WILLEMSTAD – Poverty reduction, debt assistance and preventing water disconnections were among the key issues discussed during a meeting between Minister of Social Development, Labor and Welfare Charetti America-Francisca and the Curaçao Ombudsman.
According to SOAW, both parties found that they share the same vision on several major social issues and agreed that sustainable solutions require long-term cooperation rather than isolated initiatives.
The discussions covered structural approaches to combating poverty, improving debt relief programs and strengthening communication between the government and citizens.
Particular attention was given to the growing problem of residents falling behind on water bill payments. The minister and the Ombudsman discussed structural solutions for households with serious payment arrears, as well as the development of new policies aimed at preventing the disconnection of this essential public service whenever possible.
Both organizations agreed that complex social challenges cannot be solved by individual institutions acting alone. Instead, they emphasized the need for clear agreements, stronger partnerships and a shared long-term strategy.
Follow-up meetings have already been scheduled to further strengthen cooperation between SOAW, the Ombudsman and other stakeholders involved in addressing Curaçao's social challenges.