WILLEMSTAD — What was announced as a massive people’s protest at Barbara Beach turned out to be a peaceful action at and on the disputed pier.
The party boat ‘Mi Dushi’ of initiator Olav Naaldijk and a number of boats and jet-skis with opponents of the screened off beach and the new rules from the project developer, had moored at the pier during the afternoon. The project developer was presented with a petition.
No action was required from the police on site. The activists were hardly a nuisance, except for the noise. Developer Santa Barbara Plantation decided to keep out of the discussion and will respond to the petitioners in due course.
The announced protest action certainly caused a commotion within the Curaçao Yacht Club last week. It seemed that the management was about to resign after the club did not wish to join the action as organization. Chairman Billy Jonckheer denies the management’s resignation. "We are still here. The seated management is official."
As a private club, Jonckheer would have preferred to keep out of the public eye, but still felt the need to contradict the rumors. The Chairman, as well as vice-chairman of hotel association Chata, did not participate with the action, but did sail alongside. "It was not busy, perhaps thirty, forty boats." That is not more than on a regular Sunday.
However, the action was supported by the environment organization Amigu di Tera and from the political corner, by PAR Island council-member Stephen Walroud. He said that he was happy that "the nation and the fishermen had finally joined in an action for free admission of the beach. At last, the discussion has been launched in all intensity on where the border lies between the sea, land, or beach."
Hyatt
A large Hyatt hotel with 350 rooms is being built at the former Sta. Barbara plantation, partly behind the Barbara Beach. The project developer recently replaced the floating line with a pier. The aim is to guarantee the safety of the future hotel guests. Moreover, the owner is implementing rules to avoid inconvenience.
One-hundred and eighty meters on the northern part of the pier has been reserved for the mooring of boats and for recreation. In order to keep an open passage on the pier, it is not allowed to place anything on the pier such as cool boxes, chairs, and barbeques. It is also prohibited to display commercial activities, which Mi Dushi did until recently.
A large Hyatt hotel with 350 rooms is being built at the former Sta. Barbara plantation, partly behind the Barbara Beach. The project developer recently replaced the floating line with a pier. The aim is to guarantee the safety of the future hotel guests. Moreover, the owner is implementing rules to avoid inconvenience.One-hundred and eighty meters on the northern part of the pier has been reserved for the mooring of boats and for recreation. In order to keep an open passage on the pier, it is not allowed to place anything on the pier such as cool boxes, chairs, and barbeques. It is also prohibited to display commercial activities, which Mi Dushi did until recently.
The hotel project has reached an agreement with Ocean Encounters for diving and water sport activities. This company also reserves the right to entertainment if so desired.