WILLEMSTAD - Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas has admitted that construction work on the beach at Lagun began without the required building permit. In an interview with Maarten Schakel of Curacao.nu, Pisas explained that an architecture and construction firm had taken the initiative to start laying the foundation for the project, despite not having the necessary permit.
Pisas said he had been informed that the land was being prepared for construction, and such preliminary work could be done while awaiting the permit. However, it remains unclear whether the permit was even applied for.
The Prime Minister expressed surprise at the quick commencement of the work. “I didn’t expect them to start without a permit,” he said. Although the firm began the project using its own resources, Pisas emphasized that this was done outside the approved process and that the required permit had still not been granted.
The government had been eager to fast-track the construction due to concerns that the available financial resources might otherwise be lost. Pisas explained that the funds were allocated in the budget and would expire if not utilized promptly.
A meeting with local residents is scheduled for next Monday to discuss the situation and determine the next steps for the project.