WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao will take the lead as chair of the Kingdom’s new working group on youth crime. Minister of Justice Shalten Hato announced the decision following the Judicial Four-Country Consultation (JVO), which was held yesterday in the Netherlands.
Within six weeks, another working group will also be established focusing on forensic care, with its first report expected by January 2026. Until then, the countries will remain in close contact to prepare the groundwork.
As chair of the youth crime group, Curaçao will coordinate the exchange of experiences and strategies among the Kingdom partners. Aruba will serve as secretary. All the islands, along with the Netherlands, will contribute insights, with Aruba’s existing reports forming the basis for concrete actions. A comprehensive overview of the situation, along with recommendations, is expected in early 2026.
Tackling Undermining and Border Security
After January 2026, the topic of undermining—criminal infiltration in society and institutions—will be addressed extensively. A strategic session will be held to align how the islands define and combat this phenomenon. “Many people are not even aware of what undermining actually entails,” Hato stressed.
Meanwhile, Curaçao is advancing a project to strengthen border control and surveillance. This initiative aims to safeguard not only Curaçao’s borders but also the security of the Kingdom as a whole. The Special Police Task Force RST is working with local agencies to combat organized crime, while multiple services—including the Undermining Platform, ACOC, Coast Guard, Customs, Royal Military Police, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and international partners such as the U.S. DEA—are joining forces.
Prison Capacity Shortage and Legal Representation
One of the pressing challenges highlighted during the consultation was the lack of prison capacity across all islands and the Netherlands. St. Maarten’s police chief, Carl John, proposed dedicating an entire day in January 2026 to this issue.
Curaçao also reiterated its proposal to appoint its own representative to the Supreme Court of the Netherlands. First presented in June 2024, the plan now calls for a working group to present candidates in 2026. Curaçao will chair and act as secretary for this group, while all countries are expected to respond in writing before January 2026.
Strengthening Justice Capacity and Forensic Care
Minister Hato also approved an extension of the public prosecutor training program by three years. The initiative, which began in 2019, successfully trained four local prosecutors. Extending the program will help strengthen the balance and capacity of public prosecutors in the Caribbean countries of the Kingdom.
Additionally, Curaçao and the Netherlands signed an agreement for a new project titled Training for Professionals Working with Forensic Patients and Detainees in the CASBES Islands. This program is designed to improve care and oversight for vulnerable groups within the justice system.
The next Judicial Four-Country Consultation will take place on St. Maarten on January 14, 15, and 16, 2026.
