True transparency

The harbor lost another court case in the ongoing feud about a building permit Dock Maarten obtained for the expansion of its marina in Great Bay. That was predictable, but it seems that the port still won a small concession from the Vromi-ministry.

That is the promise to include the port in the decision making process in the future when other building permits become an issue.

The court pointed out that the government is obliged to consider all aspects before issuing a permit – any permit, really – and that it behooves the ministry to gather information from all parties concerned.

Such an approach requires true transparency, because under these circumstances the port could easily become a force too strong for small businesses to overcome.