Residents of Naaldhoutstraat without reliable drinking water supply for over two years: “Time for action instead of empty promises”

The open letter, dated October 14, 2026, is addressed to the Government of Suriname, with particular attention to President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons and the Minister of Natuurlijke Hulpbronnen. The management of the Surinaamse Waterleiding Maatschappij (SWM) and De Nationale Assemblée (DNA, Suriname’s parliament) have also received a copy.

According to the residents, over the past nine months they had to stay awake in the middle of the night to collect a weak stream of water or a few drops between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. By now, even this limited supply has completely stopped.

Repeated complaints to SWM yield no results

The residents state that they have repeatedly submitted complaints and calls for help to the SWM, but that concrete measures have not materialised. Earlier commitments by the water company have also, according to them, not resulted in noticeable improvements.

An important point of criticism concerns the promised intermediate station at Vredenburg. The management of the SWM had reportedly previously pledged that the construction and commissioning of this station would address the water problems. According to the residents, however, it remains unclear when this facility will become operational.

The ongoing problems are causing growing frustration among the residents, who believe that their complaints are not being taken seriously enough.

Health and education at risk

In the letter, the residents explicitly point to the consequences of the water shortage for public health, hygiene and education.

As no water is available, toilets cannot be flushed and it is difficult to ensure basic hygiene. According to the residents, this increases the risk of disease and poses a serious threat to the health of families.

School-age children are also affected by the situation on a daily basis. They need to be able to wash and prepare for school, while adults need to get ready for work. Waiting for water at night also causes sleep deprivation and fatigue.

The residents fear that these circumstances will have negative consequences for children’s academic performance and the general well-being of families.

They stress that access to clean drinking water is not a luxury, but a fundamental human right. In doing so, they refer to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, in particular SDG 6, which focuses on clean water and sanitation for everyone.

Residents demand emergency provision and structural solution

In their open letter, the residents urgently appeal to the government to take responsibility and prompt the SWM to take immediate action.

They make three concrete demands. First, they want a transparent explanation in the short term regarding the progress of the promised intermediate station at Vredenburg.

They also demand a temporary emergency provision, for example through regular distribution of drinking water by water tankers, as long as the regular water connection is not functioning.

Finally, the residents demand a structural solution in which the water pressure and water supply in Naaldhoutstraat are permanently restored.

“It is time for action”

The residents warn that the government should not wait until the persistent problems have irreversible consequences for public health.

“We trust that the government will take our signal seriously and will not wait until public health suffers irreversible damage. It is time for action instead of empty promises,” they write in their joint appeal.

The letter was signed on behalf of the concerned residents of Vredenburg Serie B by several local residents.

With their appeal, they hope that the government will take concrete measures in the short term to put an end to the long-running drinking water problems in their residential area.