Public Annual Report of the VDC: But Why?

Public Annual Report of the VDC: But Why?

12 September 2025

Recently, I read the 2024 annual report of the Curaçao Security Service (VDC), which was made public for the first time. A milestone in itself: transparency always sounds good, but I wonder what it truly delivers.

In short, the report reveals that Curaçao is vulnerable on several fronts: geopolitical tensions stemming from Venezuela, economic dependence on tourism and imports, infiltration by criminal networks, and the use of shadow fleets that fly the Curaçaoan flag to circumvent international sanctions. Additionally, the VDC emphasizes the need for stronger governance, cooperation with the private sector, and increased citizen awareness (Curaçao Security Service (Veiligheidsdienst Curaçao, 2025).

Still, I do not fully understand why making such a report public is necessarily a good thing. It feels as if we are following a hype: transparency for the sake of transparency. Is it really intended to make society safer, or is it mainly a way to show that “something is being done”?

Transparency is valuable, but safety must be tangible, not just visible on paper. It seems essential to me that we first clarify the purpose before making such reports public.

Miguel Goede