News item | 31-01-2025 | 14:30
Crime and instability in Venezuela are influenced by cross -border organized crime and instability on the work of the Coarsguard Caribbean. The Coast Guard therefore needs more staff and works on the replacement of equipment. This is stated in the annual plan 2025 Coast Guard Caribbean that Defense Minister Brekelmans sent to the Chamber.
In the field of equipment it includes the replacement of the cutters and the shore radarketen on the Windward Islands. In addition, the Coast Guard is expanding considerably and new functions will have to be completed in the coming months. That is immediately one of the biggest challenges because of the requested specialisms. New staff is recruited as much as possible in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.
Troubled environment
The annual plan also contains the most important environmental factors that help determine the work of the Coast Guard. The Caribbean part of the Kingdom is a dynamic region with geopolitical, socio -economic and climatic challenges. For example, the ongoing crisis in Venezuela has destabilizing consequences for the entire region. Irregular immigration from the South American country is an example of this. In addition, the Caribbean is struggling with cross -border organized crime. In particular drug and human smuggling. Periodic (extreme) climatic conditions, such as hurricanes, also occur. These environmental factors have a direct influence on the work of the coast guard.
Wide range of duties
The Coast Guard is the maritime link in the law enforcement chain of the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. For Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and the public bodies Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, the coast guard also performs in addition to service tasks, such as Search and Rescue, also investigating and supervisory tasks. This not only includes drug fighting, general police tasks, the fight against terrorism and border control, but also maintaining environmental regulations and combating human smuggling and trade.
The annual plan builds on the long-term plan Personnel 2021-2028 and the long-term plan Materieel 2019-2028.