Amendment of laws to solve sand/stone extraction problem

August 24, 2011 7:13 AM

KRALENDIJK — There are two laws that prohibit the government from granting stonecutters a permit, namely the Nature Conservation Regulation and the Regional Development Regulation.

Coalition party PHU suggests solving the current delivery problems of construction materials by amending these two laws so the Board or Governors can grant permits to extract sand or crush stone.

The party stated this in a press report yesterday. During a public meeting on Tuesday, the Island Council of Bonaire will discuss the production and delivery problems of construction materials.
“The principle of ‘eco-balance’ will be applied to protect nature. This means that each permit must indicate how possible damage will be restored and how much will be paid as compensation for the environmental damage caused. The intention is to determine a higher compensation. In other words, if one fells 10 trees, these are to be replaced by 11 or 12 and therefore a win-win situation for nature and our economy”, the PHU reports.

As the shortage of sand and cement directly affects the construction sector on Bonaire, a manifestation was held this week. People working in the construction and the sand extraction spoke with Island Council members and members of the Board of Governors on the problems of extracting sand and stones on Bonaire.

Extraction is not a simple matter from a legal point of view and the sector is now coping with a shortage of building materials. National representative Wilbert Stolte also consulted with the Board of Governors on the current problems. Although it regards an affair of the Public Body Bonaire, Stolte promised he would think along in finding a solution within the legal framework, a palatable long-term solution for all parties.

Akib, the organization for trade and industry, will soon organize a forum to discuss the current economic situation on the island and in particular, the current situation in the construction sector. The date and details on the forum will be announced in due course.

18 July 2011