WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao's Ministry of Justice has concluded a week-long youth program designed to introduce young participants to the island's justice and emergency services, providing them with firsthand experiences that officials hope will inspire future careers in public service.
The second part of the program took participants to the Curaçao Fire Department's training facility at Koraal Specht, where they observed firefighters conducting emergency response exercises and learned about the preparation required to respond to real-life incidents.
Justice Minister Shalten Hato said he was pleased that the young people had the opportunity to gain a closer understanding of the various organizations that make up Curaçao's justice system.
"As Minister of Justice, I am very happy that these young people were able to get to know our justice organizations up close," Hato said. "I am confident that the experiences and lessons they gained this week will stay with them for a long time."
Throughout the program, participants visited the Curaçao Police Force (KPC), the Curaçao Detention and Correction Center (SDKK), the Curaçao Juvenile Justice Institution (JJIC), and attended a human trafficking awareness presentation by Path Curaçao. They also learned about the daily work carried out by the Fire and Disaster Response Unit.
According to the Ministry of Justice, the initiative is part of a broader effort to invest in Curaçao's youth by exposing them to career opportunities within the justice and public safety sectors.
"We are investing in our young people because today they are discovering new possibilities, and tomorrow they could become the professionals who serve and protect Curaçao," the ministry said.