WILLEMSTAD – Opposition party PAR is raising serious concerns about increasing rat infestations in several neighborhoods across Curaçao, following reports that a vulnerable person was found injured inside a heavily rat-infested home in Jongbloed. PAR Member of Parliament Shaheen Elhage is demanding answers from Minister of Health, Environment and Nature (GMN) Tyron Boekhoudt about the government's response, possible public health risks and whether problems with garbage collection are contributing to the situation.
Elhage has submitted 28 written parliamentary questions to the minister, which were forwarded by Curaçao Parliament on Wednesday. The questions address the extent of the rat problem, the responsibilities of government agencies, waste management and the measures being taken to protect residents.
According to the parliamentarian, complaints about rats and other pests are increasing in several neighborhoods, including Jongbloed, Punda, Ontarioweg and Janwé.
In Janwé, a community meeting has reportedly already been organized to inform residents about the problem and possible preventive measures.
Incident in Jongbloed Raises Serious Concerns
Elhage is particularly concerned about an incident in Jongbloed, where a vulnerable person was reportedly found injured in a residence affected by a severe rat infestation.
The precise circumstances surrounding the incident and the nature of the injuries have not been disclosed.
The PAR parliamentarian wants to know when government authorities first became aware of the situation, which agencies were subsequently involved and how much time passed between the initial report and any intervention.
He is also questioning whether Curaçao has established procedures for dealing with serious pest infestations involving elderly residents, vulnerable individuals or people dependent on care.
According to Elhage, the Jongbloed incident demonstrates the need for better coordination between government institutions and organizations responsible for public health and social assistance.
He specifically mentions the Ministry of Health, Environment and Nature, the Ministry of Social Development, Labor and Welfare (SOAW), Brasami and professional pest control services.
The parliamentarian wants to establish whether these organizations have clearly defined responsibilities and whether their cooperation is sufficiently effective when residents face potentially dangerous living conditions.
Questions About Selikor and Garbage Collection
A significant portion of Elhage's parliamentary questions concerns waste collection and the responsibilities of Selikor.
The parliamentarian points out that accumulated garbage, illegal dumping and poor sanitation can create favorable conditions for rats and other pests to multiply.
He wants the government to determine whether delays in household garbage collection, problems with waste containers and illegal dumping sites have contributed to infestations in neighborhoods such as Jongbloed, Punda and Janwé.
Elhage is also asking how the government monitors Selikor's compliance with its responsibilities for waste collection and sanitation.
If investigations establish that shortcomings in waste management have contributed to the problem, he wants to know what measures the minister is prepared to take to enforce improvements and hold the responsible parties accountable.
The questions do not establish that Selikor is responsible for the infestations. Rather, Elhage is demanding that the government investigate whether waste collection problems are among the contributing factors.
Concerns About Diseases Transmitted by Rats
Beyond the inconvenience and damage caused by rodents, Elhage is warning about possible public health consequences.
Rats can be associated with several infectious diseases, including leptospirosis, salmonellosis, hantavirus infections and rat-bite fever.
The parliamentarian has requested figures showing how many cases of these diseases were registered in Curaçao during 2024, 2025 and the first nine months of 2026.
He also wants the government to clarify whether any recorded infections were confirmed to be associated with exposure to rats.
Elhage is asking which medical guidelines apply when someone has been bitten by a rat or exposed to a serious infestation.
In addition, he wants the ministry to explain how it assesses the risk of hantavirus infections in Curaçao and which scientific evidence supports that assessment.
The questions seek to determine the extent of any public health threat rather than establish that an outbreak is currently occurring.
Government Asked to Reveal Extent of Rat Problem
Elhage is also demanding a clearer picture of how widespread the infestations have become.
He wants to know how many complaints the ministry has received in recent years, which five neighborhoods have reported the highest number of incidents and how many inspections and pest control operations have been carried out.
The PAR parliamentarian is also asking how the government measures the effectiveness of its interventions and whether the situation is improving or deteriorating.
According to Elhage, public awareness campaigns and temporary pest control operations are insufficient if the underlying causes remain unaddressed.
He believes a more coordinated approach is necessary, involving public health authorities, waste management services, environmental agencies and social assistance organizations.
PAR Demands Action Plan Before December 31
One of Elhage's central demands is for the government to clarify whether Curaçao already has a formally approved and comprehensive rat control strategy.
Such a plan, according to the parliamentarian, should address public health, garbage collection, environmental sanitation and support for vulnerable residents.
If no comprehensive strategy currently exists, Elhage wants Minister Boekhoudt to present an action plan to Curaçao Parliament before December 31, 2026.
The proposed plan should include measurable objectives, allocated budgets, clearly assigned responsibilities and deadlines for implementation.
Elhage is also calling for immediate interventions in the neighborhoods most severely affected by rat infestations, without waiting for a new policy document to be completed.
He maintains that residents have a right to live in clean, safe and healthy surroundings and that the government must demonstrate that it is addressing the causes of the problem rather than relying solely on public information campaigns.
The parliamentary questions now place responsibility on Minister Boekhoudt to explain what measures are currently being taken, how government agencies are coordinating their response and whether additional action is necessary to prevent further incidents.
The minister's responses will be important in determining whether Curaçao has sufficient measures in place to control rat infestations and protect residents, particularly those who are most vulnerable.