Central Government Dissolves
Late last week, Suzy Romer, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands Antilles resigned her post, while
at the same time, her political party, the PNP (Partido National Patriotiko) party withdrew its support of Curaçao's daily governing core, the Bestuurscollege (BC). This action also resulted in a dissolution of the
coalition ruling the Central Government, as that coalition, without the PNP no longer had a majority position. Additionally, Romer indicated that her Cabinet's resignations are forthcoming (but they have yet to be
issued as far as we are aware). The net effect is that the Central Government is currently out of commission, which some observers say is probably a good thing based on recent actions and inactions. The factor which
appears to have led to the PNP's withdrawal is the FOL's, (Frente Obrero Liberashon 30 di mei - a labor party) disagreement with the continuing measures for economizing. The PNP believes the measures are a necessity due
to the acute shortage in the finances of the island of Curaçao, and considering that a recent study indicated that two-thirds of the employees of the Curaçao government are redundant, there seems to be some
justification for that belief. In addition to the disagreement with the FOL, there has been a lack of trust between the remaining Curaçao parties as well, including PNP, FOL, and PLKP (Partido Laboral Krusada Popular
- a socialist, union party). Each of the parties has its own agenda, and the conflicts have been growing as finances have evaporated. At present, Curaçao needs a 128 million guilder credit line to pay civil servants'
salaries. However, local banks will only issue such a loan if the government initiates the extreme cost cutting measures suggested in the National Recovery Plan prepared by the so-called Three Wise Men earlier this
year. Among the requirements are laying off a large amount of civil servants and cleaning up the administrative system. Neither the PLKP and FOL are in agreement. Both parties have declared that they don't think
the banks should determine island governing policy. [Editor's Note: This shows a complete lack of understanding on the part of these two parties about how banks go about ensuring that they will get paid back the money
they loan out, which, coincidentally, is not their money, but that of their customers, who in turn are voters. A very sorry state of affairs.] Meetings were held between Maduro & Curiel's Bank, Banco di Caribe and
the Civil Servants Pension Funds in one camp and the Central and Island Governments in the other. The meetings stalled after only two hours. During the negotiations held with the banks, it was also clear that
even were the requirements of the banks met, the local banks could not come up with 128 million guilder required. It would take time to free money that has been invested elsewhere and the overall amount is too much for
the commercial banks to handle as well. Holland would have to step in and that means the IMF would have to approve of the measures, which in turn would likely require the same financial actions of the government as the
banks have asked for. It is interesting to note that a week earlier, the Three Wise Men also resigned, but Romer denies this is due to any dissatisfaction on their part with the Government not implementing the report
in its entirety. However, it has been publicly stated that the Three Wise Men do not agree with the government's efforts to take measures to raise income without efforts to lower expenses. According to Romer, the
men say they've completed their assignment and will always be available to advise the Prime Minister. To attempt to prevent a dissolution of the current government, the coalition parties then got together in an
emergency meeting, but within an hour and a half the PNP left for a private discussion. Apparently FOL suggested forming a subcommittee to go back and negotiate with the banks after which a plenary meeting could take
place. The PNP secretary general and member of Parliament, Dudley Lucia, felt that "...we don't have any more time to lose and a decision must be taken now," with respect to government staff cuts needed to get
the budget in line. FOL disagreed and the PNP party withdrew, causing the demise of both the Curaçao island government and the Netherlands Antilles Central Government. On the evening of Friday, October 8th, the PNP
& FOL (and other parties) were to meet regarding the creation of a new coalition in the Curaçao and Central Governments (and apparently ignoring the possibility of an interim Cabinet with the incumbent parties,
acting not as an out-going Cabinet but as a decision-making one for a maximum of six months). However a meeting could not take place: there wasn't a quorum. Topics scheduled for this meeting as a precursor to reforming
the coalition: measures such as a 50% cut in vacation money, a stop on the price index, and cutting the reduced pay period for people laid off from work by two years - from four to two years. On Saturday, October 9th
the Amigoe newspaper reported that the PNP approached PAR (Partido Antia Restruktura - The Party for a Restructured Antilles) to possibly form the basis for a new coalition. The PAR party is run by Minguel Pourier,
author of the Pourier report on Bonaire development, and one time Prime Minister of the Netherlands Antilles (see the previous Bonaire E-News for more details on Pourier). When asked about the potential for a new
coalition with different partners, Suzy Romer said "It's a whole new ball game". PAR Chairman Gregory Berry added "The PAR is prepared to work with all parties willing to take measures. If that
means the PNP, so be it." However, a coalition between PNP and PAR is not enough as they do not hold enough seats together to control majority position in the Curaçao Island Council. PLKP and FOL are not ruled
out, nor is MAN (Movimiento Antia Nobo). If a coalition is successfully established, PAR expects the new P.M. to come from their Party, and observers expect Romer to opt for Head of Parliament. If the parties do not
form a new government, the democratic process in the Netherlands Antilles stipulates new elections be held on the Central Government level, but it's a known fact that there is no money for this. On the Curaçao island
level, new elections are not possible. So a government must be formed with what Curaçao has now: PAR 5 seats, PNP 5 seats, PLKP 4, FOL 4, MAN 2 & ORDU 1. Reports later filtered in that PAR and PNP wanted to
initiate an emergency restructuring program. They felt that FOL, MAN, and ORDU should be asked to join an island coalition. On the Central Goverment level the latter party cannot participate for it is not represented in
Parliament. The MAN party is said to be willing to take responsibility for governing and let go of its position as opposition party - this according to its leader Don Martina. A series of talks were lined up for
Tuesday (October 12th) between different configurations of all parties. If those talks are successful, the parties involved will finally all meet together in order to sign and confirm their willingness to cooperate and
then work on putting together an agreement for governing. While these talks have been taking place, it appeared that the PNP, FOL, and PLKP commissioners have not yet resigned. It is very unusual that negotiations to
form a new BC are underway while the incumbent BC, which has no support in the Island Council, has not yet given up their seats. They can be "sent home" with a vote of no confidence in the Island Council,
according to article 50a of the island resolutions. The procedure would take 14 days. One obstacle to forming new portfolios in the Central Government is looming, however. St. Maarten wishes to keep the post of
Minister of Finance in their Democratic Party St. Maarten camp. PAR and PNP want this post covered by Curaçao. Another difficult point is the coalition partner for Bonaire on the Central Level. The PNP has always
preferred to have the party elected into the BC be the partner on the Central level as well. This was not the case for Bonaire after the island's last elections as the leading UPB party has only one of three Bonairean
seats in Parliament - the other two belong to the PDB (Partido Demokratiko di Boneiru), the opposition party on the Island level. This would now mean that the UPB would have to be in the Central Government. A
coalition with PDB makes the coalition a seat "wider" and that might be necessary if it should appear that DP St. Maarten (2 seats), also the opposition party in St Maarten, calls it quits if they don't get
their way regarding the post of Financial Minister. However, as of yet, it's still too early to predict the outcome of all the political maneuvering going on in Curaçao. In the best case, a new coalition is put
together shortly in both the Curaçao Island Council and the Central Government. In the worst case, a new parliamentary election will somehow be held in the hopes that this will allow a new coalition to be created. In
the meantime, government activity at the Central Government level is stalled until further notice. Now, if this had only happened several weeks ago before a vote was taken on the new NAOB tax... Regatta Round-Up
Last week's 32nd Annual Bonaire International Sailing Regatta was wildly successful, with 209 competitors in 16 categories - the largest
number of competitors since 1987. Rain and a lack of wind on several days caused delays of several races, but overall things ran smoothly during the seven day Regatta. While the list of winners is far too long to list
here in detail, we will point you to the Official Regatta Web site (also developed and maintained by your friendly Bonaire E-News editors and by their employer, NetTech N.V.) at http://www.BonaireRegatta.org . The Web site also includes daily race overviews and summaries, generated in conjunction with our partner, Port Call, and writer Aida Jaber, our mutual Regatta correspondent.
And, for those of you planning on joining the Regatta festivities next year - mark your calendars. The 33rd Annual Bonaire International Sailing Regatta will be held October 8-14, 2000.
NAOB Tax Update
In our previous issue of the Bonaire E-News we detailed the overnight installation of the new NAOB 5% sales tax and explained that there was a way to get an exemption for
the NAOB as applied to the import of goods being resold or used in manufacturing goods being resold in the Netherlands Antilles. The exemption application letter would need to be sent to the Inspector of Imports in
Curaçao. However, when we checked with that office on Tuesday, October 12th, we were informed that not a single exemption has been issued because the Minister of Finance has not actually approved of the procedure (or
apparently, even the concept) of the NAOB import exemption. And, as the Central Government was in turmoil, it was explained, it is not clear when or even if such approval will be issued. Meanwhile the letters requesting
exemptions are piling up day by day, and the Import office in Curaçao is suggesting that businesses interested in receiving the exemption continue sending letters, just in case the approval comes through. Separately,
all businesses which rent out homes, apartments, or other private dwellings which had previously been exempt from NAOB tax must now start charging the 5% on such rents or leases. Such taxation previously only applied to
commercial leases, in which the renter was a business itself. Note that individuals who are not primarily in the business of renting out private dwellings still do not have to collect the 5%. We learned of this curious
twist when our landlord (a company) informed us we needed to start paying NAOB on our rent, and then had this confirmed with the local tax office. We're sure that other interesting NAOB issues will arise too, and will
try to pass them on as we learn of them. Tene Boneiru Limpi
It's time to roll up your sleeves, get your water bottles filled to avoid dehydration, and
start collecting trash. That's because the weekend of October 15th through the 17th is the annual Ban Hasi Boneiru Limpi (Let's Clean Up Bonaire) weekend, when hundreds, if not thousands, of volunteers clean up
Bonaire's land, shore lines, and reefs of trash that has accumulated as the result of wave action (for shore trash), mishaps, and occasional ignorance. The island action is part of the international "Clean Up The
World" campaign and the "International Coastal Cleanup". This year the Bonaire clean up action will be one month later than the international events. There are several reasons for the delay, according
to Elsmarie Beukenboom, president of Fundashon Tene Boneiru Limpi. "This year Her Majesty Queen Beatrix will be visiting Bonaire in November, so we want to be sure we look our best for her. This year the
clean up will come after Regatta so we can make sure to get all the sushi (Papiamentu for 'trash')". "Also every year the clean up action was at the same time as the TCB marketing meetings, which made life
difficult for many of us. So this year we decided to delay the clean up for one month and are hoping that the weather in mid October will not be as hot as September usually is," she added. This is the sixth year
for Bonaire's participation in the international "Clean Up the World" event. In previous years, more than 25% of the population of Bonaire joined the action along with millions of people in 110 countries
around the world. Last year more that 3300 large bags were filled with trash. This year, the Fundashon Tene Boneiru Limpi will be giving away five mountain bikes to participants in the clean-up. Each bag of trash
collected will entitle the person who collected that bag to one raffle ticket, so the more garbage collected, the more chances a person gets to win a mountain bike. The tickets for each day must be turned in between
3-6pm that day in order to be eligible for the drawing. Tene Boneiru Limpi requests all companies and organizations to register for the clean-up activity. Anyone interested in joining the on-land effort should
call Elsmarie Beukenboom at 8322 or e-mail mailto:elsmarie@bonairelive.com or call Lieske Keukens at 5584 or e-mail mailto:et@bonairelive.net . Individuals who can not join a work or organization cleanup can come to one of two public cleanup locations. The first is on Kaya Korona across from Eastern Store and the second is at the Rose Inn in Rincon.
There will also be an organized beach and underwater cleanup in conjunction with the International Coastal Cleanup and the Sea Turtle Club of Bonaire will coordinate this effort. This effort includes cataloging the
trash picked up for reporting to the Center for Marine Conservation in Washington DC. Those interested in helping with the coastal clean-up should contact Imre Esser at 5074 or e-mail mailto:imreaida@bonairelive.com . For underwater cleanup contact Eric Groenhart of Green Submarine and the Bonaire Dive Club at 2929 or e-mail mailto:dive@greensubmarine.com . The Bonaire Dive Club will be focusing on cleaning underwater in the vicinity of the Town Pier and the general underwater areas near downtown Kralendijk, and will be diving on Saturday the 16th at around 10am. A smaller group will be diving on Sunday the 17th around 11am.
Please let the various organizers know you plan on working with know how many people will join your group, and which areas your group would prefer to clean, and on which dates.
Government Delays Release of Governing Plan
When the new Bonairean government coalition composed of the UPB and PABOSO took office on July 2nd, they promised to deliver a "Governing
Plan" to the people after their first 100 days in office. However, this week, Commissioner Ramonsito Booi, who is also the head of the UPB party, announced that the public release of the plan has been delayed for
at least another two weeks. Booi says the plan is done but it has yet to be put into a presentable form. One factor causing a delay was the National Recovery Plan, and its on-going implementation or lack thereof,
requiring constant changes and revisions to the four year governing plan. The governing plan, when released, will address the full range of Bonaire government issues: the development of the island's economy, tourism,
financial management, good governing, education, public health, social welfare, sports, public order, security and vigilance, environmental affairs, agriculture, raising cattle, commercial fishing and the structure
pertaining to the State. Because Holland is also to receive a copy of the plan, and because promises were made to Vice Minister Gijs de Vries during Booi's visit to Holland last week, the Bonaire Government finds
it's necessary to take a bit more time in order to present the plan correctly. According to Booi, if one compares this plan to the National Recovery Plan and Vice Minister de Vries' plan for future management, there's
a common thread in that they're all aimed at creating a much healthier Bonaire in the future. The Government expects to present the plan first to the members of the Island Council on October 25th in a meeting,
then during the week of October 25th through the 29th it will be presented to different interest groups and the clergy. Every community center will have a presentation during that week, specifically covering the
projects for that neighborhood. Further, the idea is to get the plan out to the different governmental services for them to be fully aware of the plans the government has for bringing Bonaire the most benefit over the
next four years. Jet Skis - Taking Action
In our previous issue of the Bonaire E-News, we had an article provided by the Bonaire Marine Park about the
hazards of Jet Skis. That article outlined the various laws that jet skis have to follow in order to remain in the water. Sadly, last week during Regatta, all of these laws were blatantly ignored by jet skiers, and
authorities generally had their hands full of other Regatta issues and therefore were not able to do much about the jet ski problem. Jet skis were racing in the shallows, near swimmers, small boats, divers, and various
markers and buoys where they had no business being, especially at the speeds they were traveling. We personally saw numerous near misses of jet skis and swimmers near Regatta House, and saw a small sailboat almost
flipped over by the wake of a jet ski that passed by only a couple meters away. Only the quick reaction of the sailor averted his (and his young son's) plunge into the water. And, cocky jet skiers almost collided with
boats at many instances during the parade of working boats during Regatta, as they leapt the waves caused by the wake of these larger vessels, occasionally losing control shortly thereafter. In recent conversations
with visitors, local water enthusiasts, dive operators, and a multitude of others, there's nearly universal aversion to having jet skis in the water around Bonaire. Not surprisingly, the only people in favor of jet skis
appear to be those who own jet skis. And there aren't many of those (we estimate that well less than a dozen jet skis permanently reside on Bonaire). Jet skis are dangerous because the operators of the jet skis are
usually young, carefree (and more importantly careless) individuals who thrive for speed and action - features that have made jet skis popular. Weaving in and out of boats (and other obstacles, like dive flags, divers,
swimmers, etc.) is apparently part of the "charm" of using a jet ski. Using a jet ski in the deeper, blue waters is boring, hence that rule will tend to be ignored because it's contrary to why someone has a
jet ski in the first place. Aruba's jet skiers are involved in accidents daily, creating quite a business for ambulances and hospitals. A close friend of ours was comatose in a hospital in the U.S. for a month,
suffering brain damage, and losing an eye, as the result of a jet ski accident. And, Bonaire is a place known for its tranquility and safety. So, in short, Bonaire and jet skis are incompatible. While we at the
Bonaire E-News are not in favor of an ever marching parade of new laws to control this or that, we think it's time for Bonaire to take a firm stance against jet skis before we have a serious accident. Our waters need to
be safe for snorkelers, divers, swimmers, fishermen, and boaters, and as long as jet skis are allowed in our waters, the waters are not safe for all the other more numerous users. There are two ways to solve this
problem. The first (and best way) is to ban jet skis outright - this would solve the problem quite neatly, because it would mean that any jet ski found in the water or on land could be confiscated and the owner fined,
but it would also need to deal with the issue of compensating existing jet ski owners for their prior jet skis purchases. This could be dealt with by providing advance notice of the new law, and providing free shipping
of registered Bonairean jet skis to a place like Aruba for sale by the owners. The second way to solve this problem would be to place such extreme restrictions on Bonairean jet ski usage that no one would qualify to
use them. These include taking a multi-day jet ski usage course, requiring all operators to be at least 18 (or 21) years old and that they be licensed specifically for jet skis, and instituting mandatory confiscation of
jet skis which violate Marine Park rules (including the licensing and registration rules). While this still would allow existing jet ski owners to use their jet skis under very specific and non-endangering (and non-fun)
conditions, it would likely result in jet skiers just not bothering to try and jet ski on Bonaire. The difficulty with this approach is that it is much more complicated to implement, and is a bureaucratic nightmare.
In any event, neither of these items will happen unless we can all convince the Bonairean government that jet skis don't belong in or around Bonaire. And, to do that, we need hard proof of jet ski violations and
flaunting of existing regulations (see our previous issue for details) sent to the proper authorities, which include the Bonaire Marine Park, the Harbour Master's office, etc. We therefore ask all our readers who
agree with the concept of banning jet ski usage on Bonaire to report jet ski violations, incidents, etc. to:
E-mail to the above address will automatically be sent to the Marine Park, as well as printed out and delivered to the Harbour Master's office. Any supporting photos and/or video clips should also be e-mailed (if you
have the technology), or otherwise sent to us at: Bonaire E-News
Re: Jet Ski Incidents
Kaya Rotterdam 2
Bonaire, N.A. And we'll duplicate and redistribute to the proper authorities. Commentary, both pro and
con our proposed jet ski ban, will also be gladly accepted at either of the above addresses. Harbour Village Might Buy Sunset?
According to the Extra
newspaper and other sources, Harbour Village is interested in buying the Sunset Beach Hotel property. The hotel has been shut down for almost exactly a year at this point, as a result of the owners no longer being able
to pay water, electric, phone, social insurance, and other debts. Much was confiscated and the inventory went to the auction block soon after. The group of owners of the Harbour Village Beach Resort, located just down
the road from the Sunset have shown interest in the property and gone as far as to make a written offer to Sunset's current owner, Interbank. However, in order to make the project feasible for Harbour Village (or any
purchaser), the Bonairean government must support the sale, and more particularly, the concessions required in order for the purchase to go through. For example, one item mentioned already last year as a stumbling block
to the future sale of Sunset was the fact that Sunset sits on what's known as "leased land", which is leased for an initial period of 60 years - but only 20 or so years remain on the current lease. Any company
willing to invest money in a property like Sunset, will likely require a guaranteed extension of the lease, among other things. If Harbour Village's bid is successful, they would likely tear down the existing
structures at Sunset Beach, and rebuild a new set of hotel rooms there. In fact, we understand that this type of expansion is part of the original concept of Harbour Village's Master Plan developed back in 1985. We have
also been told that such new hotel rooms would be of a similar quality and price as that of name-brand hotel chains in similar destinations. However, it should be noted that there are two other parties who are also
interested in the Sunset property. One is a private investor, while the other represents a South American hotel chain, so the government has to weigh any offers it has received from these parties (assuming such have
been received) against that of Harbour Village. However, seeing as Harbour Village already has Bonaire experience and a local hotel infrastructure in place, the other interested parties are up against some tough
competition. While the Extra article included rumors that Harbour Village would turn around and resell the Sunset property to a major North American hotel chain, such as Hyatt or Marriott. Our sources confirm that
these rumors are not quite accurate. Instead, the Harbour Village investors will likely be looking to invite a major hotel chain to participate in the new project, which is estimated to cost around $60 million dollar.
By mid-November we should know more, as that's when the government should be coming back to the negotiating table. Movies @ Bonaire Twin Cinema - October 14 - 20, 1999
NOTE: Bonaire Twin Cinema is closed Monday October 18th and Tuesday October 19th. Lake Placid - Starring Bridget Fonda and Bill Pullman
- Nightly at 7:00pm and 9:15pm
- Matinee Saturday and Sunday at 3:30pm
- Late Show Friday at 11:30pm
http://fullcoverage.yahoo.com/Full_Coverage/Movies/Lake_Placid/
The Rage: Carrie 2
- Nightly at 9:30pm
- Matinee Saturday at 4:00pm
- Late Show Friday at Midnight
http://movies.yahoo.com/movies/guide/the_rage__carrie_2.html
Muppets From Space - Starring... The Muppets, Of Course!
- Nightly at 7:00pm
- Matinee Saturday at 4:00pm
http://fullcoverage.yahoo.com/Full_Coverage/Movies/Muppets_From_Space/
[Bonaire E-News Review: We (and the children) give this movie 3.5 out of 4 stars. This was another in a series of entertaining and delightful Muppet movies, craftily utilizing the idiosyncrasies of each well known
Muppet character to their fullest, and making the Muppet characters appear as lifelike, if not more so, than the human actors sharing the silver screen with them. The plot is creative, and the song and dance numbers
make you want to boogie right along. Definitely a good flick for the whole family (but leave wired two year olds at home - as we should have done).] *** For complete movie details and information, as well as cinema
box office hours, see http://www.InfoBonaire.com/cinema *** Quick Takes - Dive Festival '99.
The Third Annual Bonaire Dive Festival is almost upon us. This year the dive festival runs from November 6th to the 13th, and features presentations (and, in some cases, dives) with Dee Scarr, Sylvia Earle, REEF, Stephen Frink, Charles Seaborn, among others. The Dive Festival package, which includes admission and participation in the week's events, is a $50 add-on for people with dive packages staying at Capt. Don't Habitat, Sand Dollar Condominium Resort, and Harbour Village Beach Resort (those with Dive Festival Packages for that week already have this all included). For those staying at other resorts, the participation fee is $175 for the week, and arrangements may have to be made for diving with one of the host resorts for some of the dive activities. Those wanting to attend just a presentation may do so with a $10 donation to the CORAL REEF Alliance. Residents of Bonaire qualify for a weekly rate of NAFl. 100, and a NAFl. 10 to attend a presentation or seminar. And, everyone's invited to participate in the Opening Ceremony, held in conjunction with the smorgasbord that is the "Taste of Bonaire", being held in the Wilhelmina Park at 6:30pm, on Sunday, November 7th. More details on the dive festival can be found at: http://www.infobonaire.com/html/divefestival99.html - BONHATA Gala Tickets. BONHATA, the Bonaire Hotel and Tourism Association has announced that
it is holding its Third Annual Presidential Charity Gala on the Freewinds cruise ship (a BONHATA member), on Sunday, October 31st, starting at 7:45pm. Tickets to this exclusive event are NAFl. 150,-, and may be
purchased from any BONHATA Director (including the one writing this - mailto:jake@BonaireENews.com ) or the BONHATA office. There will also be a raffle for a round-trip pair of tickets to Amsterdam, and a week in Montego Bay, Jamaica, with airfare included. All profits from the dinner will go to a local charitable project (yet to be announced). For more information, contact us at the Bonaire E-News at 6773 or mailto:jake@BonaireENews.com - Dolphins 1; Seaquarium 0. Port Call reports that there will be no dolphins held captive in Curaçao (see the Bonaire E-News, two issues
ago), as the fight to prevent the Curaçao Seaquarium from capturing a pod of wild dolphins has been, at least for now, won. The battle was led by Reef Care Curaçao, and assisted both by the large number of letters they
received, as well as the efforts of Ric O'Barry, the trainer of the original "Flipper", who has renounced his trainer days. After several days involving media appearances, lobbying, and a law suit against the
Seaquarium, Reef Care received a letter from the Seaquarium calling the whole dolphin collection effort off. Port Call reports that the only downside was that Curaçao's Commissioner of Tourism promised to change
the law prohibiting keeping dolphins in captivity. However, as Curaçao's government is collapsed, it's quite possible this position of Commissioner of Tourism may be filled by a new person with a more environmentally
friendly view of the situation. - Bonaire Shrimp. We've just received word that authentic, fresh Bonairean farm-raised shrimp will once again be available at Bon-Awa's warehouse on Kaya Industria on Friday
October 15th, and if supplies last, on Saturday October 16th as well. Price is NAFl. 25,- per kilo. Bon Awa can be reached at 5104. - AKIB Meeting Called. AKIB, the Bonaire Business and Industry Association,
has called a general assembly for Tuesday, October 19th, at the Jong Bonaire Center for all of its members. The gathering is scheduled to start at 7:30pm with the meeting starting at 8:00pm. The agenda includes
presentations by the AKIB Board, an overview of Jong Bonaire, an update on Telbo, a presentation on the Berlage Expo Amsterdam by Raymundo Saleh, and discussion of the new NAOB 5% tax. For more information, or to join
AKIB, call 8977. - Boeing 777 Lands on Bonaire. The Boeing 777-200, "The Plane of the Future", visited Bonaire for the first time last week. Owned by Air Europe, and chartered by Sobelair to take the
place of an out of service aircraft, the plane is the largest to have ever landed on Bonaire. The Boeing 777 is 63.7 meters long, 73.9 meters wide (wingspan), can hold up to 320 passengers, and fly 8,860 miles non-stop
without refueling. Local officials toured the plane and the cockpit. However, unless chartered again, it's unlikely we'll see another 777 on Bonaire anytime soon, as Bonaire is not far enough away from Europe to justify
its use. - Boudewijn de Groot to Perform. Dutch vocalist Boudewijn de Groot, a famous sixties protest singer has had a varying repertoire throughout the years. His big hits include, we're told, "Een meisje
van Zestien", "Het Land van Maas en Waal" and "Jimmy". And now Bonaire can enjoy his songs as well, as Boudewijn de Groot will be performing at the Plaza Resort, on Saturday, November 6th, and
Friday, November 12th, at 8:30pm both nights. Backing him up is a seven man band, directed by Jakob Klaase. The show is called "Een Nieuwe Herfst" (A New Autumn). de Groot will not be performing on any other
Antillean island. Tickets are NAFl. 61,- and available at Plaza Resort. For reservations and more information call 2500. - Bonaire in Sunfish World Championships. From the 13th of November through to the 21st,
the Sunfish World Championship will take place in Puerto Rico. Franklin "Kachan" Soliano and Alfred "Yellowman" Martis will be representing Bonaire in this championship event. Kachan did not
participate here during last week's Regatta in order to have the finances to go to Puerto Rico. Kachan said that while sponsors are getting harder and harder to find, with Bonaire hosting the year 2000 World
Championship, he feels the island definitely must show up in Puerto Rico! We wish them the best! - Turtle Club Vehicle Hit & Run. The truck of Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB), the
organization that protects Bonaire's sea turtles, was severely damaged early last week. The incident took place between Midnight and 2:30am on October 3rd, near Fort Oranje in the downtown area. The accident crushed the
right and back side of the STCB truck completely. STCB has reported the incident to the police, who are investigating the matter. Given the shape of the damage, the police suspects that the accident was done by a large
vehicle, and was almost certainly not done by a regular car. Neither the driver of the vehicle which hit the truck nor any witnesses have reported the accident to the police, and it is therefore impossible for STCB to
make any claims via their insurance company (the vehicle was not covered via an all-risk plan). This means a large financial setback for the organization. Akkermans Auto Supplies has helped STCB by repairing the car
temporarily, so it can be used to some extent. The organization is asking possible witnesses to come forward. This would help STCB tremendously. The telephone number of STCB is 5074. - Tropical Storm Irene. As
we put this issue of the Bonaire E-News to bed, late (sorry about that), we're getting reports that Hurricane Irene formed due south of the western end of Cuba, and is currently moving north over Cuba towards Florida.
While Irene is only a Category 1 hurricane, it's path should be carefully tracked by those in Florida or with travel plans to or from Florida this weekend. For the latest Irene information, check out http://www.storm99.com . - Art Exhibition at Rendez-Vous. On Friday, October 22nd, the artist Alied Jasperse and Rendez-Vous restaurant will be holding an exhibit of the
artists watercolour works. The exhibition will run from 4:30pm to 6:30pm, with private viewings available on later dates. For more information, contact Rendez-Vous at 8454. - No E-News Next Week. Just a
reminder that there will be no Bonaire E-News next week due to travel on the part of one of the editors. The Bonaire E-News will resume publication on October 27th.
Classifieds Lots of things for sale, and some things being sought. Please note that we do not warrant the accuracy or validity of the products/services/etc. being presented here - in other words, Caveat
Emptor (Buyer Beware). Note: Advertising real estate for sale or rent, as well as services offered, in our Classifieds are _fee based_ (and are marked with "Advertising Section"). No classified ads will be
accepted from those looking for employment, and all other ads will be reviewed and may be edited if accepted for free placement. Contact us at mailto:classifieds@BonaireENews.com for details.
-------------
Help Wanted VOLUNTEERS
Special Olympics Bonaire is looking for volunteers for transportation and unified sports and personal guidance with the "Athlete, Leadership Program"
For more information, please call tel. 8550 / 6144 / 4781, fax 8706, or mailto:spec-olym-bon@bonairelive.com HOUSEKEEPER
Looking for part-time (10-20 hours a
week) housekeeper to clean large home, occasionally cook, and also occasional child care. Must be able to communicate in English, Dutch, and Papiamentu and have own transportation (using the Bonaire bus service is fine
too) or live in the Hato area of Bonaire. Call Jake or Linda at 6773. -------------
Personals? SEARCHING FOR RICK SANGERMAN
My friend Rick Sangerman, a former Portland, Oregon resident, moved to Bonaire
a while back, and I lost his address in a move. Am planning a visit soon to Bonaire and would like him to know I am coming down. If you know Rick, please have him contact Dhyanne Swanson from San Diego, mailto:Umaniak1@aol.com or phone 619-276-8403. TOYS FOR TOTS FROM BOSTON
If you live in the Boston area and are coming to Bonaire anytime soon, please contact Ms. Sharon
Magnuson at mailto:SharonMag@aol.com . She has some things that should be brought to Bonaire for the kids of the Maria Hoppner Foundation (for underprivileged children and orphans). If you are willing and able to help please contact her!
NEED A HOUSESITTER?
One time Bonaire resident (1994-1996), Marielle Sengers, is looking for a house to "sit" from December 27, 1999 through January 24, 2000. She's returning to Bonaire temporarily to
celebrate the millennium, join a wedding, and get certified as a Divemaster. If you have a house that needs to be populated and taken care of during the aforementioned dates, drop her a note at mailto:mariellesengers@hotmail.com -------------
Services
(Advertising Section) HANDYMAN
Need a handyman? An Experienced plumber, electrician, painter,
and jack-of-all-trades? Then call Jato Handyman at 7270 (evenings) or 2727 (daytime - ask for Alda) [Jato was contracted by the editors of the Bonaire E-News last year for some work, and we recommend him highly]
-------------
Rentals
(Advertising Section) HOUSE ON THE BEACH
Available for weekly rental, in front of great diving and snorkeling, minutes from dive shop, stores and restaurants, reasonably priced.
More information available at http://www.homestead.com/bonairebeachhouse/index.html or at mailto:anniejul@juno.com . Phone/FAX: 516-694-3430
APARTMENTS FOR RENT
Tenants sought for long term apartment rental. Offering two different apartments on same street: First is a one bedroom apartment, second is a two bedroom apartment. Both are located on Kaya
Caribe, Nord Salina, and have recently been completely refinished and are fully furnished with air conditioning, kitchen & appliances, washing machine, and more. Affordably priced. Pets okay. Contact Alda Dirskz at
2727 (daytime) or 7270 (evenings) for more details. -------------
Real Estate
(Advertising Section) SAND DOLLAR CONDO
Sand Dollar Unit C-9. 2 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms. Located on ground level with ocean
view. Nicely decorated and great rental opportunity. Call owners Art or Anna Kleimer at (U.S. toll free) 1-800-303-7355 or email mailto:kleimer@kleimer.com . LAND FOR SALE
1538 square meter corner plot for sale with a large sea view frontage, known as lot 116, on Santa Barbara hill (the street below Kaya Aquamarine), with a view over Klein Bonaire. Plot shape, dimensions, survey map can
be provided by FAX for interested parties. Will sell for NAFl. 69,000. Replies to mailto:dawn@bonairelive.com -------------
For Sale: BCD & REGULATOR
A.P.
Valves Buddy Commando BC orange/black, w/emergency inflation system, 1100 Denier Cordura, 2 bladder system, lots of lift, professional quality; Beuchat VS10 Regulator, Diaphragm system, high performance, w Octopus, NO
console/SPG. Both items for only NAFl. 400,- Contact Benji at mailto:benji@bonairelive.com . SUNFISH SAILBOAT
Selling a SUNFISH sailboat in very good condition. Price
including trailer NAFl. 2995 or best offer. Contact Richard at mailto:cwinkel@bonairelive.com . LANTASTIC NETWORK SOFTWARE
Lantastic Network Software v8.0, 1 User
License on CD-ROM. For Windows 95/98, Windows NT, Windows 3.x & DOS. Brand new in sealed box. Price NAFl. 100,- (Normal price: US$90.00). Call Ron Gijzen at 7220 or email mailto:rgijzen@aol.com
AIRFREIGHT CONTAINERS
2 airfreight containers, used only once to bring small furniture and personal goods to Bonaire, light aluminum, inner space PVC foil coated, measured (length X width X depth, in inches) 55 X
41 X 48 and 77 X 41 X 40 inches respectively. Asking NAFl. 400.- & 500.- respectively. For details please call Amado Felix at 8630 or FAX at 4430. NIKON CAMERA
Virtually new (been used for only a handful of
rolls of film) Nikon F70D (equivalent to U.S. Nikon N70) with case and manual and an autofocus 35-80mm Nikkor zoom lens. Features 3D matrix metering, built-in flash, standard Nikon mount for additional Nikon and
compatible lenses, built-in timer, manual and automatic operation, programmable settings, and much much more. Asking NAFl. 900,-. Call Jake at 6773 or e-mail mailto:jake@nettech.an .
COPIER
Xerox Office 5310 copier, with enlargements, etc. In good condition. Asking NAFl. 550,- (new purchase price was NAFl. 4.400,-). Call 6560 or FAX 6570 for more information. TRANSPORTATION
Daihatsu
Cherade 1988, in very good technical condition, new tires and suspension. Asking price NAFl. 2500. Also almost new Tomos motorcycle for sale for only NAFl. 1100. For information please contact mailto:lordlucky@hotmail.com . VIDEO PLAYER
Radio Shack VHS DC-powered video tape player - needs work. Best offer gets it - and all offers considered. Call Jake at 6773 or mailto:jake@nettech.an . CHILDREN'S PLAY SET
A two-piece all-wood children's swing (3 swings) and a clubhouse with a slide. Call 5592 for an appointment to view.
COMPUTER SOFTWARE
Eudora Pro 4.0 for Windows 95/98 - Professional E-mail software for people who live by e-mail - only one copy left - US$45.
Contact Jake @ NetTech at 6773 or mailto:jake@nettech.an
NEW KITCHEN FAUCET
Deluxe Kitchen Faucet, single control, never used, includes all parts, documentation is NAFl. 76.80 at General Store. Price Reduced! Asking NAFl. 35/OBO. Contact Jake at 6773 or mailto:jake@nettech.an . (We think this has been sold to Michael Gaynor, but he hasn't picked it up yet - he wanted the world to know that the faucet has been sold, however!)
-------------------
Want to Buy/Swap/Rent/Find: MISSING CAMERA
Offering US$100 reward for Olympus digital camera in black case. Lost in Kralendijk on Wednesday, October 6th. Call George at 8988.
DESPERATELY NEED LEMON GRASS
Need fresh Lemon Grass that can be transplanted into a garden. Name your price! Call 5592 if you know where I can get some! Or e-mail mailto:info@samursailing.com
OUSE RENTAL(S)
Looking to rent one or two homes (should be near to each other) for two weeks, starting July 15, 2000 for former Bonaire residents and their family & friends (up to 10 people total). If you have
such homes available for rent, contact Gerdien van den Brand in Holland at mailto:vdbrand@tref.nl DINGHY
Do you have a dinghy for sale? Please call Theo at 5539 (office) or mailto:info@harbourtownbonaire.com . NEED ENGLIGH TUTOR
Desperately seeking... an English speaking tutor for 5th grader in English grammar & spelling. 1-2 times
per week for one hour private lessons. Please call 5592. 40 FOOT CONTAINER
Need 40 foot container in good condition for storage. Will arrange to move to permanent storage location. Call Jake at NetTech at 6773 or mailto:jake@nettech.an if you have such a container available. WARDROBE
Need big 2 or 3 door wardrobe, second hand, in good condition. Please FAX info to 6772 after 1pm.
HOUSE
Teacher from Holland with 2 kids is looking for a house to rent for long term. Prefer 3 bedrooms with airco. We like Republiek, Santa Barbara, Hato or someplace else near the beach. please contact us at 4666 or
e-mail to: mailto:rcdamen@bonairelive.com VAN OR TRUCK
We are looking for a van or 4 door truck, preferably with airco, to purchase while we are in Bonaire arriving
December 15, 1999. It must be in good shape and reasonably priced. Contact us at mailto:joan@remax-absolute.com if you have anything like this. APARTMENT
Looking
for a one bedroom apartment in quiet, safe, neighborhood in the range of NAFl. 400-450. Call 6951. VACUUM CLEANER
Need a vacuum cleaner - 110 or 220V. Call 4666 or mailto:rcdamen@bonairelive.com
REFRIGERATOR/FREEZER
Looking for new or used in good condition. Contact mailto:info@samursailing.com or call 5592. BICYCLE
Looking for a used "Dutch
bike" for exercise and to bring child to school. Contact Sjoerd at 4444 or mailto:vanderbrug@bonairelive.com . |
