Netherlands Antilles Governor Frits Goedgedrag Annuls Decisions on Mangrove Village Development
The Governor of the Netherlands Antilles, Frits Goedgedrag, recently annulled two decisions by the Island Government of Bonaire, stating that these decisions do not concur with the “international agreement regarding watery areas of international importance”, as allowed for under the Ramsar Treaty (Iran, 1971).
Based on the island-regulation (ERNA), as official body of the Kingdom, the governor can suspend and nullify decisions made by island territories, when they are in breach of international treaties and such. Where the Mangrove Village was to be built is in the immediate vicinity of the Lac lagoon, a watery area that falls under the protection of the Ramsar-treaty. The management of that area must focus on preserving its ecological character and its natural profusion. The governor made his decisions in order to prevent that the nature reserve of Lac suffers irreparable damage.
In the beginning of October last year, the governor suspended the building permit for the Mangrove Village for a period of three months. Additionally, the granting of long-lease land for the development of an eco-resort near the unique nature reserve Lac in the vicinity of Sorobon has been reversed, now that the decision is nullified.
Apparently, there is no environmental impact assessment for the Mangrove Village. According to the Ramsar-treaty, before considering developing such area, an environmental impact assessment has to be done that complies with high quality standards, followed by a public consultation. A decision can only be made based on the comments on that assessment and the public has to be informed of the decision. In the case of Mangrove Village, no environmental impact assessment was completed to conform with the requirements of the Ramsar-treaty. The island government indicated that it was willing to do this, but the Bestuurscollege could not complete such a study prior to the lapsing of the three-month suspension period. If the governor had not annulled these two decisions, they would have become valid again on January 4th, with the consequence that the building activities would have resumed. (Source: Amigoe)
