WILLEMSTAD – Employees of Curaçao’s Public Affairs Department will receive specialized training in civil affairs as part of a government effort to professionalize public services and strengthen the management of residents’ personal information. The training will temporarily affect opening hours at Kranshi, which will close to the public at noon on Wednesdays.
The Ministry of Governance, Planning and Services announced that employees will be given the opportunity to participate in the basic “Burgerzaken” training program in cooperation with the Dutch organization Censor Bestuur.
Public Affairs plays an essential role within the Curaçao government and is responsible, among other duties, for the careful administration and protection of residents’ personal data.
According to the ministry, employees work daily with information of significant public importance. Their responsibilities therefore require up-to-date knowledge, specialized skills and a professional approach to their work.
The training offered in cooperation with Censor Bestuur consists of several modules intended to strengthen employees’ knowledge and professional expertise. Employees who successfully complete the program will receive an accredited certificate.
Special attention will be given to Curaçao’s local circumstances. The ministry said the knowledge acquired during the training must correspond with the daily work of Public Affairs and the laws and regulations applicable on the island.
The initiative is not intended to be a one-time effort. The ministry wants future Public Affairs employees to also have access to the necessary education and training, creating a more structural approach to professional development.
“Investing in knowledge is investing in the future. The better equipped our employees are to carry out their responsibilities, the better we can serve our residents,” Minister Shalten Hato said. “Our population has the right to a competent, reliable and professional government.”
Hato also expressed his appreciation for the commitment and dedication of Public Affairs employees and wished them success during the training program.
The courses will, however, temporarily affect services available to the public.
To give employees sufficient time to participate in the training over the coming months, Kranshi’s opening hours will be adjusted. Starting Wednesday, August 26, Kranshi will close to the public at 12:00 p.m. every Wednesday.
The ministry is asking residents to take the temporary change into account when planning visits to Kranshi and thanked the public for its understanding.
The original government announcement lists the effective date as “26.08.2016,” but given that the announcement was published on August 24, 2026, this appears to be a typographical error referring to August 26, 2026.