WILLEMSTAD — The local government NV’s collectively produced an amount of approximately 2 million guilders for the victims suffering from the consequences of the tropical storm Tomas. This amount will be deposited into a fund to be managed by social safety net organization Reda Sosial. Minister Nasser el Hakim (Economic Affairs, MFK) announced this Wednesday.
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During that same press conference, Minister Charles Cooper (Traffic, Transport and Regional Planning) indicated the government assumes that eventually some 1000 persons are victims of Tomas on the island. By victims, the government means persons who’ve lost almost all of their furniture, or lost the entire contents of their house due to the heavy downpour in the night of Monday to Tuesday. By means of the established fund, the government wants to help the victims with the primary necessities of life. Cooper emphasizes that the fund will not pay out any money. "Nobody gets a dime. We will help these people with materials, such as mattresses and refrigerators. We will not reimburse any luxurious items. It regards persons who are uninsured."
The government NV’s, who had made the amounts available yesterday, are amongst others Aqualectra, Curoil, Curaçao Airport Holding (CAH), Curaçao Ports Authority (CPA), Refineria di Kòrsou (RdK), Selikor, UTS, Tourist Bureau CTB, Fundashon Wega di Number Kòrsou, Curinde, Korpodeko, postal company NPNA, and the Post Spaarbank. All of these NV’s have made an amount available to the fund between 100,000 and 200,000. Cooper indicated yesterday that the gesture from the government NV’s must be an example for other companies and institutes on the island. "As government, we gave the good example. We incite everyone to bear their responsibility and to help the victims of this disaster."
Cooper said yesterday that the government has decided the he and colleague El Hakim would be entrusted with the coordination of the victims’ relief. It was agreed that Reda Sosial and their director Herman George would be entrusted with the incoming funds and the management thereof. During the next days, the government will announce a bank account number for the deposit of amounts.
During the course of today, there are also meetings scheduled between El Hakim, the Chamber of Commerce (KvK) and financing institute Korpodeko on loans that will be made available to companies on the island. It will regard amounts that can be borrowed against advantageous conditions.
Lawyers
The Bar transferred an amount of 7,500 guilders to the Red Cross Curaçao. This amount is meant for the victims of the flooding caused by tropical storm Tomas.
Overseas
While the government still has all the work it can handle in getting the relief going for the victims of the tropical storm Tomas, Minister-President Gerrit Schotte left for a working visit to the Dominican Republic today. He will return on Sunday. As Premier, Schotte was chairman of the emergency team that was deployed to offer emergency relief to victims Tuesday evening. Schotte’s decision in leaving for the Dominican Republic was queried because the relief after the flooding isn’t running entirely yet.
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