WILLEMSTAD - Residents of Piscaderaweg, including eighty families, are not receiving answers from Minister Charles Cooper regarding their questions about the construction project in Zakitó, which includes luxury apartments and a marina. Concerned citizens, who have been sending letters since December of last year, complain about the loss of sea views and have other concerns about the impact of the project.
The Zakitó project, part of the Royal Palm Resort development, has led to frustrations among residents since the approval of expansion permits by the Curaçao government in 2020. They have been trying without success for three years to get clarity on the project details from both the developer and the government.
Feeling ignored, residents have received no information from either the government or the developer regarding the project's start, duration, and potential impact on the area. Previous attempts to obtain information through the Ombudsman yielded no results, and legal actions have not provided a satisfactory explanation.
The community wants to know the project's size, whether a study has been conducted on its impact on nature, nearby hotels, other projects, and the traffic situation. They inquire about consideration for the protection of mangrove trees in the area, ecological studies, and whether construction evaluations are planned to minimize environmental effects.
Questions also arise about "visual pollution," blocking sea views, and why the maximum building height of two floors does not apply to this project, planning buildings of nine floors higher than Helmin Magno Wiels Boulevard, the main road.
Residents seek details on the lagoon's required depth to accommodate large yachts of 150 feet, challenges in making the lagoon deep enough, and the duration of marina construction. They are also interested in obtaining a copy of required permits, including the nuisance permit for the project, and approval from relevant authorities. Other questions concern financial evaluations, such as community costs, market analyses, and the project's impact on the community.