Dispute over illegal building at Bobby’s Marina continues

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The illegal filling in of Great Bay by Bobby’s Marina. Photo contributed

Vromi-ministry’s term to answer

Dock Maarten expires next week

St. Maarten News / By Hilbert Haar – The dispute between Dock Maarten and Bobby’s Marina over illegal building activities is far from over. The attorney for Dock Maarten, Roeland Zwanikken has filed a request for information to Vromi-Minister Angel Meyers based on the law on public administration. The deadline for providing the information expires next week Thursday.

Dock Maarten got involved in the matter after the Harbor Group of Companies objected against a building permit the company obtained for the construction of a breakwater on its water rights in Great Bay, adjacent to the property of Bobby’s Marina. Dock Maarten won a court case against the harbor about this issue but then saw to its amazement how its neighbor started driving piles into the water and filling in parts of Great Bay outside of its water rights and without a building permit.

On September 8 of last year, the minister of Vromi acknowledged in a letter to Dock Maarten that Bobby’s Marina is indeed building without a permit and that the minister “on principle” is obliged to maintain the law, that the law allows him to act against illegal building activities and that normally he has to use this authority.

Bobby’s Marina duly received a warning letter on July 29, 2015, but the company ignored it. Dock Maarten submitted a renewed request for maintaining the law on December 18. On January 6 of this year, the company sent an email asking Vromi to take a decision about enforcing the law within seven days. The ministry did not react. However, on the date Dock Maarten sent the email the ministry advised Bobby’s Marina to remove everything it built illegally within ten days. Again, the marina ignored this advice.

Source: Today SXM Dispute over illegal building at Bobby’s Marina continues