WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao Parliament will hold a question hour on Friday afternoon focusing on two major healthcare and environmental issues: the fire at the Malpais landfill and its possible health consequences for nearby residents, and the financial situation and structural funding of the Curaçao Medical Center (CMC).
The session is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, October 2, according to an official notice issued by Parliament. Minister of Health, Environment and Nature Tyron Boekhoudt has been called to Parliament to address both subjects.
The first topic concerns the fire at the Malpais landfill, the smoke it has generated and the possible consequences for residents living in surrounding neighborhoods.
The issue has raised concerns about the potential effects of prolonged exposure to smoke and other emissions from the landfill. Parliamentarians are expected to seek clarification from Boekhoudt about the health and environmental implications and the government's response.
The second issue concerns the financial position of CMC and, specifically, the structural financing of Curaçao's main hospital.
CMC's finances have been the subject of political and public debate for years, with questions about how the hospital can be placed on a financially sustainable footing while continuing to provide essential medical care to the population.
Both subjects fall under Boekhoudt's Ministry of Health, Environment and Nature.
According to Parliament's notice, the question hour was convened following petitions submitted by parliamentarians J.D.J. Seferina and G.M. Mc William. The meeting will take place in Parliament's meeting hall at Wilhelminaplein 4.
The session provides lawmakers with an opportunity to question the minister directly about what measures are being taken in response to the Malpais situation and how the government intends to address CMC's continuing need for structural financing.