WILLEMSTAD - Minister of Justice Shalten Hato (MFK) has acknowledged that the Public Prosecutor’s Office (OM) made serious mistakes and pledged to improve communication and transparency. Speaking during a Question Hour session in Parliament, Hato said the OM has tightened its internal protocols following a recent calculation error in which a “200-year payment plan” was mistakenly communicated.

According to the minister, the incident was the result of “a human error within the organization,” for which he formally apologized on behalf of his ministry. “The trust of the community is essential. We must show that we learn from our mistakes,” Hato said.

A recent survey by the University of the Dutch Caribbean found that less than half of the population considers the Public Prosecutor’s Office trustworthy. Members of Parliament from several parties, including MAN-PIN, PNP, and MFK, voiced concern over declining public confidence, citing previous controversies such as the Ennia and Girobank cases.

Hato announced that additional resources will be allocated for communication and public education campaigns aimed at improving transparency and rebuilding trust in the OM. The parliamentary session was tense, as multiple MPs criticized the ministry for what they described as a persistent lack of openness.