KRALENDIJK — The Aliansa di Naturalesa di Boneiru object the suggested amendment of the island council in the Regional Development Plan Bonaire (ROB) to – besides the existing jetties and platforms in the underwater park of Bonaire – allow more of such constructions.They warn for the consequences of such because everyone denied a permit in the past based on the principle of equality, could submit another request one could hardly deny.

According to Aliansa, since the ROB became effective in October 2010, a separate chapter was included on the underwater park, explicitly mentioning the value of the coral reeves for the economy of the island. Therefore, according to this plan, a permit to build a jetty can only be granted if the applicant has a diving school permit or a marina, or if the government is to build a pier in the public interest. No damage may be caused to the underwater life when building such constructions. Therefore, an Environment Effect Report (MER) must be drawn up, confirming there’s no danger for the underwater life.

Aliansa states that to this day, the government exercised caution when building jetties in the marine also because building jetties along the coast causes damage to the underwater life, for example when mooring boats and polluting the sea with oil. People throw just about everything in the water. Moreover, coral does not grow under a jetty because there is not sufficient light. However, according to the Aliansa, the worst damage is caused when violent storms destroy these constructions.

Especially hurricane Lenny proved how much damage was caused to the coast by the constructions. This was also the reason to tighten the policy and now it’s entirely prohibited to dump stones in the sea to build concrete platforms.

The current Board of Governors now wants to change course and adjust this consistent policy by granting permits to build five jetties of which two with stone-filled concrete platforms for a restaurant and a kitchen.

Aliansa warns for the consequences of the decision. This means everyone who had been denied a permit in the past, based on the principle of equality, could apply for a new permit one could hardly refuse. The organization states it will oppose this because this adjustment is against the purpose of the law, namely to protect the value and quality of the coral reeves. Moreover, in this case one had not observed the procedure of the law. Neither has an Environment Effect Report (MER) been drawn up, as laid down by the law.