Report Contents
(U) What OIG Inspected
(U) OIG inspected the executive direction, program and policy implementation, resource management, and information management operations of the U.S. Mission to the Dutch Caribbean in Curaçao.
(U) What OIG Recommends
(U) OIG made 26 recommendations: 25 to the U.S. Mission to the Dutch Caribbean and 1 to the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. (U) In its comments on the draft report, the Department concurred with 25 recommendations and neither agreed nor disagreed with 1 recommendation. OIG considers all 26 recommendations resolved. The Department’s response to each recommendation, and OIG’s reply, can be found in the Recommendations section of this report. The Department’s formal written responses are reprinted in their entirety in Appendix B.
(U) What OIG Found
- (U) The Chief of Mission led the U.S. Mission to the Dutch Caribbean in a professional and collaborative manner, especially during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- (U) A lack of clarity between the authorities of the Chief of Mission to the Dutch Caribbean and the Chief of Mission to the Netherlands could delay a U.S. Government response to a crisis in the region.
- (U) The mission lacked documentation to support its 2019 and 2020 Annual Chief of Mission Management Control Statement of Assurance.
- (U) The Consular Section’s fraud prevention strategy was outdated and did not include standard operating procedures.
- (U) The mission did not follow Department of State requirements to monitor unliquidated obligations, resulting in $400,000 that could be put to better use.
- (U) The Mission to the Dutch Caribbean lacked adequate oversight and management controls for its property inventory, cashiering operations, and safety certifications for residential and nonresidential properties.
- (U) The mission had deficiencies associated with emergency readiness due to problems with equipment and user training. Additionally, the mission did not comply with Department standards in records management or record emails.
- (U) Spotlight on Success: The Consular Section produced engaging and effective “Consular Roundup” emails to stakeholders, featuring photos from outreach events, workload graphs and charts, and project updates.
Report Terms
Report Recommendations
The Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, in coordination with the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, the Office of Management Strategy and Solutions, and the Office of the Legal Adviser, should formally clarify and deconflict, if necessary, the delineation of authorities between the Chiefs of Mission to the Dutch Caribbean and the Netherlands.
Mission to the Dutch Caribbean should conduct formal, annual reviews of its Integrated Country Strategy in accordance with Department guidelines.
Mission to the Dutch Caribbean should prepare the Annual Chief of Mission Management Control Statement of Assurance in accordance with Department guidance.
Mission to the Dutch Caribbean, in coordination with the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, should draft and implement approved Leahy vetting standard operating procedures.
Mission to the Dutch Caribbean should bring its management of foreign assistance grants into compliance with Department standards.
Mission to the Dutch Caribbean should use PD Tools to report on public diplomacy programs and activities.
Mission to the Dutch Caribbean should update its fraud prevention strategy and establish standard operating procedures to implement that strategy, in accordance with Department standards.
Mission to the Dutch Caribbean, in coordination with the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations and the Bureau of Consular Affairs, should bring the Consular Section’s physical space into compliance with Department standards.
Mission to the Dutch Caribbean should bring its cashier operations, including management oversight of those operations, into compliance with Department standards.
Mission to the Dutch Caribbean should review and de-obligate all invalid unliquidated obligations without activity for more than 1 year, in accordance with Department standards, so funds of up to $400,000 can be put to better use.
Mission to the Dutch Caribbean should submit reports for its outdated foreign per diem rates and living quarters allowance rates to the Bureau of Administration’s Office of Allowances in accordance with Department guidelines.
Mission to the Dutch Caribbean should implement personal property management internal controls in accordance with Department standards.
Mission to the Dutch Caribbean should comply with all Department Overseas Motor Vehicle Safety Management Program requirements.
Mission to the Dutch Caribbean should comply with Department standards on training employees in the use of powered industrial trucks, such as forklifts.
Mission to the Dutch Caribbean should update the Real Property Application, and complete safety certifications for all its real property in the Post Occupational Safety and Health Officer Certification Application, as required by Department standards.
Mission to the Dutch Caribbean should form a standing Safety, Health and Environment Management committee, as required by Department standards.
Mission to the Dutch Caribbean should prepare standard operating procedures for key human resources processes, including position management, time and attendance, and training.
Mission to the Dutch Caribbean should implement a formal training program for its LE staff in accordance with Department standards.
Mission to the Dutch Caribbean should comply with Department standards for the designation of officers for specific mission responsibilities.
Mission to the Dutch Caribbean should compile a duty officer guide.
Mission to the Dutch Caribbean should test the information technology contingency plan for the unclassified network in accordance with Department standards.
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Mission to the Dutch Caribbean should implement a records management program that complies with Department standards.
Mission to the Dutch Caribbean should implement use of record email to document official business and to archive Diplomatic Notes, in accordance with Department standards.