Instability in Venezuela and cross-border organized crime are affecting the work of the Caribbean Coast Guard. It therefore needs more staff and is working on the replacement of equipment. This is stated in the Annual Plan 2025 Caribbean Coast Guard. Minister of Defense Ruben Brekelmans sent it to the House of Representatives January 31.
In the field of equipment, this includes the replacement of the cutters and the shore radar chain on the Windward Islands. In addition, the Coast Guard is expanding considerably and new positions must be filled in the coming months. This is immediately one of the biggest challenges because of the required specialisms. New staff will be 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 climatological 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.
Broad range of tasks
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 entities of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, the Coast Guard also carries out investigative and supervisory tasks in addition to service tasks, such as search and rescue. This includes not only the fight against drugs, general police tasks, counter-terrorism and border control. This also includes enforcing environmental regulations and combating human smuggling and trafficking.
The annual plan builds on the Long-Term Plan for Personnel 2021-2028 and the Long-Term Plan for Equipment 2019-2028.