WILLEMSTAD – The Curaçao government is being pressed to explain whether Malpais has sufficient capacity to continue receiving waste from cruise ships and what environmental safeguards are in place to prevent hazardous or toxic material from entering the island’s regular waste stream.
PAR Member of Parliament Shaheen Elhage has submitted a series of parliamentary questions to Minister of Health, Environment and Nature Tyron Boekhoudt, seeking detailed information about the environmental consequences of handling waste generated by cruise vessels visiting Curaçao.
Elhage says there are legitimate questions concerning Malpais’ capacity, environmental protection and whether the cruise industry is contributing fairly toward the costs it generates.
One of the central issues is whether Malpais can continue accommodating additional quantities of waste from cruise ships without negatively affecting its ability to handle waste generated by Curaçao’s own population.
Elhage asks specifically whether the landfill has sufficient capacity and what negative consequences cruise ship waste could have on the ability of local residents to continue disposing of their waste at Malpais.
Hazardous Waste Controls Questioned
The PAR parliamentarian also wants to know whether an environmental impact assessment has been conducted regarding the handling of cruise ship waste.
Of particular concern is how authorities ensure that hazardous waste, toxic materials or other special forms of waste are not mixed with ordinary garbage.
Elhage is asking whether regular inspections are carried out on waste delivered by cruise ships and which authority is responsible for that supervision.
Cruise vessels can generate different waste streams during their operations, making proper separation, reception and disposal an important environmental issue for ports and destinations receiving ships.
Elhage therefore also wants the government to explain how Curaçao’s current policy complies with MARPOL, the international convention governing pollution from ships.
His questions seek clarification on which Curaçao authority is responsible for ensuring that vessels comply with applicable international standards.
How Does Curaçao Compare With Other Islands?
Elhage is also asking Boekhoudt whether his ministry has investigated how other Caribbean destinations deal with cruise ship waste.
Specifically, he wants a comparison of the tariffs charged in Aruba, Bonaire, Sint Maarten, Barbados, Jamaica and The Bahamas.
The comparison could become particularly relevant if reports that cruise vessels can dispose of waste at Malpais without charge are confirmed.
Elhage wants to know whether Curaçao should introduce an environmental tariff or waste handling fee for cruise vessels, effectively requiring the industry to contribute directly toward the costs associated with processing the waste it leaves behind.
The MP is also calling for greater public accountability. He wants all relevant contracts, agreements, environmental assessments, financial calculations and reports made available to Parliament.
Elhage additionally asks whether the government is prepared to publish annual information detailing how much cruise ship waste Curaçao receives, what it costs to process, how much revenue it generates and what environmental impact it has.
The questions place the environmental costs of Curaçao’s growing cruise industry under greater political scrutiny and put the government under pressure to demonstrate that economic benefits from the sector are being balanced against waste-management capacity and environmental protection.