WILLEMSTAD - The Council for Law Enforcement has presented twelve recommendations to Curaçao’s Minister of Justice aimed at improving the operations of the Unit of Special Laws (UBW) within the Curaçao Police Force. The recommendations follow a formal request from Minister Shalten Hato, who asked the Council to investigate how the unit handles its responsibilities, particularly regarding firearm permit applications and event permits.

The investigation sought to determine whether the UBW is adequately equipped to process these applications according to legal standards. While the Council identified several bottlenecks and areas for improvement, it also concluded that the UBW generally works in a structured and methodical manner.

Structured but overstretched

In its findings, the Council stated:

“The UBW’s working methods are structured, align with standard administrative practices, and support the principles of good governance.”

According to the report, the UBW applies laws and regulations properly when handling event permit applications. In the case of firearm permit applications, the unit also largely follows the applicable legislation and administrative norms. Ho

wever, the Council highlighted a key issue:

Due to staff shortages,

High workload, and

Dependence on other actors in the process,

…the UBW cannot meet the legally mandated one-month deadline to decide on firearm permit requests. 

Deadline extension should be considered

Because of these structural challenges, the Council recommends that the government consider extending the legal deadline for processing firearm permits, arguing that the current timeframe is no longer realistic under existing operational conditions.

Path to improvement

The twelve recommendations are intended to help the UBW improve efficiency, strengthen internal processes, and ensure consistent compliance with legal requirements — especially in sensitive areas such as firearm licensing.

The Ministry of Justice has not yet issued a formal response to the recommendations.