While Holland’s Crown Prince Willem-Alexander was trying to win his lawsuit against the Associated Press, he had another issue to deal with.
Reuters FILE
Last year, he and his wife, Crown Princess Maxima, made plans to build a vacation resort in Mozambique, in southern Africa. Alongside of the vacation spot, there were to be schools and other facilities to be built to help the locals live better lives. Recently, those plans have come under scrutiny, as they are apparently not living up to their promises.
According to the Dutch newspaper, De Telegraaf, the five schools built in area have no access to drinking water, and toilets and electricity were never installed. This despite Willem-Alexander’s lobbying for better sanitation in third world countries.
In addition, very little money is going to the locals and to their needs, such as education and health services. The newspaper also claims there is concern that social tensions may arise when foreign workers are brought in to build the resort, which is meant to have 120 houses, 60 luxury villas, a hotel and a landing strip.
It has also been revealed that the Crown Prince recently turned over his finances for this project to a separate foundation. According that foundation’s manager, Arnold van der Smeede, it was done so “any problems with the project will be the responsibility of the foundation, and will not be connected to Willem-Alexander as shareholder.”
The move was said to be advised by Dutch Prime Minister JP Balkenende.
When it was announced Willem-Alexander was planning to build this resort, there were major backlashes. Some compared the project to colonialism, since rich Europeans were going to live in splendor while the locals lived in poverty. There was also concerns of the cost of extra security and whether Mozambique has well-equipped medical services.
