Walter Hansen (centre) is the new Commander of the Navy in the Dutch Caribbean region.
WILLEMSTAD--Commander Walter Hansen is the new Commander of the Navy in the Dutch Caribbean region. In this function he also is Coast Guard Caribbean Region Director and Task Force 4.4 Commander. Hansen took over the baton from Brigadier General of the Marines in Curaçao Frank Boots on Thursday.
Boots started three years ago in turbulent times, as COVID-19 still played a major role. The role of the military forces from Curaçao became increasingly important, partly because of this, resulting in many requests for assistance.
St. Maarten Governor Ajamu Baly (right), Aruba Governor Alfonso Boekhoudt (second right) and Curaçao Governor Lucille George-Wout (third right).
The ceremony in Curaçao was attended by three governors, military and political representatives from the Kingdom and abroad, local authorities and other guests.
Retiring Brigadier General of the Marines in Curaçao Frank Boots (centre) during the ceremony, with new Commander Hansen (left) looking on.
US Consul General Margy Bond flanked by high-ranking American military officials present for the occasion.
Despite the fact that there have been no real hurricanes the last three years, Boots in 2021 led the deployment of military aid after the earthquake in Haiti. The Dutch deployment took place within a European Union humanitarian aid mission.
The cooperation with the countries has been central in the past three years. For example, agreements were made to set up the social training programme on Aruba and Curaçao. Collaborations have also been strengthened internationally to put even more focus on information-driven action. Countries in the region such as Colombia are of great importance in this respect and important steps have been taken to cooperate more intensively.
In 2022, the Ministry of Defence and the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard combined for a record year of drug busts. A total of approximately 35,000 kilos of drugs was intercepted.
Besides the operational success this year the Velas Latinoamerica Curaçao played a major role; the feature film “Invasion” was shot and the series with the Coast Guard became an international ratings hit on National Geographic.
The year after that, the royal family visited the Caribbean region, with a first acquaintance for Princess Amalia. Defence in the Caribbean region played an important role during this special visit, in both the foreground and background.
New Commander Hansen is not unknown in the Caribbean region. During his career Hansen accumulated a lot of experience with his contribution in Defence as well as with the Coast Guard in the Caribbean Region of the Kingdom. He has held several positions locally, such as commander
of the Coast Guard cutter Jaguar, staff Officer CZMCARIB in charge of international counter-drugs operations, Head of Operations at Coast Guard Caribbean Region and during deployment of several patrol vessels. Moreover, he was a policy advisor for Caribbean and Coast Guard affairs from the Netherlands.
Hansen will continue the path of his predecessor for the improvement and renewal of the Defence and Coast Guard organisation. In doing so, he strives to continue the successful collaboration with local and international system partners. “Together we will continue to strengthen our organisation and fulfil the mission of the Commandant of the Navy in the Caribbean and the Caribbean Coast Guard,” he said.
Boots is leaving Defence. He is going on functional early retirement.
