WILLEMSTAD - No toilets, no floors, or other basic amenities in a home: over 3,300 residences in Curaçao are in such poor condition that living in them is deemed irresponsible. Yet, these houses are not vacant, and people are residing in them.
This is revealed in the report titled 'Curaçao Still an Island of Extreme Living Conditions,' outlining a concerning reality. The report, compiled by a group of concerned citizens, calls for a large-scale renovation project to improve these distressed residences.
However, this call has fallen on deaf ears so far. Last year, the report was submitted to Reda Sosial, but there was no response. Subsequently, the report was handed over to the governor, who promised to communicate with a government representative, but the committee has heard nothing to this day.
Afterward, the committee approached the Ombudsman, and the Dutch representation also received a copy, forwarding it to Secretary of State Alexandra van Huffelen.
Ms. Van Huffelen found the report very good and advised the committee to approach the government to include it in the national package. Based on this, the concerned citizens handed over the report to the parliament and the government, but once again, no action has been taken.
SEDA
Ultimately, the organization decided to hand over the report to a dynamic organization, SEDA, hoping they will continue the project to address poverty situations in homes.
Meyrtha Leetz-Cijntje of Sentro pa Desaroyo di Dama i su Famia (SEDA), an organization dedicated to women and their families, emphasizes the need for the project. "There is a chance that we may have no choice but to demolish the houses," she explains, "These are very sad cases that deeply concern me."
The residents' stories are deeply affecting. Efraim Cijntje, one of the initiators, describes how poor living conditions lead to trauma, school problems in children, and even cases of incest. These extreme situations underscore the urgency of intervention.
The report proposes an ambitious renovation project, estimated at over 260 million guilders, possibly financed by funds from the Netherlands, the European Union, or the United Nations.
According to those involved, the situation in Curaçao demands immediate attention. The combination of aging homes, an increasing number in poor condition, and the impact on residents' quality of life makes this a matter of national importance. The report not only exposes the problems but also provides a path to improvement, waiting for action from the involved parties.