WILLEMSTAD:--- On Friday, June 14th, the Minister of Justice, Shalten Hato, visited the Coastguard Dutch Caribbean Region and the Military from Curaçao. This visit was aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of the operations and challenges that both organizations face on a daily basis.
The Minister was welcomed on the Naval Base Parera by the Navy Commander in the Caribbean Region and also the Director of the Coastguard, Walter Hansen, and the Deputy Director of the Coastguard, Joëlle de Jong-Mercelina.
The day started off with an extensive program at the Coastguard. The purpose of the visit was to give Minister Hato a better view of the daily tasks of the Coastguard, including combating illegal activities at sea (such as drug smuggling and human trafficking), search and rescue, and safeguarding our maritime environment. The Coastguard, at this moment, is involved in a transition project, which will create space for approximately 40 workers next year. Also the Minister had the opportunity to participate in several sports activities with Coastguard personnel to be able to experience the importance of physical top condition for this labor. The Minister expressed his appreciation for the dedication and professionalism of the Coastguard Personnel and emphasized the importance of this work for national security.
During the afternoon, the Minister was moved by Coastguard helicopter to Wacao's training grounds. He was welcomed here by the Commander of the Curaçao Military, Captain Sicni Meulens. The program entailed a presentation of the current military operations and training programs, which are aimed at ensuring security and stability in the region. The Minister assisted in a military exercise and had the opportunity to speak with the soldiers about their experiences and the challenges they encountered in their jobs. The Minister emphasized in his speech the importance of cooperation among the several security services. He also expressed his appreciation to the Curaçao Military and underlined the importance of further professionalization of the Curaçao Military.