Jan 13 - Jan 27, 2021, Year 28, Issue 01 Box 603, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands, Phone (599) 796-4055, www.bonairereporter.com email:[email protected] “Bonaire’s reefs got a break from divers’ traffic in 2020.” Alvin Clemencia. Diver Malin Kaijser glides over the reef. Photo Julie Morgan Looking back at 2020 and forward to 2021, part II In reaching out to individuals from various sectors of of nice homes. As we move into 2021, we see continued Derchlien Vrolijk Bonaire for our end of year feature, Looking back at strength in the Bonaire market as buyers from Europe Tourism Corporation Bonaire marketing 2020 and forward to 2021, we received amazing, heart- and North America decide to spend more time in a place As 2020 comes to an end we reflect felt and well thought out responses but they were a bit like Bonaire where you can live almost all of your life on a very peculiar year, with many op- long. So, we decided not to edit but to run the carefully outdoors no matter whether you are reading a book, div- portunities for the future of Bonaire. considered comments in full, therefore we present part II. ing, walking, windsurfing or kite boarding. There is a lot This year has been a culmination of to do here, and almost all of it is outdoors. reflection on what truly matters. Lt. Governor Edwin Rijna Rents trended lower this year, because we had both For individuals it could be a simple hug from a family (excerpts from New Years speech) fewer tourists and fewer people working in HORECA member or friend and for a destination it would be the We are on the road to recuperation, and other tourist related businesses. At the upper end of experience shared with travelers who choose your desti- but we are not done with the virus. In the market, many properties that are usually tourist rent- nation, accommodation, dive shop or restaurant as part preparing for the vaccines, the exact als became long term rentals and so the supply of rental of their holiday or retreat. date is still unknown when they will be units went up, and rental prices had to go down. Many Many may want to work towards the ‘new normal’; the here. We must show patience and continue to follow the landlords ended up discounting the rent for current ten- outcome is far beyond the expression ‘normal.’ Bonaire rules. After the vaccines, we hope we will return to a ants just to avoid having vacant homes and apartments. has the opportunity to implement its vision of a sustain- somewhat normal life. The crisis demonstrated we are We think Bonaire real estate will only increase in value able Blue Destination now more than ever. strong and have the capacity to recuperate. During the in the coming years. Now is a good time to buy. This pandemic is giving Bonaire the opportunity to crisis people came up with new ways to work and stimu- evolve and transmute the destination to its vision at a late economy: fishing, agriculture and new businesses… Alvin Clemencia rapid pace by applying the guidelines of the Strategic More people should be taking the initiative to come Divi Flamingo instructor Tourism Master Plan (STMP) by merging with the Re- up with new ways for Bonaire to go forward. We need Happy Renewal Year! It is with renewed covery Plan. more people to take initiative for our economy to grow. hope that I stepped into the New Year As Tourism Corporation Bonaire has a leading role Looking forward to a more normal year. In our union is 2021 after an obligatory long vacation in implementing the STMP and Recovery Plan, we are strength. in 2020 due to COVID-19. No divers in certainly very confident Bonaire will achieve its vision Divers Paradise, air and naval spaces were shut down so, with the right communal mindset. Robert Bartikoski some hotels had to shut down too. Financially it was a “TCB wishes our ambassadors, visitors and expats a Broker/Owner Remax Paradise Homes tough year for Bonaire, practically no visitors. And even 2021 filled with many positive encounters. We are hope- For the real estate business the market though the reefs got a break from divers’ traffic, they got ful to see you soon on our beautiful island of Bonaire. for buying and selling houses was very hit with a serious case of bleaching. One positive thing To our partners, stakeholders and local communitywe slow in March/April when the island I’m looking forward to for this year is the Reef Renewal wish many positive opportunities to keep transforming was ”shut down,” but the market picked Program. Helping the reefs I’ve been diving on for so Bonaire into a more sustainable Blue Destination”. up over the summer and fall driven by the extremely low many years is a great thing to do. interest rates in the Netherlands and the US, so we saw So, let’s look forward to a happier, healthier and pros- investors coming into the market and completing sales perous 2021! Looking at 2020 and 2021, continued on page 4 The BONAIRE REPORTER online news that has broken since the printed issue Numbers January 20, 2021 Bonaire has 69 active cases of Covid-19 on January 20, 2021. One of the 25 test results for Covid-19 is positive. 12 people recovered since yesterday. Three peo- ple are in hospital due to Covid-19, two gets special care. Take a test if you feel sick. It can take a while before you get the result. It’s important to wait the result in quarantine. Do not go outside before you get your result because you can infect other people. To bring these numbers down it’s important to maintain the hygiene instructions, as keep 1.5 meter distance and wash your hands with water and soap regularly to prevent infection with the Coronavirus. Do you have a fever, sore throat or other complaints related to Covid-19? Stay at home and call 0800-0800. Maintain the hygiene instructions. Eat healthy, exer- cise and get enough sleep. Take care of yourself and the people around you. PRESS RELEASE Communications Department of the public body of Bonaire Jan. 19 Freezer corona vaccine Monday “Bonaire will receive the Pfizer- January 25 on Bonaire BioNTech vaccine for the first phase of vaccinations. We do not yet know Kralendijk - The two freezers for the whether Bonaire will receive the Mod- storage of corona vaccines will arrive erna vaccine or the AstraZeneca vac- on Bonaire on Monday, January 25. For cine that has yet to be approved. Sup- example, Joey van Slobbe of the Public pose we do get the Moderna vaccine, Health department has announced that then we already have the freezer. This he is responsible for the preparations way we are well prepared for all pos- for vaccination on the island. Thursday, sibilities. ” January 28, January 28, a team from the Vaccination takes place in stages on RIVM will arrive on the island. The Bonaire. “In the first phase, people aged members of the team check that things 70 and older are vaccinated and the are well organized to start vaccinating healthcare personnel. Then it is the turn in mid-February. of the over-60s and people who are in “One of the freezers is for the stor- a risk group. For example, people with age of the PfizerBioNTech vaccine. cardiovascular disease, lung disease, That vaccine should be stored at -70 diabetes. Later the healthy people from degrees. The other freezer is suitable for 18 years to 60 years are vaccinated. ” the storage of the Moderna vaccine, this vaccine must be stored at -20 degrees, Photo: Freezers used in the Nether- ”said Van Slobbe. lands The BONAIRE REPORTER online news that has broken since the printed issue Measures have been extended until January 28th, 2021 The BONAIRE REPORTER online news that has broken since the printed issue Speech By Dr. Marian Luinstra-Passchier January 15th I would like to start by cautiously giving you some good news: in recent Diagram 2: seven-day average of the days we have seen a slight decrease in number of new cases per day the number of positive cases. Today we received 81 test results, of which 7 were The graph clearly shows a decline in positive. numbers. This means that the number of new infections per day is dropping. In recent days, we have experienced Please note: the red line numbers may some delays in the processing of the still rise slightly due to the results of laboratory results. Because the results new contact tracing. from several days were coming in at the same time, we would sometimes see a As I said, cautiously, there is some surge of up to 26 positive results per good news, but we are not out of the day. These laboratory problems have woods yet! now been solved. As you are aware, measures were tightened from 9 January last week. Our daily reports are based on the re- The effect of which will only be seen sults that we receive that same day. We between 15 and 22 January, 2021. We have now made an overview based on hope that the number of positive cases the test date and the first day of illness. will decrease even more. To achieve This provides a clearer overall picture this we need the cooperation of each of the distribution of the infections. In and every one. diagram 1 the yellow bars indicate the first day of illness and the blue bars This is why we have advised the indicate the test date.