WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao’s justice system continues to face serious structural problems despite years of reform plans, investments, and policy agendas. That conclusion is contained in the newly published 2025 State of Law Enforcement report by the Dutch Kingdom’s Council for Law Enforcement.
According to the report, staffing shortages, limited execution capacity, outdated legislation, and weak implementation continue to undermine the effectiveness of law enforcement and the functioning of the justice chain on the island.
The Council stated that while Curaçao has developed numerous policy plans, monitoring systems, dashboards, and reform agendas, the practical implementation of those plans continues to lag behind.
The report specifically points to delays within the Kingdom reform package, known as the Landspakket, where promised personnel expansion in the “hard sectors” of justice — including the police and prison system — has largely failed to materialize.
The Council also warned that monitoring systems alone will not solve the problem if government institutions continue lacking the manpower and expertise necessary to carry out reforms.
According to the report, Curaçao’s justice sector remains heavily dependent on a small number of individuals managing multiple reform projects simultaneously while also maintaining their regular duties.
The Council further stressed that the protection of public order and the rule of law in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom should now be viewed as a strategic security issue requiring long-term investments and stronger governance.