WILLEMSTAD – Minister of Traffic, Transport and Urban Planning Charles Cooper says he intends to pursue legal action against the bankruptcy trustee responsible for the sale of the former Sint Elisabeth Hospital (SEHOS) complex, questioning why the property was sold to private investors despite a higher government offer.
Cooper addressed the issue during a Central Committee meeting of the Curaçao Parliament on deteriorating historic buildings in Willemstad.
According to Cooper, the government initially offered XCG 11 million for the SEHOS complex, XCG 1 million more than the XCG 10 million ultimately paid by the private buyers. The minister questioned why the government’s higher offer was not accepted.
Some local media initially reported the government’s offer as XCG 15 million. However, a more detailed account of Cooper’s explanation in Parliament places the offer at XCG 11 million. The XCG 14–15 million figure mentioned during the discussion referred separately to amounts Cooper said SEHOS owed the government.
The property was subsequently acquired from the private owners, with Cooper saying the government paid XCG 13 million for its portion. CMC Real Estate is contributing another XCG 4 million for part of the property, where plans include establishing a recovery-care facility.
Cooper said a recent reappraisal valued the former hospital complex at XCG 26.4 million. Based on that valuation, he argued that the government ultimately obtained the property at a favorable price.
The minister said government involvement is also intended to prevent the historic property from falling entirely into the hands of commercial developers and to maintain public influence over the future development of the area.
The acquisition is also connected to Huize Hugenholtz, which is situated partly on the former SEHOS property and partly on government land. Cooper said the government wants to secure a first option to purchase the property.
Plans for the wider area also involve the nearby Brasami addiction treatment facility.
Cooper has not yet specified what legal action will be taken against the bankruptcy trustee or when proceedings could begin.