The government is perhaps the largest defaulter at the Surinaamsche Waterleiding Maatschappij (SWM). “Various government agencies have payment arrears of over SRD 100 million,” Minister David Abiamofo of Natural Resources said in parliament on Friday during the budget debate.
The minister said that the state-owned company is doing everything possible to provide the entire community with clean and safe water. He acknowledged that there are still many citizens, especially in the interior, who do not have access to clean and safe drinking water. “But with the amount budgeted, only a handful of communities will be helped.”
According to him, it is very difficult to carry out the planned projects with the budgeted amount. He further stated that there are ongoing projects from 2023, 2024, and 2025 that cannot be completed because there is no money. The company continues to talk with donors, the private sector, and organizations to execute these projects. “We want to do more, we know what needs to be done, but the funds are insufficient.”
The minister stated that the company’s current financial position is not at a level to carry out projects independently. The company needs help from the government, but assistance is provided sparingly. He informed that various government agencies have payment arrears of over SRD 100 million with the state-owned company. “We could realize many projects with this money, but the government must pay its water bills.”
