WILLEMSTAD - Many justice organizations in Curaçao are falling behind in implementing recommendations from the Law Enforcement Council. A recent follow-up study by the Council reveals that only a few organizations have fully addressed the recommendations, while most are experiencing significant delays.
The study indicates that the Public Prosecutor's Office (OM) has implemented the highest percentage of recommendations, at 73%, followed by the Law Enforcement and Safety Training Institute (ORV) with 45%. In contrast, the Brasami addiction clinic scored the lowest, having implemented only 17% of the recommendations, leaving 83% unaddressed.
The Council identifies major issues contributing to these delays, particularly a shortage of staff and financial resources. For example, Brasami faced a reduction of over 700,000 guilders in subsidies between 2018 and 2021. This lack of funding hampers the organization’s ability to implement recommendations and improve its services.
At the Curaçao Juvenile Detention Center (JJIC), progress on implementing recommendations is also stalled. A crucial national ordinance outlining the institution's duties has yet to be approved by the Ministry of Justice, resulting in insufficient funding for essential construction projects.
The Coast Guard and Landsrecherche Curaçao (LrC) are experiencing comparable issues. While the Coast Guard has made some progress, with 55% of recommendations being implemented, sharing information with partners remains a concern. The LrC lags behind due to a lack of legislation, preventing critical organizational improvements from being made.
The Probation Service is another area of concern, with only 33% of recommendations followed up and a staggering 67% remaining unaddressed. As with other organizations, staff shortages are a major obstacle. The necessary legal changes to formalize the probation organization have yet to be established.
Urgency
In response to the study, the Council emphasizes the urgency of addressing these issues. “It is troubling that so many recommendations are still not being followed up. Many of these issues are related to a lack of resources and management. We urge the involved agencies to take these problems seriously and take action,” said a spokesperson for the Council.
The full report is available on the Law Enforcement Council’s website [https://www.raadrechtshandhaving.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Rapport-Review-Algemene-Aanbevelingen.pdf]. The Council hopes that the findings will serve as a wake-up call for the relevant agencies to implement necessary reforms.
Looking ahead, the Council underscores that problems within the justice chain will not resolve themselves without structural changes and better resource allocation.