situation has noticeably deteriorated from the moment the new administration came into office and that no water comes out of the taps after midnight. Households complained that very little to no water comes out of their taps at night. “This is an indication of a serious and structural disruption of an essential utility. Access to clean and reliable drinking water is not a privilege but a fundamental right that must be guaranteed at all times. Article 6 of the constitution of Suriname clearly states that the government is obligated to create and provide conditions that are necessary for the health and wellbeing of the people. A stable and continuous water supply is part of this core tasks. The structural disruption in the water supply is a direct violation of this constitutional obligation.

Citizens are presented with high bills for drinking water at the end of every month even though the service is not optimal. The imbalance between costs and service rendered is not justifiable and undermines the trust in the government and the institutions tasked with providing such services. The consequences of this situation are unacceptable. Households are limited in their basic needs such as hygiene, cooking and storage of water. Farmers and small entrepreneurs also suffer huge losses especially in a district like Nickerie where water plays a crucial role,” said MP Raghoenandan who demanded answers and solutions from the minister of Natural Resources.