Curaçao has approximately 52,000 employees. Approximately 2,000 of them find employment as long as the refinery is maintained. There are also 30,000 unemployed. 20,000 families live/work under the smoke of the refinery. Statistically, it has been demonstrated on several occasions that 18 people die prematurely each year.
The refinery is standing still again. The refinery stacks of the asphalt supply are blocked and must first be cleansed. That requires steam, steam that CRU has to deliver, but CRU is also inoperative.
Also the electricity and water supply are not optimal. With an investment of around 25 million dollars for a gas turbine it must be able to be remedied. It is good money being wasted, while you know that it brings loss. What are we doing?
Close the refinery. Stop it. Go create new jobs. Stop air pollution, start cleaning. There is money for cleaning, dismantling and rebuilding. Start to clean up. Start the economy a bit by reducing the refinery and making the energy sector more sustainable.
To Prime Minister Eugene Rhuggenaath, Minister of Energy
To Minister Steve Martina of Economic Affairs
To Minister Suzy Romer of Health
By Andres F. Casimir
