WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao’s justice sector still lacks a functioning integrity framework, despite repeated warnings about corruption risks and the importance of public trust in law enforcement institutions. That warning is included in the 2025 State of Law Enforcement report published by the Council for Law Enforcement.
According to the report, government organizations involved in justice and law enforcement are not sufficiently equipped to implement effective integrity policies. The Council states that there are no structural integrity training programs, no properly appointed confidential advisors, no updated code of conduct, and no operational integrity chamber.
The report stresses that integrity is essential for maintaining public confidence in law enforcement agencies and the justice chain.
The Council noted that Curaçao’s small-scale society creates additional risks because personal and professional relationships are often closely intertwined. The report references existing Dutch case law showing that private and business relationships can easily become blurred in small communities.
The Council also warned that ministries and government organizations remain vulnerable to conflicts of interest and inappropriate influence if clear integrity rules are not enforced.
Special concern was expressed regarding government departments involved in permits and licensing procedures, which the report describes as particularly sensitive to corruption and irregularities.
The Council again emphasized the importance of the Landsrecherche Curaçao, the special investigative unit responsible for integrity investigations involving public officials, and called for the organization to receive adequate resources and staffing.