WILLEMSTAD – Minister of Traffic, Transport and Urban Planning Charles Cooper used Monday’s Central Committee meeting in Parliament to provide an explanation concerning the government’s purchase of the former SEHOS building.
The explanation came at the beginning of a meeting primarily devoted to the deteriorating condition of historic buildings in Curaçao’s city center and the potential risks they pose to public safety.
Before responding to the outstanding questions from MPs, Cooper asked Parliament President Fergino Brownbill for permission to address the SEHOS property acquisition.
The parliamentary information released after the meeting does not provide details about Cooper’s explanation, including the purchase price, the government’s intended use of the property or why the minister considered it necessary to address the matter during Monday’s proceedings.
The Central Committee meeting was a continuation of deliberations suspended on April 24 following the first round of questions from members of Parliament.
Representatives of Stichting Monumentenfonds and the Directorate for Risk Control and Disaster Management attended Monday’s session alongside the minister.
After Cooper and officials Fer and Jukema answered the outstanding questions from the first round, Brownbill opened a second round of deliberations. Several MPs raised additional questions, which Cooper answered during the meeting.
Brownbill subsequently closed the meeting.
Cooper’s decision to address the SEHOS acquisition separately indicates that the property remains an issue requiring clarification before Parliament. However, based on the information released about Monday’s meeting, no further details were provided about what the minister told MPs regarding the transaction.