WILLEMSTAD - Save Zakito, an environmental organization, has reported that polluted mangrove water is being pumped into the sea by construction company MNO, acting on behalf of the government. The measure is intended to combat the mosquito infestation in the Zakito area.
However, Save Zakito claims the current approach is ineffective. The organization argues that the government should identify and eliminate small freshwater pools where mosquitoes breed. According to them, this would provide a long-term solution, as the breeding grounds persist, causing the mosquitoes to return repeatedly.
In response, the area is occasionally sprayed with pesticides, but this offers only short-term relief. Save Zakito also raises concerns about the potential health effects on residents, which have not been studied. The organization is urging the government to implement a more sustainable and effective solution.
Additionally, Save Zakito warns about the environmental impact of discharging polluted water from the Zakito lagoon into the sea. "This threatens the coral reef and contaminates swimming areas at the Parasasa and Piscadera beaches, posing possible health risks to beachgoers," the organization stated.
The group is calling on the government to address the root cause of the problem by eliminating mosquito breeding grounds rather than relying on temporary, potentially harmful measures. They also stress the need for warning signs at beaches and public information campaigns about the associated health risks.