WILLEMSTAD – The government, specifically the Ministry of Health, Environment, and Nature (GMN), has until April 1 to put an end to the dumping of poultry manure and carcasses at Dam Pretu once and for all. 

This demand is outlined in the petition titled Dam Pretu: A Dark Chapter, issued by the neighborhood advocacy group Unidat di Habitantenan di Pariba. The petition highlights the frustration of residents, who state they will no longer tolerate government deception and inaction regarding the environmental and public health hazards at Dam Pretu. 

A spokesperson for the organization emphasized that if GMN fails to implement a solution by the deadline, an action plan will be announced. The spokesperson also features in an awareness campaign about the issue, which was posted Monday morning on the Facebook page of Curaçao Nature Conservation. According to the campaign, Dam Pretu has become a “horror story” since it turned into a dumping ground for fresh poultry manure mixed with carcasses. 

The problem, once concentrated in the neighborhoods of Sun Valley and Sunset Heights, has now spread to multiple districts, including Sint Joris, West Groot Sint Joris, Kent U Zelf, Minguelitu, Kwartje, Montaña, Ma Luisa, Beurs, Oude Water, Hunde Water, Soledat, Weto, Jan Luis, Santa Catharina, Koraal Partier, Abrahamsz, Janboos, Nabij Janboos, Popo, Montañ’abou, Santa Rosa, and Herst. 

In August 2024, protests from affected residents led to a positive agreement between GMN and the community. Among the commitments made was the definitive cessation of illegal dumping at Dam Pretu. However, with continued reports of waste disposal in the area, residents now demand decisive action from the government before the April 1 deadline.