WILLEMSTAD – The Curaçao government has agreed to several demands made by activist group Plataforma Bandariba following protests this week at the government’s land management office over hundreds of unanswered land applications.
The protest focused on long-pending requests for residential building land, agricultural land, and the legalization of occupied plots that, according to the group, have remained unresolved for years without clarity from authorities.
On Wednesday, the organization delivered a formal letter to Domeinbeheer demanding quicker and more transparent responses from Minister Charles Cooper and the department.
In response, Dwigno Puriel, secretary-general of the Ministry of Traffic, Transportation and Urban Planning (VVRP), promised that the letter would receive an official response before May 30.
The government and the action group also agreed to hold meetings every two weeks to discuss individual land application files and ongoing cases.
According to the ministry, authorities acknowledge that communication from Domeinbeheer has been insufficient and stated that officials were not aware that dissatisfaction among applicants had become so widespread.
At the same time, the ministry emphasized that public services must improve for all citizens in order to prevent similar protests in the future.
The issue of delayed land allocation and legalization procedures has long been a source of frustration for many residents seeking access to government land or legal certainty regarding occupied property.