WILLEMSTAD - Residents of Zakitó are once again sounding the alarm about the ongoing environmental destruction in their area. Despite repeated calls to the government and parliament, the construction of high-rise buildings and a marina by private developers continues, which they say is causing severe damage to the local environment.
With the approval of the Ministry of Traffic, Transport, and Urban Planning, GMFB Royal Development Group and The View Resort & Marina, operating under Royal Holding I, II, and III, have proceeded with their construction projects in Zakitó.
“This area, known for its natural beauty, is now seeing many meters of mangroves disappear, coral reefs get damaged, and lagoons being filled in,” say the residents. They have been fighting for more than three years to protect the environment and wonder if environmental considerations have been taken into account and if an Environmental Impact Report (MER) has been conducted.
In response, the Save Zakitó movement has launched an awareness campaign and collected nearly two thousand signatures through a petition, which has been handed over to various government officials. Save Zakitó continues to inform the public through their Facebook page and strives to raise awareness about the importance of a clean and safe living environment.
The petition was handed over to the president of parliament, Charetti America-Francisca, at the end of May and this month to the representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Curaçao, Edson Hato.
Governor Lucille George-Wout, who also received the petition along with Prime Minister Pisas, has forwarded it to the relevant minister. Save Zakitó has not yet sent the petition to the press, awaiting an official response from the government. If the authorities remain silent, it will be released immediately after the recess.
Unfounded Claims
On behalf of Royal Holding Company II B.V., a response was given to the allegations. According to the company, the accusations of environmental destruction are unfounded. The company states that the mangroves are not being destroyed and that the construction of The View residential resort is taking place with ecological advice. Incidental removal of mangroves is compensated by replanting obligations.
Regarding the coral damage during the construction of the marina and the breakwater, the company acknowledges that some coral is being damaged but emphasizes that this is happening in areas with low coral density.
“When designing the breakwater, we determined the design and positioning based on careful coral research to ensure that the footprint of the breakwater only stands on a seabed area where the coral density was lower than the legal threshold of 5%/m².
The work is carried out with measures to prevent harmful sediment. “We work at the marina entrance only during incoming tides so that the turbidity is washed into the inner water, far from all the coral.”
