WILLEMSTAD – The Court of First Instance has awarded ownership of the entire Plantage Vetter property to Fundashon Kas Popular (FKP), giving Curaçao’s public housing foundation the legal basis to move forward with the development of more than 20 hectares of land for housing.
The ruling, issued on September 8, concerns an area measuring approximately 207,226 square meters. According to FKP, the decision ends a longstanding situation in which the property could not be formally divided and creates the possibility of reorganizing the area and eventually transferring individual lots to families.
FKP said the court specifically took into consideration the foundation’s experience in public housing and land development, including its ability to address illegal construction and assist prospective homeowners in obtaining financing.
Under the ruling, the entire area will fall under FKP’s responsibility. Existing lots are expected to be incorporated into a structured process intended to eventually allow qualifying families to obtain ownership.
The court also allows FKP to repair existing homes that are in poor condition before they are transferred and to modify the subdivision plan when a better solution is necessary. Drainage and other essential infrastructure will also have to be incorporated into the development plan.
Residents or users identified in an earlier 2020 court decision will, in principle, continue to be recognized. According to FKP, the latest ruling provides that the foundation may depart from those earlier designations only when there are compelling reasons connected to the development of the property.
The decision does not automatically make current residents homeowners. FKP emphasized that individual procedures will still be required before ownership can be transferred.
The next stage will involve preparing a comprehensive development plan identifying the work required at Vetter, how infrastructure and other improvements will be financed and what options will be available to individual families.
The ruling could ultimately transform a property that has remained legally difficult to divide into an organized residential development. FKP says its objective is to establish clear criteria so families can eventually complete their individual transactions before a civil-law notary and obtain legal ownership of their homes.