ORANJESTAD (AAN): Recently, Minister of Justice Arthur Dowers visited the Recherche Department at Wayaca to address the ongoing shortage of personnel.
Minister Dowers noted that in recent years, several investigators have retired or been promoted, while no new police recruits were brought in for an extended period. This has resulted in limited staff, creating pressure on daily operations and case management.
He emphasized that qualified personnel within the Aruba Police Force (KPA) can join Recherche to strengthen the department. Instructions have been given to KPA leadership to ensure enough investigators are available to handle all cases efficiently.
Regarding budget concerns, Minister Dowers clarified that past reductions were in “goods and services” and not personnel. Recruitment initiatives were launched in 2025 and continued into 2026 to replenish staff for KPA and KIA.
The Minister reaffirmed his commitment to actively addressing the shortage and taking concrete actions to reinforce the operational capacity of Recherche and the Police Force, ensuring both staff and citizens receive proper support and security.
