Island Council wants to halt termination of lease for Onima Aloe plantation
KRALENDIJK – The Island Council of Bonaire wants the Executive Council to temporarily suspend its intended decision to terminate the lease agreement of the commercial aloe plantation of Onima Aloe N.V. A motion calls for an integral reassessment to be carried out first and for alternative locations for housing the Royal Military Police to be explored.
According to the motion, Onima Aloe N.V. has been operating a commercial aloe vera plantation since 2002 on an agricultural plot that has been issued as agricultural land by the Public Entity of Bonaire. The site contains approximately 15,000 aloe vera plants. The Executive Council intends to terminate the lease agreement in order to give the plot a non-agricultural designation for the purpose of housing the Royal Military Police (KMAR).
The submitters point out that aloe cultivation has been part of Bonaire’s agricultural heritage since the nineteenth century. According to them, the disappearance of the plantation could have far-reaching consequences for the operations of Onima Aloe, employment, the preservation of cultural heritage, and the further development of the agricultural sector on the island.
The motion states that careful governance requires that far-reaching decisions are carefully prepared and well-motivated. It also emphasises that agricultural land should in principle remain available for agricultural use, unless compelling interests require otherwise. The Island Council also states that the preservation of agricultural heritage, local food production, and economic diversification are important principles.
Agricultural and historical importance
The Island Council therefore declares that the agricultural and historical significance of the aloe plantation justifies a new administrative assessment. The Executive Council is instructed to suspend the intended termination of the lease agreement for three months and to conduct an integral reassessment during that period. This must include, among other things, the spatial designation of the plot, the economic consequences, the impact on the agricultural sector, the cultural-historical value of the plantation, the legal position of the tenant, and possible alternative locations for the KMAR.
The Executive Council must also consult with Onima Aloe N.V. and other involved parties to explore whether a solution is possible that serves both the public interest and the preservation of the existing agricultural enterprise. The Island Council must be informed in writing of the outcomes of the reassessment and the explored alternatives within three months at the latest.
The motion was submitted on behalf of the UPB faction. Notes on the document indicate that the motion was adopted unanimously, with the originally proposed suspension period of three months changed to six months. However, this change is handwritten on the document and is not part of the typed motion text.
Bonaire.nu has asked Director of Space & Development Ligwino (Gino) Leito via the Public Entity of Bonaire for a response. As Leito is on holiday, the OLB stated that it cannot comment on the matter substantively. However, the public entity confirmed that an internal investigation into the course of events is underway. To gain full insight into the decision-making process and the underlying documents, the editorial team is considering submitting a Woo request (Public Access to Government Information Act). Director Jaap Ensing of Onima Aloe N.V. was also asked for a response. He initially indicated his willingness to respond, but subsequently did not reply to repeated requests from the editorial team.
Read the full decision of the Island Council of Bonaire here
