WILLEMSTAD – Complex inheritance disputes, documentation requirements, and bureaucratic procedures are preventing many poor families in Curaçao from obtaining water and electricity connections, according to MFK parliamentarian Javier Silvania.
In parliamentary questions submitted to Minister Charetty America-Francisca, Silvania describes serious obstacles faced by residents living in inherited properties that legally remain under the name of deceased relatives.
According to the MP, many low-income families continue living in homes or on land that forms part of unresolved inheritances, commonly referred to as “onverdeelde boedel.”
Silvania says these residents often lack the financial resources to hire lawyers or notaries to formally divide inherited property.
As a result, residents trying to obtain utility connections face major administrative difficulties because Aqualectra requires authorization from the legal owner of the property — who in many cases is already deceased.
The parliamentarian states that citizens have reported being asked to provide death certificates, signatures from all heirs, family books, and valid identification documents before water and electricity can be connected.
According to Silvania, undocumented migrants face additional problems because Aqualectra reportedly does not accept driver’s licenses or passports as alternatives to local identification cards.
He argues that vulnerable residents are forced to move from one government institution to another — including Aqualectra, Kranshi, SOAW, Kadaster, Domain Management, the Ministry of Economic Development, and notaries — without being able to resolve their cases.
Silvania also criticizes what he describes as poor coordination and limited data-sharing between government institutions involved in handling utility connection requests.
The MP says there is currently no single service desk where citizens can receive integrated assistance for these types of problems.
He is now asking the government how it plans to simplify the bureaucratic process in cooperation with other ministries to make it easier and faster for vulnerable families to obtain water and electricity connections in such cases.