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Bob Lassiter photo THIS WEEK: There will be no Reporter next week. wake of the Curaçao Island ries and in the top five in the categories of Council’s rejection of the No- Top Destinations for Advanced Divers Table of Contents vember 2 accord on future constitutional (90.3) and Top Visibility (86.9). Results Fast Action Saves Turtles 3 utch caretaker change for the islands of the Netherlands of the 2007 Awards will be featured in Electricity Upgrade 4 Minister of Antilles, Constitutional Affairs Minister the January/February 2007 issue of Scuba Alternative Fuels 4 D Astronaut in Bonaire 6 Administrative Re- Roland Duncan said last Wednesday. The Diving magazine. All-Inclusive in Bonaire 7 form and Kingdom target date shouldn’t be July 1, 2007, Shoes at Warehouse 7 Relations, Atzo anymore, but “as soon as possible.” Antique Houses (San Bernardus) 8&9 Nicolaï, says he has Prokids Premiere 10 Portraits Debut 11 the political will Atzo Nicolaï ► The VVD party may have lost last to continue to- week’s election in the Netherlands, but International Day of wards establishing a new political or- the liberal party was still the biggest Disabilities – FKPD party 12 Elizabeth Wigny Honored 13 der with St. Maarten and the three vote-getter among Dutch residents living Cooking Lessons at the smaller islands. He is planning a visit to abroad. Training Center Project 18 the islands late January. “I consider it Some 32,126 Dutch expatriates were very serious what happened,” Nicolaï eligible to vote in the elections for a new WEEKLY FEATURES: said, referring to the decision by the government and 28,170 of those Flotsam & Jetsam 2 Curaçao Island Council to reject the No- (88.85%) cast their votes by letter or via Biologist’s Bubbles (Sharptail Eel) 3 vember 2 political accord they signed the Internet, it was announced by the SuDoku Puzzle 12 with The Netherlands, St. Maarten and Central Voting Circle in The Hague. Classifieds 12 Pet of the Week (Newborns) 14 the Central Government. The accord was ► Air Jamaica recorded a loss of just Tide Table 14 to pave the way for the two islands to ► Continuing its reign as one of the under US$120 million during 2005, the Reporter Masthead 14 become a country in the Kingdom of the world’s top dive destinations, Bonaire airline's financial statements for the cal- What’s Happening 15 Netherlands. The Netherlands already was rated the Top Dive Destination endar year have confirmed. Movieland Film Schedule 15 signed an agreement with Bonaire, Saba Overall (Caribbean/Atlantic) in Scuba According to the statements, which Shopping & Dining Guides 16 and St. Eustatius on October 11 to estab- Diving magazine’s 2007 Readers’ were presented by the Minister of Finance Born on Bonaire lish direct ties. He respected Curaçao’s Choice Awards for the fifth year in a and Planning, Dr Omar Davies, in the (James “Boy” Janga) 17 Picture Yourself (Sheffield, UK) 18 decision and called it a “democratic” row. House of Representatives, the airline lost Sky Park (Planet Meeting) 19 choice, but said at the same time that it Bonaire also received the #1 rating in US$119.9 million in 2005, compared to The Stars Have It 19 was not good for the people of Curaçao four other Caribbean/Atlantic categories: US$99 million in 2004, and, as of De- SuDoku Answer 19 and that the consequences for Curaçao Top Shore Diving Destination (96.7), Top cember 31, last year, its current liabilities Next Reporter is Dec. 22 and the other islands were “serious.” The Destination for Underwater Photography exceeded its current assets by US$92.1 biggest objection by the Curaçao Island (96.6), Healthiest Marine Environment million. that its continuation as a going concern Council was that Holland was to have the (93.8), and Top Destination for Beginners The increased loss was primarily due to will depend on continued support from last say in judicial matters. (By Suzanne (93.8), and took second place in the cate- a huge reduction of approximately US$80 the government, as well as obtaining nec- Koelega) gories of Top Marine Life (94.6) and Top million in its operating revenues, mainly essary funding and future profitability. Small Animal Encounters (90). Bonaire in terms of passengers and to a much Air Jamaica flies weekly to Bonaire on ► The break-up of the Netherlands placed in the top three in the Top Value lesser extent in terms of freight. The air- Saturdays. Antilles has to be accelerated in the (90.6) and Top Snorkeling (86.3) catego- line's accountants suggested in the report (Continued on page 3) Page 2 Bonaire Reporter - December 8 to December 22, 2006 n November 20, oil accumulations O along the east coast were reported to the Bonaire National Marine Park (BNMP). The Marine Park and the staff of the governmental Department of Environment and Nature management confirmed the nature and extent of the spill. The sticky oil had no sheen or odor, indicating that it had been at sea for quite a period of time STCB Photo before being washed ashore. Fortunately it covered just a limited area combed the beach by hand, clearing oil- at Washikemba and the oil was easy to laden debris. remove because of its solid patches that Following the clean-up effort, officials stuck mostly to shoreline rocks and ocean- were very satisfied to see that the beach’s borne debris. A quick reaction was re- condition allowed the baby sea turtles to quired to make sure that the sea turtle navigate with relative safety from their hatchlings from the nests at Washikemba nests to the sea during the current hatch- wouldn’t experience any complications ing period. during their journey to the sea. STINAPA and STCB want to give spe- A clean-up was conducted on Friday, cial recognition to both SELIBON and the November 23, by the BNMP, Sea Turtle volunteers of the BNMP and STCB for Clean-up team Conservation Bonaire (STCB), SELIBON their willingness to mobilize quickly and STCB Photo and the corps of volunteers of the Marine help in situations like this. Lagoen receive considerable amounts of and truck to carry the collected material Park. The larger, oil-contaminated rocks The cooperation of SELIBON in beach debris as a consequence of their location away made the hard work of volunteers and debris were removed by SELIBON clean-ups makes a big difference in the and the direction of the wind. and staff from the two organizations a lot using a loader and truck. Volunteers also results. Beaches like Washikemba and SELIBON’s presence with their loader better. Press release snakes are reptiles that breathe air, and eels are fish that breathe water. It’s a fine example of how two completely unrelated species have evolved into the same shape sea snake. The Sharptail Eel is non- id You Know…that there (convergent evolution). Caren Eckrich D are no sea snakes in the venomous so you can get quite close if Caribbean? you’re the curious type. You can often see this uninhibited eel in shallow sand/rubble Biologist Caren Eckrich founded and runs Sea & Sea snakes are venomous reptiles that areas of Bonaire, rooting around for a Discover, Bonaire's marine live in the tropical Pacific and Indian education center specializing meal. Sometimes a Bar Jack will follow Oceans. Bonaire boasts a beautiful spe- in guided dives and snorkels along closely in hopes of snatching a flee- cies of eel called the Sharptail Eel that for adults and adventure pro- ing fish that the eel frightens. So, sea grams for kids. You may call many divers and snorkelers mistake for a Sharptail Eel Albert Bianculli photo her at 717-5322. Bonaire Reporter - December 8 to December 22 Page 3 rowing at which are part of a com- G over 25% a plex world-wide scheme year, wind energy is to make air polluters pay the fastest growing for their nasty emissions. energy source in the During the period from world today. And 1997 through 2004 WEB Bonaire is finally lost NAƒ21 million. The getting into the act. new facilities are ex- In a press confer- pected to operate profita- ence last week ex- bly. All WEB workers Bonaire Governor will be provided jobs or Richard Hart, a fair compensation if Director of WEB’s they are not qualified to Senator Ramonsito Booi, BMG Director Richard Hart and holding company, work in the new com- WEB General Manager, Ibi dePalm, describe the future of described the WEB- pany. The long-delayed Bonaire’s electric power system. Bonaire’s Electric- sewage system, set to ity and Water com- begin construction next year, when it be- economy, according to its supporters, and pany of the future. comes operational will be operated by WEB will offer health, economic and environ- A new company, Artist’s impression of the planned wind turbines at Onima. employees. mental benefits for Bonaire residents and EcoPower Bonaire, WEB photo The EcoPower concept is necessary to emphasize Bonaire’s role as a destination BV, employing support the planned expansion of Bonaire’s for conservation-minded visitors. G.D. many of the present WEB em- ployees will build, own and oper- Alternative Fuels coastal area is used for recreation but is ate (BOO) the facilities. It’s a concentrated on the leeward side of the joint venture of the Dutch com- ind energy is captured through island, not the windward, where the wind pany, ECONCERN, which will W wind turbines that usually consist turbines would be located.