WILLEMSTAD - Minister of Traffic, Transportation and Urban Planning Charles Cooper has clarified the government’s decision to demolish the ATV Adventures site in Bapor Kibrá, a case that has drawn significant public attention in recent weeks. The business, operated by Eric Raphaela, is known as a popular tourist attraction, but according to Cooper, the government had no choice but to intervene because the land was being used illegally.
Cooper stated that the owner had been occupying government land without permission for years. “The terrain was squatted, and that cannot be accepted,” the minister said. “Either we bring order to this country, or we allow disorder to take over.”
According to Cooper, the Enforcement Team acted only after numerous warnings were issued to Raphaela. The minister emphasized that the urgency of removing the structures has increased because the government is preparing to build a new roadway aimed at easing traffic congestion in the Caracasbaai area.
The planned road, Cooper explained, runs directly through the area that ATV Adventures has been using without legal authorization and without the necessary construction permits. “Raphaela took the government to court, but the government won the case. He must now remove his belongings from the area because that is where the new road will be built,” the minister said.
Despite the popularity of the business, Cooper stressed that the rule of law must apply equally to all. The demolition proceeds as part of the government’s broader infrastructure strategy and its commitment to enforcing land-use regulations.