Too late, the calf has already drowned

Too late, the calf has already drowned

May 4, 2026

It is becoming increasingly clear. Last week, residents of Julianadorp were in the news. They requested information about the building permits for 25 luxury homes in their neighborhood. Today I read that residents of Jan Thiel and Brakkeput are doing the same regarding the 244 pod homes. I also see that objections have been raised against The Wharf West Curaçao. The objections are now following each other in rapid succession, and there is little counterweight.

There have already been protests and legal cases against The Wharf Kleine Werf. The Piscadera neighborhood has been locked in a struggle for years against the five to eight planned towers at Zakito. There is opposition to the design of Hotel Plasa and to the Laman project. Earlier, there were objections to development on the beaches of Knip, Lagun, and Caracasbaai.

Yesterday, as almost every day, I was on my way to Caracasbaai. I looked carefully at the site of the pod homes and other areas being prepared for construction. Then I continued toward Laman. The bay itself is overcrowded. As I drive onto Baya Beach, I see—much to my surprise—that infrastructure is also being put in place there and land is being prepared for development.

Concrete is flowing like lava across the island. It is too late (lat ta malai): the calf has already drowned, and there is little point in filling the well now.

Miguel Goede