ORANJESTAD, Aruba – Aruba Police Recruitment is set to receive renewed government attention after Justice Minister Arthur Dowers pledged to strengthen the Aruba Police Force with additional officers as KPA celebrated its 40th anniversary.
Cuerpo Policial Aruba marked four decades of service with a special Mass at the Pro-Cathedral of San Francisco in Oranjestad. The ceremony brought together government officials, police leadership, retired officers, invited delegations and members of the community for a moment of reflection, gratitude and prayer.
Among those present were Governor of Aruba Alfonso Boekhoudt, Justice Minister Arthur Dowers, KPA Chief Commissioner Ramon Arnhem, Vice President of Parliament Muzaninn Wever, members of Parliament, senior justice officials, department heads, retired police officers and invited delegations from abroad.
At the conclusion of the religious service, Minister Dowers addressed those in attendance and congratulated KPA on reaching the important 40-year milestone.
Dowers said policing has changed significantly over the past four decades. Uniforms, working methods, leadership structures and the nature of crime itself have evolved. He noted that criminal activity has become more complex and continues to adapt, requiring police organizations to modernize and improve their capabilities.
At the same time, Dowers stressed that one principle must remain unchanged: integrity.
According to the minister, an honest and trustworthy police force is essential to the proper functioning of a democratic state and to maintaining public confidence. When problems occur within an institution, he said they must be handled transparently so lessons can be learned and the organization can continue to improve.
The minister also highlighted one of the biggest challenges currently facing KPA: a shortage of personnel.
Dowers said Aruba has fewer police officers today than it did roughly 10 years ago, even though the workload and complexity of police duties have increased. This places additional pressure on current officers, including those who are approaching the final stages of their careers.
Aruba Police Recruitment is therefore expected to become an important part of the government’s strategy for strengthening law enforcement capacity.
Dowers publicly committed himself, together with the government, to recruiting additional groups of police officers. The goal is to bring more young people into the organization, provide them with proper training and gradually create a new generation capable of taking on greater responsibility within the force.
The minister said the government is aware of the pressure currently experienced within KPA and emphasized that strengthening the organization must include both recruitment and proper professional training.
The anniversary celebration also included police delegations from the Netherlands, Curaçao, Bonaire, Saba, St. Eustatius, Sint Maarten and Suriname.
Dowers welcomed the visiting delegations and said their presence symbolized both solidarity and a shared commitment to combating crime locally, within the Kingdom and internationally.
After the Mass, the participating police organizations took part in an official parade past the Bestuurskantoor. Minister Dowers and other members of the official delegation received and saluted the participating units.
At the end of his address, Dowers congratulated the police chief, leadership, active members, retirees and the entire Aruba Police Force for their contributions over the past 40 years.
The anniversary was presented not only as a moment to reflect on KPA’s history, but also as an opportunity to look ahead.
With Aruba Police Recruitment expected to receive more attention, the government says the next phase should focus on strengthening integrity, developing new officers and preparing the force for future security challenges.
