WILLEMSTAD - The Ministry of SOAW, under the leadership of Minister Ruthmilda Larmonie-Cecilia, has commenced the second phase of the water connection project this week in collaboration with Aqualectra. The project aims to provide access to the essential need for water for everyone in Curaçao.
In the first phase, 86 households were connected, with a portion of the water bill being subsidized by SOAW. The ministry has already allocated a total of 1.65 million guilders for this project. The focus for the second phase is to connect another significant number of households, identified through extensive screening as financially incapable of bearing the costs.
This project, initiated by SOAW in November of last year, received a tremendous response from the community. Over 300 families have applied to qualify for reimbursement for water connection and their water bills. Following thorough screening and investigation, the first phase successfully connected 86 families to the water network, with SOAW also assisting in settling any outstanding debts with Aqualectra and handling the initial payments post-connection.
In this second phase, Aqualectra will reconnect the remaining 300 households currently without water. SOAW will once again provide reimbursement for the connection, settle any outstanding debts, and cover the initial water bills for these families. The (re)connection of water will take place before the upcoming holidays. In this way, SOAW contributes, even if modestly, to a comfortable year-end for these families.
In addition to ensuring a water connection for their homes, all families will also participate free of charge in courses aimed at promoting responsible water usage within the project. This educational initiative is carried out in close collaboration with Aqualectra.
The Ministry of SOAW is committed to ensuring that all residents of Curaçao have access to life's basic necessities. Water, as an essential element, plays a crucial role; hence, this project is essential and a priority for Minister Larmonie Cecilia and her ministry. "We are very pleased that we can ensure that all 300 registered households have a working water connection by the end of 2023 and before the holidays," stated Larmonie-Cecilia.
