WILLEMSTAD – The management of the mental clinic Klinika Capriles has confirmed that security guards at the psychiatric institution are not authorized to administer medication to patients, following concerns raised by security personnel and their labor union about the responsibilities assigned to them.
In a letter dated October 13, 2026, addressed to Ms. Suares-Mathilda of the CBV labor union, the management of GGz Curaçao acknowledged growing unrest among security employees over their duties at the institution.
The concerns prompted security personnel to seek assistance from their union. As the situation escalated, the Minister of Social Development, Labor and Welfare (SOAW) called upon the government labor mediator to intervene and help restore workplace stability.
A meeting was subsequently held involving the labor mediator, the management of Klinika Capriles, and representatives of the union.
According to the letter, the discussions provided clarification regarding the responsibilities of security guards, particularly in relation to the administration of medication to psychiatric patients.
The management acknowledged that security personnel had apparently received instructions to administer or provide medication to patients. However, it explicitly distanced itself from such instructions, emphasizing that established medical protocols clearly determine which personnel are authorized to administer medication.
“A security guard is not permitted to administer or provide medication,” the management stated in the letter.
The institution further clarified that its management had never instructed anyone to direct security guards to administer or distribute medication.
The letter raises questions about how such instructions reached security personnel and whether employees were being asked to perform duties outside their professional responsibilities.
GGz Curaçao indicated that, now that management has been informed of the situation, an internal investigation will be conducted to establish what happened.
Appropriate measures will be taken where necessary, according to the letter.
The correspondence was signed by G. Cijntje-Maduro on behalf of the Board of Directors of GGz Curaçao.
The intervention of the government labor mediator underscores the seriousness of the workplace concerns and the importance of maintaining clear professional boundaries within psychiatric care.
The letter does not specify whether security guards actually administered medication to patients, how long the disputed instructions may have been circulating, or who allegedly issued them.
The findings of the announced internal investigation have not yet been made public.