PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten will appeal the Court of First Instance verdict that ordered government to issue long-lease rights to Alegria Real Estate NV.
This was announced by Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Egbert Doran on Monday. He disagrees with the court’s decision and said he has already had several meetings with his legal advisor since the ruling was given.
Doran said he will also meet with various stakeholders.
The Court of First Instance ruled on Friday that country St. Maarten must issue an area of approximately 13,500 square metres of water rights in long lease to Alegria Real Estate NV. In case of non-compliance, the judge ordered the country or the VROMI Ministry to pay daily penalties of NAf. 10,000 up to a maximum of NAf. 1 million.
Several local environmental groups have previously spoken out against this concession because the company is rumoured to have plans to build a dolphinarium. Marine mammal captivity parks are deemed unethical in many environmental circles around the world.
