WILLEMSTAD — A large illegal dumping site has been discovered in the Choloma area, shortly after the conclusion of the national cleanup campaign “Di bo, pa bo, ku bo” (“From you, for you, and with you”) led by the Ministry of Health, Environment and Nature (GMN).
The discovery prompted Charles Cooper, Minister of Traffic, Transport and Spatial Planning at the Ministry of Traffic, Transport and Spatial Planning (VVRP), to visit the site on the second day of Christmas. Cooper acted after receiving reports from local residents and environmental advocates about extensive pollution in the nature-rich area of Choloma.
During his visit, the minister recorded video footage showing large quantities of illegally dumped waste spread across a wide area. The dumping included not only household waste but also construction debris. Cooper strongly condemned both individuals and companies responsible for the illegal disposal, describing the situation as unacceptable and damaging to Curaçao’s natural environment.
Following his inspection, Cooper formally notified the Ministry of Health, Environment and Nature. GMN is expected to deploy inspectors and enforcement teams to the Choloma area in the coming days. The ministry has previously taken action in this neighborhood and in the nearby Dam Pretu area earlier this year in response to similar environmental violations.
The illegal dumping comes just weeks after the official closure of the “Di bo, pa bo, ku bo” cleanup campaign, which ended on Sunday, December 7. During the campaign, a total of 3,266,846 kilograms of waste were collected across the island. Over twelve consecutive weekends, residents in various neighborhoods were given the opportunity to dispose of bulky waste free of charge at designated GMN collection points.
The campaign was organized across four main regions of Curaçao, with waste containers placed at strategic locations. Residents in each zone had access to the collection points over three consecutive weekends, while GMN teams also carried out cleanups of existing illegal dumping sites during the weekdays.
According to figures released by GMN, 148,040 kilograms of waste were collected in Zone 1 (western Curaçao), 295,496 kilograms in Zone 2 (southern area), 303,300 kilograms in Zone 3 (northern area), and 506,100 kilograms in Zone 4 (eastern Curaçao). An additional 1,993,520 kilograms of waste were removed through cleanups of illegal dumping sites island-wide.
Authorities say the discovery in Choloma underscores the ongoing challenge of illegal dumping, despite large-scale cleanup efforts and free disposal opportunities. Enforcement actions and further inspections are expected as the government seeks to protect natural areas and discourage environmental violations.