WILLEMSTAD - In a letter directed to the President of Parliament, Ana Maria Pauletta, a member of the PAR faction, has expressed deep concerns about the emergence of illegal landfills in Curaçao. Pauletta highlights the regrettable trend of clandestine dumping of household and business debris on public lands, posing a serious threat to the environment and public health.
Pauletta emphasizes the need for coordinated efforts from various ministries, including GMN, VVRP, and Justice, to address the escalating issue of illegal landfills. She draws attention to the importance of concrete actions and preventative measures to curb these practices before irreversible damage occurs. The letter refers to past initiatives, notably the collaboration with X-Tim, a dedicated team responsible for monitoring and penalizing environmental infractions. However, Pauletta notes a lack of recent updates on the team's activities.
The letter raises critical questions directed at the minister, urging a proactive stance:
How does the minister plan to intensify efforts, in collaboration with other ministries, to counteract illegal landfill activities?
What specific actions are being taken to prevent and control the creation of illegal landfills and debris dumping on public and private lands?
For areas already contaminated, what measures is the minister implementing to clean and restore these sites?
How does the minister evaluate the effectiveness of the X-Tim team in monitoring and penalizing environmental infractions?
Can the minister provide information on the allocated funding from the GMN ministry to the Department of Environment and Nature Inspection, along with an overview of the department's functioning?
What measures are in place to inform and educate the community about the negative consequences of illegal landfills and debris dumping?
How does the minister plan to protect the community from potential health risks associated with these activities?
What is the current status of environmental laws in Curaçao?
Pauletta also emphasizes the essential role of organizations like Selikor and other garbage collection companies as crucial partners in finding sustainable solutions to this environmental challenge.
The letter concludes with a call for the minister to consider organizing an informative summit or session involving all relevant partners. This collaborative approach aims to gather information from diverse perspectives and establish a comprehensive, lasting management strategy for the benefit of all citizens.