The Court of First Instance of Bonaire on Friday, February 21, returned the responsibility for the situation at Selibon Lagun to the Executive Council of Bonaire. The ruling confirms that there was neglect of duty in the area of permitting and enforcement. However, the judge concludes that the executive council of the public body Bonaire (OLB) should have been given one last short term to resolve the issues. The measures taken by the acting Rijksvertegenwoordiger (wRv) are deemed desirable and necessary and are maintained.
Since the takeover in November 2024, much has been done under the responsibility of the wRv to address the issues at Selibon Lagun. Urgent violations of laws and regulations at the waste center have now been almost entirely rectified, thereby eliminating the immediate risks in the short term.
Hazardous Waste
The containers with asbestos-containing waste on the site were already repaired by the end of January 2025, and containers for new asbestos are on site. The slaughter waste is now being processed correctly, the fencing of the waste center meets the regulations, and the security of the waste center has been tightened.
Final Measures
A solution has been found for new biomedical waste, and a new cooling container will soon be placed. Special transport packaging for the existing biomedical waste has now been shipped from the Netherlands. These will arrive in March, after which the repackaging of the nine containers will start. The biomedical waste will then be transported to the Netherlands for destruction.
Next Steps for the Executive Council
It is now up to the Executive Council to quickly and adequately finalize the last measures and connect them to the long-term waste policy. The wRv will transfer the initiated and completed measures to the Executive Council.
For the acting Rijksvertegenwoordiger, it is crucial that concrete results are achieved quickly in good cooperation. The wRv continues intergovernmental supervision regarding Selibon Lagun with the aim of a structural solution for a healthy and safe waste policy in Bonaire.