WILLEMSTAD - Following a recent meeting with the Curaçao parliament, Fundashon E Hende (FEH) has escalated its efforts to push for the transfer of public housing units to residents. While the details of the meeting with the VVRP (Traffic, Transport, and Spatial Planning) Committee remain confidential due to legal restrictions, FEH has emphasized that this transfer is "inevitable" and crucial for ensuring justice for the people.
The FEH delegation, led by president Ardieth Meriën-Martha, met with lawmakers on September 27 to discuss developments related to local public housing. Although the specifics of their discussions cannot be publicly disclosed due to non-disclosure agreements, FEH asserts that the transfer is a necessary step toward rectifying ongoing issues and advocating for fairness.
In a statement issued after the meeting, Meriën-Martha stressed that the government and housing foundations, such as Fundashon Kas Popular (FKP) and Fundashon Fiansa Popular (FFP), have been flagrantly violating laws for years. This includes the issuance of two blank checks amounting to 12 million guilders, which were provided by the government to FKP.
FEH, which represents the interests of people living in FKP houses, pointed to two key legal frameworks that are being disregarded by the housing foundation. Meriën-Martha criticized successive governments for failing to intervene in these violations.
The first regulation in question is the "Eilandsbesluit houdende algemene maatregelen" from May 12, 1960, which governs the treatment of applications for public housing rentals. The second is the "Eilandsverordening houdende bepalingen nopens de verkrijging in eigendom van volkswoningen door de huurders," published in 1962, which outlines the provisions for tenants to acquire ownership of public housing units.
The FEH delegation, which included legal advisor Artoir Herrera, Luzeth Sambo, Atherly Labast, and Mirna Silonero-Lodrigues, also met with independent parliamentarian Corrine Djaoen-Genaro and members of the ruling MFK party, including Ana-Maria Pauletta, Juniël Carolina, and Frenciss Lourens.
FEH's renewed push for the transfer of public housing ownership aligns with its long-standing goal of ensuring that tenants, many of whom have lived in these homes for years, are granted full ownership, fulfilling the legal rights they believe have been denied for too long.