WILLEMSTAD – One of the key steps in the restructuring of Curaçao's tourist police organization, Politur, was the appointment of Imro Zwerwer to oversee its day-to-day operations under a formal Agreement for Services (Overeenkomst van Opdracht – OVO).
The contract, obtained by Curaçao Chronicle, offers the clearest picture to date of the role Zwerwer was brought in to perform and demonstrates that his assignment extends far beyond routine management. Instead, the agreement places him at the center of a broad organizational reform aimed at professionalizing Politur's operations and administration.
The agreement was signed after Politur began implementing sweeping governance reforms in 2025 following concerns over the organization's administration and financial controls.
Professionalizing the organization
Under the agreement, Zwerwer was hired to serve as Head of Politur, with responsibility for the organization's daily operational management.
His duties include overseeing personnel, coordinating operational activities, implementing organizational policies and ensuring that the foundation functions in accordance with the objectives established by its board. The contract also assigns him responsibility for strengthening the organization's internal structure and improving operational efficiency.
The appointment forms part of the wider rebuilding process documented in an independent audit, which concluded that Politur spent much of 2025 establishing governance procedures, financial controls and administrative systems that previously did not exist.
Direct accountability to the board
The agreement makes clear that Zwerwer reports directly to Politur's board rather than operating independently.
His responsibilities include executing board decisions, supervising operational personnel, ensuring compliance with internal procedures and providing regular reports on the organization's performance. Major policy decisions remain the responsibility of the board itself.
This reporting structure reflects one of the key governance principles introduced during the restructuring: separating operational management from strategic oversight.
Auditors have repeatedly emphasized the importance of clearly defining responsibilities and authority as part of strengthening internal governance.
Independent contractor arrangement
Rather than being appointed as a traditional employee, Zwerwer was engaged under an Agreement for Services, a legal arrangement governed by the provisions of Curaçao's Civil Code relating to service contracts.
The agreement specifies the duration of the assignment, compensation, reporting obligations and the scope of his authority, while making clear that the engagement is contractual rather than a standard employment relationship.
Such agreements are commonly used when organizations seek specialized expertise for restructuring projects or temporary management assignments.
Focus on rebuilding
The contract reflects the broader transformation taking place within Politur.
According to the independent audit, the organization introduced new financial procedures, digital recordkeeping, payroll controls, invoice approval systems and governance documentation during 2025.
Auditors also found that approximately 95 percent of reviewed financial transactions complied with applicable accounting standards, describing the organization as having made substantial progress compared with the situation that existed before the restructuring began.
The operational leadership assigned to Zwerwer complements those reforms by focusing on the day-to-day management required to implement the board's policies.
Challenges remain
While the contract establishes a clearer management structure, the audit also notes that Politur continues to face important organizational challenges.
The organization still operates with a very small administrative staff, making full segregation of financial duties impossible for the time being. In addition, the formal 2025 cooperation agreement with the Curaçao Tourist Board (CTB) had not yet been signed during the audit period, leaving certain governance arrangements unresolved.
Those issues are expected to be addressed during the next phase of the organization's reform process.
A different kind of appointment
Viewed in the context of Politur's broader restructuring, Zwerwer's appointment represents more than the hiring of another manager.
The contract illustrates the board's decision to place operational leadership within a clearly defined governance framework, with explicit responsibilities, reporting lines and accountability mechanisms.
For an organization seeking to rebuild public confidence after a period of controversy, that distinction may prove just as important as the administrative reforms taking place behind the scenes.