Entire tracts of land have been seized in this fashion, and all attempts to correct the falsification of the records and the return of seized land to its rightful owners have failed, as the Cadastre Department appears to be above the law. Rumors about irregularities at the Cadastre have been circulating on this island for years and no one has seen fit to investigate this corrupt Government organization. There are hardworking, dedicated employees working there, but there also are and were, corrupt individuals in that organization.
Many people have reported losing their land based on records "not being found", or being advised to, "Be content with the little piece you have". Some have done this, based on the time consuming run around they get from the Cadastre Department, and also on the huge financial burden it would place on an already strained budget. Paying a lawyer a hundred dollars for a consultation when you have hungry mouths to feed is not a hard decision to make, you feed your children.
Land was bequeathed to the Bisdom Willemstad, Curacao many years ago. The location of the land in question is described down to the very last centimeter. The names of the property owners bordering the Bisdom property are clearly mentioned in the deed. There is no doubt where the land is. There is also no question as to the size of the parcel of land. Yet the Cadastre Department has moved this land at will (on paper), they have enlarged it when necessary, given out Meetbriefs to people of their choosing, all with apparent complete impunity.
Carpenters can glance at a length of wood and estimate its length within a centimeter. Mechanics can unerringly choose the right size socket or wrench for any nut or bolt. Yet, seasoned land surveyors can't look up a hillside and estimate its size? I doubt that seriously.
The head of the Cadastre Department has on several occasions tried to intimidate me by charging me exorbitant amounts of money for reports and time he claimed to have worked, but when I tried to pay him, there was no report to deliver. I was also threatened that I would be charged in advance, anytime I stepped into the Cadastre office, for whatever reason, but that also did not deter me from seeking the truth regarding my ancestor's property, until on my last visit he refused to see me regarding this matter. I can only draw one conclusion, somebody is hiding something. Somebody does not want the truth to be exposed as to what has been going on in the belly of the Cadastre Department. I am leaving it up to you, the Public Prosecutors to find out what they are hiding.
Cordially,
Francis D. Hodge
