Cole Bay:--- Residents of Man Jack Road in Cole Bay are calling on the Minister of VROMI, Patrice Gumbs Jr., to address a long-standing issue that has left their community without proper access roads. A controversy surrounding a commercial building in this residential area has not only delayed the paving of the road but also sparked frustration over government inaction and alleged negligence.
The issue centers around a building with a protruding porch, which residents claim obstructs the road and prohibits the continuation of government-backed road paving efforts. According to a local resident, Arrindell said an Italian developer has halted the work, claiming his property extends into the road. "This road has existed for the last 60 or 70 years," Mr. Arrindell, the family spokesman, stated, questioning why the developer's claims are being entertained. "When he came here, he met a road. This is the access road to all homes. Why stop the project that's meant to benefit everyone?"
Residents say the road project, including five side streets, was well underway, with government workers initiating the preparation process. "We had heavy equipment ready, organized the neighbors to clear the area, and then everything stopped because this gentleman demanded compensation," explained Mr. Arrindell, adding that the developer allegedly demanded compensation for allowing the roadwork to continue. "The developer said if the residents want to use the road where his boundary is, they must give land elsewhere."
Commercial Building Sparks Backlash
The road dispute is part of a larger controversy surrounding a commercial building erected in the heart of what is designated a residential area. The building, which some suspect will be sold as apartments, has come under scrutiny due to the lack of parking and what locals describe as unsafe and unsanitary conditions. Behind the building lies a cluttered junkyard, reportedly infested with rats. "There’s no parking. It’s already a junkyard back there," one resident said, raising concerns about the building’s compliance with local standards.
Criticism has also been leveled at the process through which the developer received a building permit. According to residents, a local family member originally owned the land and was denied a permit for similar plans due to the land's size. However, after selling the land to a foreign developer, the permit was inexplicably approved under the leadership of the former Minister of VROMI Egbert Jurendy Doran. "The previous owner of the property was denied a permit because the land was too small. But the foreign developer managed to get one for a commercial building in a private residential area. How is that possible?" Mrs. Arrindell asked, suggesting corruption and poor oversight.
Bureaucracy Leaves Residents Stuck
Frustrated residents have also blamed the current government, accusing it of offering only "lip service" and failing to provide solutions. Several families have contacted successive administrations, the ombudsman, and other official channels with little progress. "We sent letters, we contacted VROMI since last year, and we got no response. All we hear is 'we’re looking into it,'" said one resident, expressing growing exasperation at the bureaucracy.
Even prior visits to the area by political figures, including former Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs, have yielded no tangible results. "She came here, she saw what was happening, but it was already too late. The permit was already granted," noted another resident.
For their part, residents plan to escalate the issue, with some considering legal action to resolve the dispute. "Everyone wants to see the road paved. This is not just about one family; it’s about access for everyone, including emergency services like ambulances and the fire department that wouldn’t even fit on this road right now," a resident explained.
A Call for Accountability
Man Jack Road residents are now urging the current Minister of VROMI, Patrice Gumbs Jr., to step in and resolve the issue, despite the controversy stemming from a previous administration. Reflecting on the questionable permit approval under former Minister Doran, one resident stated, "We have ministers, we have a government. What are they doing? This permit shouldn’t have been granted in the first place. Government has to do its due diligence, the permit was not even published so the residents that are now being affected could have objected.
Residents are adamant that the situation underscores a broader failure in governance. "We all blame the old politicians, but the young ones coming in are just as bad. If they want to fix this, they need to act now," said one community member, who emphasized the growing sense of injustice.
With the road project stalled and their concerns dismissed, the residents of Man Jack Road wonder when and if their voices will finally be heard. "This can’t keep happening. We’re law-abiding citizens, and deserve better from our leaders," Mr. Arrindell concluded.
The community remains hopeful that their cries for action will prompt the government to make things right in this long-drawn-out saga. For now, Man Jack Road stands as a symbol of the challenges facing residents when development, bureaucracy, and governance collide.
WILLEMSTAD:--- After last year's great success, the Caribbean Cinepoetry Contest is returning with a new open call for film poems - this time also for children. Last year, three cinepoems were selected from no fewer than thirty entries from all six Dutch Caribbean islands.