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local Monday 15 May 2023

The San Nicolas Business Association on the Secrets Baby Beach project:

“Haven’t you noticed that the west side of the island never

encounters problems with hotels?”

(Oranjestad)—After the cided come forward and have no room to reach an want the people of Aruba the coming days.
verdict of Judge Winfield express that San Nicolas is understanding or to over- to support San Nicolas, the They now wonder who will
from the Lar Administrative in need of further progress. come differences. This is same way they support the be responsible for the dam-
Court, in which he stated President of the Associa- the way we choose to go development of other dis- ages done: “Now that we
that the construction for the tion, Errol de Freitas, have about this,” tricts. At the same time, the have already started con-
Secrets Baby Beach hotel mentioned that the plans president of the associa- struction, do the people
by Three Rivers must be put of the hotel is facing yet He also argues that the tion stated that we need to think we will just knock it
on hold while the court de- another hold up, which to Country Package given stand still and think on what down? I can understand
cides on a new resolution, them seems unfair. This is to the islands of the Dutch is most important for the their concern, but we have
the San Nicolas Business because they feel that ho- kingdom states that the district. to put things into perspec-
Association have present tel projects on the west side islands must execute proj- tive and consider what the
their point of view on the is- of the island are not getting ects that will create an In terms of the judge’s ver- effects would mean,” he
sue. even 10% of the criticism economic balance around dict, there are seven points stated.
they are receiving. the island. “Haven’t you that caused a disruption To finalize, the associa-
Last Saturday, a group of noticed that the west side for the association’s goal tion expressed that they
inhabitants from Sero Colo- Within the community of of the island never en- for San Nicolas. However, are against the verdict of
rado in San Nicolas has in- San Nicolas, there is a wide- counters problems with ho- there is one point that has the judge, but they do not
formed that according to ly felt sentiment of “Why tels? No one is opposed to specifically “opened Pan- want to lose sight of what
the law, the Three Rivers We Again,” in reference those projects. This shows dora’s box again”, which this means: “You have feel
project has a suspended of the fact that there is al- how much the ROPV has may result in negative what the community of San
construction permit, and ways something that gets failed, because it seems consequences not only Nicolas feels; walk in streets
so is not authorized to con- in the way of the district’s that there are no regula- for San Nicolas, “but also and see how empty and
tinue work on the Secrets progress. According to him, tions concerning the hotels for the rest of the island, lifeless it is. Some people
Baby Beach Hotel project. Regulations of the Spatial built on the west side. It’s because shutting down don’t feel safe walking in
To this, Judge W.C.E. Win- Development Plan (ROPV) only for the fact that it’s in an unfinished developed the main street because of
field has ruled that a sus- has opened the door for San Nicolas that people means wasting resources the sex work establishments
pension of the construction San Nicolas to establish now have a problem with and plots of land on the is- that are in the area. San
permit of Three Rivers is not their own All-inclusive ho- this new project,” de Freitas land,” de Freitas explained. Nicolas is in need of some
necessary, due to the fact tel, with the hopes that this expressed. He expressed that the seed progress; some life. This is
that according to Article 59 could greatly contribute to has already been planted, something that we take
of the Building and housing the economy and work op- In 2019, studies have shown and that they will continue very seriously, yet we think
ordinance (BWV), the mo- portunities of the district. the potential for San Nico- to share information about people have lost sight of
ment an appeal has been As an association, they las to further grow as a dis- this new development in this.”q
made on the permit, con- have previously decided to trict. It has been said then
struction must automati- stay quiet on the issue with that “the time for San Nico-
cally be put on hold until the inhabitants of Sero Col- las is now.” Yet not much
further notice. orado, but de Freitas have has been improved. De
However, members of the stated that “when you Freitas said that the time,
San Nicolas Business Asso- bring conflict, you have no they decided to stay quiet
ciation (SNBA), have de- room for conversation; you about their concerns. They