WILLEMSTAD - The government of Curaçao has announced that Flamingo Development Company N.V. (Baoase) has applied for a permit to reclaim land and construct coastal protection structures in the sea adjacent to its resort. The Ministry of Traffic, Transport and Spatial Planning (VVRP) has placed the request on public display for ten working days and is inviting stakeholders to submit their views.

According to the notice, the proposed works concern activities in Curaçao’s territorial sea under Article 20 of the Maritime Management Ordinance (Landsverordening maritiem beheer). The application does not address potential impacts on the coastline or the marine environment. It also does not pertain to public access to the beach—which, under Article 5:26(2) of the Civil Code, can only be restricted by national ordinance—but strictly to the creation of new land masses and piers.

Environmental experts note that projects of this nature may require a separate exemption under the Curaçao Reef Management Ordinance (Rifbeheersverordening), which protects corals and reef structures. It is not known whether such an exemption has been requested or granted. The government notice similarly contains no reference to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) or ecological screening.

The shoreline near Baoase forms part of a broader reef system considered ecologically valuable in biological studies. Certain coral species, including Acropora palmata (elkhorn coral) and Acropora cervicornis (staghorn coral), are covered by the SPAW Protocol’s protection regime—applicable in Curaçao through the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

With no disclosed assessment of potential effects on these protected species, it remains unclear on what basis the ministry will evaluate the request. Interested parties can review the documents at the VVRP offices on Seru Araratweg and submit comments within ten working days of publication, including via email to giselle.hollander@gobiernu.cw.