Peterson: pressure on ABC threatens the right to go to court

ORANJESTAD — Aruba Birdlife Conservation (ABC) president Greg Peterson says the legal dispute over UTV and ATV activity has become much larger than a conflict between conservationists and tour operators. According to him, the central issue is the right of citizens and organizations to go to court without intimidation, reputational attacks or financial pressure.

In a public letter titled “Today it is ABC. Tomorrow it could be you,” Peterson responds to statements by Jimmy Douglas and Omar-Steve Lejuez. He says Douglas questioned his credibility, while Lejuez called on ABC sponsors to suspend their support until the organization withdraws its court case.

Peterson argues that ABC is not trying to place itself above the law. Instead, it is asking an independent judge to determine whether government decisions and activities affecting protected natural areas comply with existing legislation.

He says this is how democracy is supposed to function: Parliament passes laws, government implements them, citizens may challenge government decisions, and the judiciary determines whether the law has been respected.

Peterson is particularly concerned about financial pressure on sponsors. He warns that if an organization can be forced to abandon a legal case because of economic or social pressure, the precedent could later affect residents, unions, businesses or other groups seeking to challenge government decisions.

He acknowledges the right of people to disagree with ABC and protest its position, but says the same respect must be given to ABC’s right to seek judicial review.

“This issue is bigger than Greg Peterson. It is bigger than ABC,” Peterson concludes. “Today it is ABC. Tomorrow it could be you.”

According to Peterson, protecting the right to go to court ultimately means protecting democracy itself.