WILLEMSTAD – The government of Curaçao has approved a policy plan aimed at strengthening the island’s preparedness for potential geopolitical and national crises.
The plan, titled “Crisis Management for Geopolitical Threats,” requires ministries and government agencies to update their emergency plans to address possible scenarios such as large refugee flows from the region, disruptions in energy or food supply, cyberattacks and failures in critical infrastructure.
The initiative falls under the responsibility of the Ministry of General Affairs of Curaçao and aligns with the country’s legal framework for disaster management and crisis response.
Preparing for Regional Instability
One of the scenarios outlined in the policy involves a sudden increase in migration from neighboring countries caused by political or economic instability.
In such situations, the government wants to ensure that responsibilities are clearly defined for services involved in reception, registration, border control and law enforcement. Authorities are also examining where temporary reception facilities could be established if necessary.
Protecting Critical Infrastructure
Another major focus of the policy is the protection of vital infrastructure.
The plan outlines how government agencies and emergency services should respond if key systems are disrupted. These scenarios include power outages, temporary closures of the island’s port or airport, or cyberattacks and sabotage targeting communication networks.
Because Curaçao relies heavily on imports, the policy also considers international crises that could disrupt supply chains. In such cases, authorities would need to quickly determine how fuel and food reserves should be managed and which sectors should receive priority distribution.
Central Coordination During Crises
The plan also addresses how government institutions should operate during a national emergency.
If a serious crisis occurs, the national crisis organization can be activated. Ministries, police, the coast guard and other services would then operate within a centralized coordination structure to gather information, implement measures and communicate with the public.
Implementation of the policy will be coordinated by the Directorate for Risk Management and Disaster Policy (DRR).
The director of the DRR, Lesley Fer, serves as the national crisis coordinator and will oversee the alignment of emergency plans across ministries and government agencies.
Based on National Risk Profile
The policy builds on Curaçao’s national risk profile for the period 2023–2028. The document, prepared by the DRR and approved by the Council of Ministers in April 2024, identifies the island’s most significant risks and vulnerabilities.
Under that framework, ministries are required to take preventive measures to reduce risks and report regularly on preparedness levels.
Government agencies must also share information about their preparations and allocate sufficient resources for crisis management and disaster response.