WILLEMSTAD - A building at 190 Breedestraat in Otrobanda, known for its poor condition for some time, was shored up by the authorities on Saturday, just before the start of the big carnival parade.
This emergency measure was essential to ensure the safety of the thousands of participants and spectators during the 'Gran Marcha' that afternoon.
Due to the deteriorating condition of the building, worsened by recent heavy rainfall, and the potential danger it posed to public safety, government agencies decided not to take any risks.
The section of the route, running from the entrance of the old hospital to Frederikstraat, was cordoned off on Sunday morning, and the public was urgently requested to avoid this area.
As a precautionary measure and to further minimize any risks, it was decided to stop the music during the passage of the grand parade later in the day.
Liability
The government is liable for negligence in hazardous situations during public events, as revealed in a previous ruling.
The Curaçao government had to pay 2.3 million guilders to a victim who was trapped under a collapsing wall during the 2014 carnival. As a result of the incident, the victim became paralyzed and is now wheelchair-dependent.
The court held the government liable for failing to cordon off the area to prevent people from getting close to the wall.