WILLEMSTAD - Minister Cooper believes that it is not the role of the Monument Council to criticize his statements. According to him, the Monument Council is not an advocacy group that can take a stance against his policies. This can be inferred from a letter he sent to Michael Newton of the Monument Council.
Charles Cooper is responsible for, among other things, cultural heritage, and he previously made statements questioning the added value of UNESCO World Heritage status. In response, the Monument Council expressed concern about the statements.
In his reply, Cooper emphasizes the role of the Monument Council as an expert advisory body focused on monuments and protected cityscapes. Cooper acknowledges the "Outstanding Universal Value" of historic Willemstad and the financial support he has received for its preservation.
However, his comments were made in the context of the need to balance both heritage value and economic interests. "It is important to consider how redevelopment projects can contribute to economic growth without compromising our heritage," Cooper said.
Cooper also criticizes the way the Monument Council discussed the work of the sector director IRP in their public letter, stating that this is not in line with collaboration in the field of monument preservation.
Additionally, he talks about the Waterfort Plaza Masterplan, stating that he aims for a feasible trajectory with new insights. "Decisions are not always appreciated, but as a leader, you have to make choices," he says about it.