Statia Monuments Foundation wins case against spatial development plan

August 09, 2013 8:17 AM
ST. EUSTATIUS - St. Eustatius Monuments Foundation (SEMF) won the appeal at the Joint Court of Aruba, Curaçao, St. Maarten and of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, in their case against the Spatial Development Plan as adopted by the Island Council of Statia.
 
SEMF's case was primarily against an amendment facility in the plan that enabled a decision to construct a new oil terminal south of Signal Hill to be "rushed through" by the Executive Council.
 
The judge of the Court of First Instance had previously ruled that SEMF was inadmissible in its case. It was the judge's opinion that SEMF would only be affected by the actual use of the amendment facility and not by the facility itself. This decision has now been declared null and void.
 
Attorney at law Bert Hofman of Bermon Law Office represented the Island Council in the appeal. As an interested third party, NuStar Terminals NV had also been requested to appear. The company was represented in court by lawyer Thijs Leijsen of law firm VanEps Kunneman VanDoorne. Director of the Monuments Foundation Walter Hellebrand spoke on behalf of the foundation.
 
The two lawyers repeated the arguments they had used in the Court of First Instance.
 
Hellebrand had stated during the hearing that the amendment possibility posed a considerable risk to the protection of Statia's heritage and safety as it enables a swift, low-profile procedure for the most far-reaching element in the Spatial Development Plan.
 
Instead of a careful process with proper information sessions for the general public and opportunities for active involvement and participation, it only requires for the decision of the Executive Council to be available for public consultation for a period of 15 days.
 
The Joint Court stated in its verdict that this plea was successful and has ordered that the case will have to be dealt with by the Court in First Instance in its full entirety once again.
 
SEMF is opposed to a new oil terminal south of Signal Hill, as it will be located too close to Oranjestad, threatening the monumental aspect of the historic core.
 
(The Daily Herald)

Lawyer Roeland Zwanikken considers legal action against ABN AMRO Bank

May 08, 2021 6:14 PM
THE HAGUE--Attorney-at-law Roeland Zwanikken at St. Maarten’s BZSE law office is considering legal action against the intention of the Dutch ABN AMRO Bank to close the bank accounts of its clients in the Dutch Caribbean.

Fiscaal onderzoek bij notariskantoren vinden doorgang

May 07, 2021 8:04 AM
In het Antilliaans Dagblad: Fiscaal onderzoek bij notariskantoren
WILLEMSTAD – De fiscale onderzoeken bij de notarissen vonden en vinden, ondanks de beperkingen van Covid-19, weer doorgang en de medewerking aan de kant van notarissen en adviseurs is daarbij ‘over het algemeen goed’.

Juridische miljoenenstrijd tussen BNP Paribas en Italiaanse prinses verhardt

February 22, 2021 4:51 PM
  • Bezit van Italiaanse Crociani-familie op Curaçao mag van rechter worden verkocht
  • De Crociani's ruziën al jaren met BNP Paribas over een claim van $100 mln
  • Curaçaos trustkantoor United Trust heeft 'geen enkele relatie meer' met Camilla Crociani
Een Italiaanse prinses met zakelijke belangen in Nederland heeft het onderspit gedolven bij diverse rechtbanken in een langslepend conflict met zakenbank BNP Paribas.