Parliamentarian Xiomara Maduro has called on the AVP-Futuro government to urgently clarify the status of the Aruba Wastewater Sustainable Solutions (AWSS) project, which is vital for public health and the sustainability of Aruba’s tourism sector.
AWSS was launched to replace the outdated RWZI wastewater plant, which only treats 4,000 cubic meters daily—far below the 12,000 cubic meters generated daily by hotels and businesses in Noord. The new plant, designed by Dutch company Haskoning, aims to treat 16,000 cubic meters per day and requires an investment of 250 million florins.
Tourists currently contribute to funding AWSS via a 20-dollar fee included in the ED card. Several financial institutions have expressed confidence in the project’s funding model and are ready to support the investment. However, Maduro claims the AVP-Futuro government has disrupted the governance of AWSS by removing supervisory board members and the director, causing the project to stall with no clear explanation.
“AWSS follows a good corporate governance code requiring lender approval for all board appointments,” Maduro said. “If the government wishes to make changes, it must present a solid plan instead of creating confusion that risks Aruba’s environment.”
She warned that failure to act swiftly could result in an environmental crisis and harm Aruba’s crucial tourism industry. Transparency and decisive action from the government are necessary to move the project forward.
