WILLEMSTAD - The plans for Baoase Luxury Resort to expand on the east side through land reclamation of 2,007 square meters have received official approval. Minister of Traffic, Transport, and Spatial Planning (VVRP) Charles Cooper (MFK) signed the ministerial decree last Friday, allowing the project to move forward.
The permit application for land reclamation was submitted by Flamingo Development Company NV last December. Following the public announcement of the application on April 2, a six-week objection period began, during which concerns were raised regarding the potential impact on local coral ecosystems.
Two organizations and thirteen individuals filed objections, arguing that the land reclamation could harm coral habitats. They cited a criterion from the Ministry of Health, Environment, and Nature, which stipulates that coral coverage should not exceed 5 percent. However, a report from local independent environmental consulting firm EcoVision indicated that coral coverage in the area ranges from 6.63 to 7.45 percent.
In response to the objections, VVRP stated that the investigation into coral coverage was inadequately executed. The ministry claimed that EcoVision had positioned its sampling quadrants in areas where coral coverage was anticipated to be highest, potentially skewing the results.
Additionally, there were concerns that the land reclamation activities might occur from the sea, posing a risk of damage to coral from boat anchors. VVRP assured that the necessary work could be conducted from land, thereby eliminating the need for boats and mitigating potential harm to the coral.
As the project progresses, the resort aims to enhance its offerings while navigating the environmental concerns raised by the local community.