Apr. 29 - May 13, 2019, Year 26, Issue 9 Box 603, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands, Phone (599) 796-4055, www.bonairereporter.com email:[email protected] Stories about Rincon and more Cadushy Distillery Posada Para Mira Wanika: Rincon.ta.On RINCON! The oldest town in the Dutch Caribbean, Rincon, The celebration was slow to catch on with very little inter- various stages where bands are playing, enjoy local food Bonaire celebrates their 30th Annual Dia di Rincon on est from the people. But over time and with well thought-out and drinks, arts and handcrafts. April 30. Prior to 1989, April 30 was a celebration known event organization, the people began to see the importance In the last few years there were more than 12,000 people as Queen’s Day for the birthday of former Queen Juliana of of Rincon Day and the vision of Janga. Rincon Day became roaming the streets, dancing and celebrating Rincon Day. the Netherlands, Even after her daughter Queen Beatrix took the biggest festivity on Bonaire. Mind you, that’s more than four times the amount of people over in 1980, April 30 continued to be celebrated as Queen’s During the early days of celebration there were all types living in Rincon. Day in honor of the former Queen Juliana. of traditional foods available at food stands. Stages were set In short, you can say that the main concern of Mr. Fran- Queen’s Day was celebrated throughout the kingdom of up illustrating how things were done in the past including cisco Janga was not to let the local traditions, culture and the Netherlands including Bonaire. In Rincon residents cele- cooking, planting, harvesting, making musical instruments history of Rincon die. He wanted to insure that the younger brated the day with competitions and games for children and and clothes. They even demonstrated how various life generations and visitors knew about early life in Rincon. adults. But as the years passed, the celebrations became less events such as baptism, communion, weddings and anni- Story: Rudolf Wuyts, Photos: Julie Morgan popular until they were completely gone. No one seemed versaries were held. to understand why they were celebrating on this day. April People came from all over the Dutch Caribbean to attend 30 was not the current Queen’s birthday, she was born in the celebration. The hotels were full and it was difficult to January, so what were they celebrating? find a rental car. People who could not find an airline ticket That’s when a popular politician of Rincon, Francisco would make the trip by boat. Broertje Janga, came up with an idea to organize April 30 The main attractions were and still are the Simadan as a day dedicated to Rincon. The plan was to remind and marches. In traditional dress, the people march, sing and teach the younger generation about the rich cultural and dance through the streets of Rincon after a symbolic harvest. historical heritage of Rincon. Janga wanted to show them Today, a few weeks before Rincon Day, a festival is held how the older generation lived and worked. Unfortunately to select the best folkloric song in two categories, youth he was met with a lot of resistance from the government and and adult. The selected song is sung during the Simadon even from people of Rincon. They even called him crazy marches.As in the past, the celebration begins early in the and that his ideas were stupid. Janga persevered and con- morning with a holy mass at the main church, followed by tinued with his vision. Eventually he found some people the raising of a large Rincon flag. The people march with who liked his ideas and they met and planned for several drum bands from the church to the plaza of commerce where weeks. They decided the perfect day was April 30, the for- the official celebration takes place. The commissioner, lieu- mer Queen’s Day, and the first Dia di Rincon was born on tenant governor and organizers will give speeches, awards Francisco Broertje Janga was responsible for Dia di Rincon. He wanted future generations to know April 30, 1989. Janga’s group even held a competition for and recognition to people who excelled during the past year and honor Rincon’s history and heritage. the design of a flag. in Rincon. Following the ceremony, people can visit the LOTSAM and F JETSAM This Week’s Stories Rincon 1,6 Three of Bonaire’s four Rincon Events Schedule 4 gas stations closed their Diving despite seizures 5 pumps Friday morning, April Sea turtle killed 5 26, 2019. The stations said Hans Hass 5 they did not want to re-open Cadushy 6,7 until the fuel supplier, Curoil, Simonis Chess Champ 7 and the Public Body paid at- Flamingo Food Crisis 7 tention to the poor quality of Posada 8 fuel. According to Tobias de Wanika Rincon Games 9 Boer, General Manager of Bo- Bonaire Coastal Living 9 naco, there are constant qual- Easter Egg Hunt 10 ity problems now that the fuel Long lines at Mentor pump.photo: BES Reporter Echo Adopt-a-tree 11 comes from unknown suppliers Classical Music Festival 12 rather than the Isla Rafinaderij. Fuel filters have to be changed almost daily. The general manager of Bonaire’s largest gas station says that Curoil blames quality Departments problems on polluted tanks at the gas stations themselves. The owners of the stations Flotsam & Jetsam (Island Council, deny this claim. Rincon gas station cleaned its tanks in January 2019, but now has Gas station closure, EZAir, TCB Four new Island Council members were sworn in April 23, 2019 during the same problems again. The pumpholders also hold the Public Body responsible. at Cruise conference, Rural tourist a meeting of the Island Council: Renata Domacasse (MPB), Edison Ellis They say it should be easy to check if the gasoline supplied contains residues or if routes, Law enforcement) 2,3 (MPB), Joselito Statia (MPB) and Norbert Silberie (UPB). The appointment there is water in the diesel. Picture Yourself—Pitcarin 3 of Elvis Tjin Asjoe, Nina den Heyer and James Kroon as commissioners The closure was successful. Curoil, the government and the gas station operators Ask Kate, (rental property) 4 of the new Executive Council caused three of the vacancies. The fourth met and agreed on a temporary solution. Curoil will absorb the cost of extra filters. Letters–(new web format ) 4 vacancy occurred when MPB councilman Hennyson Thielman resigned to Governor Rijna promised an independent study into the fuel quality. The three Ask a Geek (Netflix) 4 become advisor to commissioner Tjin Asjoe. photo: Government. of Bonaire closed pumps opened to the public shortly after 2pm Friday. Business News 4 Reef Glimpses (Umbrella Slug) 9 Bonaire was rep- satisfaction ratings given by their passengers A Garden?Just Do It (Ackee) 10 Making Bonaire “Accessible” — EZ Air will be resented at the Miami after port calls to Bonaire, and with the re- #8 Client-Board 10 Beach Seatrade Cruise cent pier renovations and improvements. Bo- adding extra flights Did You Know? (Coral disease) 11 Global Conference by naire ranks as a top three destination among for the crowds trav- What’s Happening:Events, Harbor Master Gunther Flanegin, Malinda all other Caribbean Islands and a top seven eling to Dia di Rincon. EZ Air director Rene Churches, Museums 12,13 Hassel, TCB (Tourism Corporation Bonaire) in meeting tourists expectations (Source: Exit Winkel said the airline has already added sev- Cruiseship Schedule 12 Survey FCCA). TCB presented its Bonaire eral extra flights but these too have filled up and Mimi Zhen. For the first year, the three Bonaire Sky Park ABC islands shared a booth, and met with Blue Destination initiative which was well quickly. The airline hasn’t actively promoted (Super Spring Triangle) 13 received. the extra flights because they have sold out St. Maarten to discuss future itinerary col- The Stars Have It (Horoscope) 13 laboration. Considering the conference, TCB says that by themselves, but EZAir is still able to add Who’s Who in The Reporter 13 some more flights. Meetings were conducted with the Flor- Bonaire’s key stakeholders and the Island Pet Of The Week (Reggie, cat) 14 Government must define its cruise strategy ida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Shelter News (drop off cage; and its operational team of top executives because Cruise Lines want to put more ships Job advert. Save date: May 26) 14 from Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbe- in the Southern Caribbean. At a more specific Classifieds 14 an Cruise Lines and FCCA. Meetings were level, TCB suggests all tour operators and Business Directory 15 also held with Norwegian Cruise Lines and partners develop unique products and expe- Global Ports Holding. The Cruise Line ex- riences because there is still room to raise How to contact us ecutives said they are pleased with the high visitor spending. Publisher: Julie Morgan Stories, tips, questions, ideas & ads: [email protected] Entrepreneurs are taking over management Phone: + 599 796 4055 of the three rural tourist routes developed by We are in transition. Find the issue POP Bonaire (Rural Development Program). on-line at: https://bonairereporter.com Julianka Clarenda (Echo and Posada Para Mira) , for the “scroll-down” version: and Danilo Christiaan (Mangazina di Rei) have OR adopted the Rincon route; Onnie Emerenciana https://www.bonairereporter.com/ (kunuku di Mamai Rosa) the Bara di Karta news/019pdfs/newcurrent.pdf Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ route, and Maaike Smal (Wayaká Advies) Tras TheBonaireReporter/ di Montaña. POP planned the car, cycling and walking routes to revitalize the three rural areas.