WILLEMSTAD - The Ministry of Social Development (SOAW), through its Social Housing initiative, is set to undertake the rehabilitation of 100 homes in Curaçao, according to an announcement made by Minister Ruthmilda Larmonie-Cicilia. Member of Parliament for the MFK faction, Maria Nita, has raised several concerns and questions regarding the project.
While Social Housing falls under the Ministry of General Affairs, it is the Ministry of SOAW that is leading the endeavor to rehabilitate 100 homes. Families who have been on the Social Housing waiting list for a considerable amount of time have eagerly awaited assistance to rehabilitate their homes and have voiced their concerns.
During a recent community meeting organized by the MFK faction in Barber, citizens from the Banda Bou area expressed their apprehension about whether the housing rehabilitation project would include homes in their region.
These concerned citizens noted that while residents from Banda Riba could register with the Banda Riba Platform, there was no information provided regarding any entity or location where citizens from Banda Bou could register.
In response to the remarks and concerns raised by the people of Curaçao, Nita has sought clarification on the entire registration process for citizens applying for housing rehabilitation. The MP has posed several questions to Minister Larmonie-Cicilia in accordance with Article 96 of the Rules of Order of the Curaçao Parliament.
The questions addressed to the Minister include inquiring about the complaints from citizens who have been on the Social Housing waiting list for an extended period of time. Additionally, Nita has requested an inventory and overview of the total number of homes in need of rehabilitation in Curaçao, apart from the designated registration entities. The Member of Parliament has also sought clarification on the selection process for neighborhoods and homes to be prioritized for rehabilitation and the criteria employed in making these decisions.
Nita has further questioned how the continuity of the project will be ensured once the 100 homes have been rehabilitated and how the necessary financial resources will be allocated. Inquiring about the project's status, the Member of Parliament has requested information regarding the location of the homes if the rehabilitation has already commenced. The involvement of a commission to evaluate petitions and the criteria used for assessment has also been brought to the Minister's attention.
Additionally, Nita has raised concerns about the control processes in place to prevent irregularities during the execution of the housing rehabilitation work. Lastly, the Member of Parliament seeks assurance from the Minister that the available budget of 1.5 million will cover the entirety of the project and that it will not have any repercussions on the country's budget.
These questions reflect the need for transparency and clarification on the housing rehabilitation project and its implementation, addressing the concerns of the citizens waiting for assistance in improving their living conditions.