Multidisciplinary inspections against undermining through RIEC partnership
On Tuesday, the 28th of January 2025, multidisciplinary inspections were conducted in the morning at two locations of a construction company on Bonaire. These inspections were triggered by suspicions of violations of laws and regulations regarding the residence and work of foreigners. The multidisciplinary inspections aimed to verify whether individuals at these locations possessed the required documentation and to assess compliance with other laws and regulations relevant to the participating partners.
During the inspections, there were no direct violations detected. However, findings that require more investigation were uncovered. Further investigations are being carried out by the relevant chain partners based on these findings.
The following partners participated in the inspections: Labour Inspectorate, Dutch Caribbean Police Force, Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (KMar), Immigration and Naturalisation Services Caribbean Netherlands, Directorate of Supervision & Enforcement (O.L.B.), BES Public Prosecutor in cooperation with the Regional Information and Expertise Centre Caribbean Netherlands (RIEC CN).
The RIEC CN plays a crucial role in tackling undermining* on Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba. It is a collaborative effort in which all participating partners play a leading role, investing in cooperation and information sharing between different agencies. This cooperation increases the effectiveness of inspections and interventions, with the aim of ensuring security and integrity on the islands.
*In cases of undermining crime, criminals exploit legitimate businesses and (government) services for illegal activities. This erodes norms and reduces the sense of safety and quality of life. This phenomenon is known as undermining.