WILLEMSTAD – MFK parliamentarian Frencess Lourens has asked Minister of Traffic, Transport and Urban Planning Charles Cooper to investigate construction, demolition and other alterations visible along the cliff at Playa Jeremí, raising questions about permits, safety and possible environmental damage.
Lourens submitted a series of parliamentary questions under Article 96 of Parliament’s Rules of Order, asking the minister to clarify whether permits have been issued for the work and whether the activities being carried out correspond with what was officially approved.
According to Lourens, Playa Jeremí and its surrounding coastline form an important part of Curaçao’s natural heritage and landscape. He argues that construction or other interventions directly along the coast must comply with existing regulations and take into account public safety, nature, the environment and the visual character of the coastline.
The MFK parliamentarian stressed that private ownership of land does not automatically give an owner unrestricted authority to carry out construction or alterations.
“The fact that a property is privately owned does not mean that any intervention can be carried out without taking the rules into account,” Lourens said in his statement.
He wants Cooper to identify which authority issued any permits for the work and determine whether what has taken place at Playa Jeremí remains within the conditions of those approvals.
Lourens is also asking whether the possible consequences for the stability of the cliff, public safety, nature and the environment were investigated before the work began.
Another question concerns the government's enforcement powers on privately owned coastal property. Lourens wants the minister to explain what authorities can do if construction or demolition work violates a permit, creates a safety risk or causes environmental damage.
The parliamentarian is additionally seeking clarification about the regulations governing construction and physical alterations to cliffs and other areas immediately adjacent to Curaçao’s coastline.
According to Lourens, Playa Jeremí has value not only for Curaçao residents but also as a recreational and tourism asset, making protection of the natural character of the coastline an issue of broader public interest.
He is calling on the competent authorities to conduct an on-site inspection as soon as possible. If inspectors determine that work has been carried out contrary to permits or existing laws, Lourens wants the government to take corrective action and, where legally possible, require restoration of the cliff or affected coastal area.
“Development is important, but it must go hand in hand with respect for the law, safety and protection of our nature,” Lourens said. “What we do with our coastline today is what we leave behind for the next generation.”