
During the past period, the Council of Ministers made several important preparatory decisions in that direction. Proposals for necessary adaptations of laws and regulations are being drafted based on the improvement proposals. Project leaders are informed about the fundamental principles of the report and the improvement proposals that are based on them, which are also in effect for other projects originating from the Governance Program and the Country Package with organizational consequences. Consultations are also being held with the "Centraal Georganiseerd Overleg in Ambtenarenzaken" (CGOA) to reach an agreement on a framework for social management for changes in the public apparatus. Furthermore, to ensure a successful implementation of the improvement proposals in the coming months, work will be done on the organization of the "Verbeteren Functioneren Overheid" (Improving Government Performance) program (VFO). This program falls under the responsibility of Minister Martina (BPD), who receives support from a group of ministerial leaders that includes three other ministers: Minister of SOAW, Ms. Larmonie-Cecilia, Minister of VVRP, Mr. Cooper, and Minister of OWCS, Mr. Van Heydoorn.
The VFO program aims to achieve a lasting reform of the functioning of public employees in high-level positions within the ministries and improve the overall functioning of the government apparatus. It places emphasis on internal and external service and operational management of the ministries. Work is being done to improve service to the public and companies by, among other things, establishing an efficient and accessible permit desk to address all government-related questions and products. It also focuses on advancing digitalization of services. This program covers all nine ministries and is connected to agreements between the governments of Curaçao and the Netherlands for the execution of the Curaçao Country Package.
Minister Martina has confidence that the path taken will result in an efficient, effective government organization with a high level of diligence, quality, and essential capacity to transform management into results.
