"Housing-construction Wechi not dropped yet"

May 26, 2011 4:31 PM

The government having to promulgate a new order for the zoning of Wechi doesn’t mean the housing-construction is dropped, says lawyer Bertie Braam in reply to the judgement in the LAR-case yesterday, which Amigu di Tera had instituted.

The country is thinking about lodging an appeal.

Braam represented trade union Sebi of Fundashon Kas Popular (FKP), who bought the terrain in the nineties to build houses and had joined this case. Five-hundred of the 2500 planned houses are meant for public housing. However, ecology organization Amigu di Tera argued that the order for Wechi of March 29th last year lacked clarity and that an investigation is needed until the zoning of (part of ) Wechi is determined. The organization has always opposed the development of the nature reserve. In addition to this LAR-procedure, almost 160 objections were lodge although these are not finished yet.

Appealing to a higher court could be successful, according to Braam because the verdict includes several formalities he does not agree with. We could gain time but on the other hand, LAR-cases (National Regulation Administrative Lawsuits) are only handled twice a year. The lawyer reasons that if the government complies with yesterday’s verdict and draws up a new and legally improved order for Wechi, they could be finished sooner. FKP-director Arthur Con, chairperson Richenel Ilario of Sebi and former deputy Anthony Godett (FOL) who had made a strong case for the residential area of Wechi, were disappointed about the judgment. Amongst others, they mentioned the huge waiting list of house hunters at FKP, fluctuating around 8000 for years now.

In any case, the development of this part from the traffic circle Zegu up to Malpais could take several years because there’s no infrastructure. An amount of 167 million guilders is required to develop the 134 hectares at Wechi. FKP would have to cough up 140 million and 20 million guilders would be made available from the European Union.

26 May 2011

Judgement: Uitspraak Wechi 24-05-2011

Read also: FOL wants anwsers on Wechi-project 27-02-2012