WILLEMSTAD – Minister Shalten Hato is requesting assistance from the Netherlands to build a new prison. He is aware of the current situation in which two of the institutions in the prison system are located.
Minister Hato has taken responsibility for guaranteeing and respecting the rights of all individuals and has approached Minister for Protection of Rights, Mr. Franc Weerwind, with a request for the Netherlands to contribute to the construction of a new prison or to help improve the infrastructure of the existing institutions.
Curacao currently has two prisons. The first is SDKK, where adult prisoners are held, and the second is JJIC, which is responsible for executing decisions regarding minors based on both civil and criminal law.
Minister Hato explained in his letter that the situation at SDKK is concerning and requires immediate attention. The Netherlands, like any other state, must respect the rights of all individuals, including those who are detained.
Minister Hato referred to several reports from the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) that have highlighted the problems faced by SDKK over the years.
In the past, renovations and infrastructure changes were made to SDKK, but the building has been left standing and has faced the same problems over the years. Therefore, investment in the current infrastructure is not an option.
According to Minister Hato, the current situation is concerning, and therefore the Netherlands must invest as soon as possible in a new building to ensure that the rights of detainees are safeguarded. As a country, it is our duty to respect human rights. Minister Hato indicated that a new, modern prison with advanced technology would contribute to increasing the productivity of employees and create a more pleasant working environment.
The poor state of the penitentiary centers cannot persist for a long time. Minister Hato emphasized that it is time to build a new prison that meets international standards, with advanced technology to ensure that the rights of all individuals in the institution are met. The demand made by Mr. Corallo in the European court has drawn attention to the situation in Sint Maarten.
Bron: Curacao Chronicle