That only 58.6% of utilities provider GEBE’s clients paid their May bill (see related story) indicates that the problem is more than just high cost. The government-owned company is owed 36.23 million Caribbean guilders.
Invoices remain outstanding for 13,814 households and 2,207 businesses. It pertains to a combined 939 accounts in 2022, 1,942 in 2023, 3,792 in 2024 and 6,589 in 2025.
The value of those arrears has also risen from approximately Cg. 2.71 million in 2022 to Cg. 8.92 million in 2023, Cg. 25.66 million in 2024 and Cg. 33.07 million in 2025. This year’s figures show domestic customers owing Cg. 16.31 million while commercial ones owe Cg. 19.93 million.
GEBE serves approximately 23,000 customers, of whom 9,526 are delinquent. Although the official payment-plan policy covers two years some customers have arrangements extending as long as five years and many continue paying only their instalments while neglecting current monthly bills.
Newly appointed Temporary Manager Iris Arrindell and staff deserve credit for informing the public about these operational realities that help put the present situation in perspective. Under those circumstances, reconnecting all households and halting disconnections as demanded during last week’s demonstration is not considered feasible.
Arrindell said they had suspended disconnections for two weeks as a cooling-off period since the protest march was announced, but “our cash just start to go right down because no one is paying. I mean, if we see the figures, it's just an impossibility,” she added.
Reversal of the recent fuel clause hike is equally non-negotiable, because that would significantly reduce needed income. Dropping the price of electricity and water is also not in the works for the same reason, Arrindell explained.
“I don’t believe there will be no decrease and there will also be no relief that GEBE can give, not at this point in time,” she stated. Not everybody may agree with her words, but people now at least know a little better where things stand.
