WILLEMSTAD - Concern is mounting over apparent illegal construction activities on Klein Curaçao. Jacques Heide, project leader of the EU-funded Regional Programme for Resilience, Renewable Energy and Marine Biodiversity (RESEMBID) Klein Curaçao project, has raised the alarm.
Despite the absence of construction permits, as an ongoing study has yet to conclude, unauthorized activities have been observed. Poles have been driven into the ground, and vegetation has been cleared. These actions pose significant threats to the nesting sites of sea turtles and diminish natural protection against high water.
Heide underscores the urgent need for an authoritative body to enforce policies for Klein Curaçao. Currently, illegal construction is being tolerated, but Heide insists that all new activities must cease to safeguard the environment. Recently, members of the RESEMBID project engaged with various ministries and enforcement agencies to address the issue. However, concrete measures to halt the illegal construction have not yet been taken.
The situation calls for immediate attention to prevent further environmental damage and to ensure the protection of Klein Curaçao’s unique ecosystem.