A recent Appeals Court ruling in The Hague regarding the right to clean water (see Friday/Saturday edition) could have future implications for the Dutch Caribbean. A panel of judges found that providers and the state must do all possible to ensure families with minors maintain access to such.
The case was closely followed in Curaçao, where “Fundashon Hende i Medioambiente” (HiMA) is trying to get a ban on cutting tap water service of less privileged persons unable to pay their bills. Initial summary proceedings in Willemstad were unsuccessful, but this latest verdict in the Netherlands opens prospects for more potential legal action.
It said the welfare of children should be a primary consideration for water shut-off policies. Curaçao’s government-owned Aqualectra already implemented steps to support households in financial difficulties, but HiMA thinks it’s not enough.
Cutting electricity in case of persistent arrears also by GEBE in St. Maarten is understandable, but utility companies should indeed be very cautions about doing the same with water, which – after all – is key to life on Earth.
