WILLEMSTAD - Consumer Interest Curacao Foundation is dealing with a capacity problem and sees an acceleration in the number of complaints it receives. Maria van Os is the only employee who says she cannot prevent a complaint stop.
As an unpaid and sole employee of the Consumer Interest Curaçao Foundation, Maria van Os says that people think she is a large organization, but in fact, she handles all complaints alone. Since its inception in February 2021, 175 complaints have been received, ten of which are still pending.
“Some complaints are resolved quickly, but other complaints take longer. These are mainly complaints related to the government or government agencies," says Van Os. The foundation has deliberately opted for no subsidy because it is thus independent of political or commercial interference. But no subsidy also means no budget for employees, location, and fixed costs. “That makes the work a lot more difficult.”
The Consumer Interest Curaçao Foundation is trying to prevent a temporary complaint stop, but as a temporary measure, the organization cannot be reached on Fridays.