September 22 to 29, 2006 Volume 13, Issue 37 Booi stated that “It is now up to DAE stration” consumes 40% of the total, Table of Contents to decide whether to take legal action.” up from 36.2 % in 2006. This is an Dutch Antilles Express (DAE) subse- increase of more than NAƒ15.4 million quently filed a court request for an - from NAƒ157.1 million this year to IN THIS ISSUE: administrative procedure ruling based NAƒ172.5 million next year. The TCB Brand Development Meeting 4 on the existing transportation laws. The higher law enforcement cost is to a Letters to the Editor 5 All Inclusives he first daily 156-seat JetBlue intention is to block Insel Air from large extent necessitated by the rise in Bonaire Disappoints T flight from New York landed flying the Curaçao-St. Maarten route crime. Mangrove Village Outrage 6 in Aruba last Friday afternoon. The using a leased Surinam Airways MD- Almost the same proportion of the Underwater Cleanup 6 Airbus of the low cost carrier-high 82 airplane. Insel Air announced it budget is spent on “Debt Service,” Visiting Nurses (Sharks) 8 Dietician—Weight Balance (BMI) 9 service was welcomed by the airport would change its inaugural flight from about NAƒ171.2 million for next year. Island Chef Fundraiser 10 fire department with spray from their September 19 to September 21 as a This figure is based on anticipated Ruben Wows the Turks crash trucks. Flying JetBlue to Aruba court ruling is to be made after we go revenues of NAƒ881 million and ex- (Windsurfing) 12 with a Divi-Divi or DAE connection to to press. Transport Minister Gijsbertha penses of NAƒ848.6 million in 2007. Go Back in History 18 Bonaire is an alternative for American said DAE had been given a permit to That means the Central Govern- travelers to our island. A non-stop con- lease the same SLM plane but had not ment has only 20% of its budget re- nection would be preferable. made use of the permit. maining to spend on ALL other gov- During a qualification of the aircraft ernment services, including support to WEEKLY FEATURES: Flotsam & Jetsam 2 ► Last week's debate on aviation in early this week a defective part was islands other than Curaçao. Biologist’s Bubbles the Antillean Parliament lasted nine discovered and the aircraft was (Buoyancy control) 3 hours, but it didn’t cause a crisis de- grounded until it could be replaced. ► Bonaire and Saba along with Pet of the Week (Rebecca) 7 spite the fact that Bonaire's Senator the Central Government are going to (Dog Wash) Snack Detectives (Sisys Bar) 7 Ramonsito Booi announced that he ► Last Thursday, in an introductory approach the Netherlands for extra SuDoku Puzzle 12 was ready to play hardball. He didn't ad, Insel Air announced a special financial aid for the “smaller is- Classifieds 12 fold but “agreed to disagree” with his fare from Curaçao to St. Maarten lands” of the Antilles. Bonaire Senator Tide Table 12 coalition partner, Transport Minister for the next six weeks. The cost is Ramonsito Booi said the necessity for Picture Yourself, Kenneth Gijsbertha. NAƒ199 for a one-way ticket (plus tax) a short-term solution should be pro- (Cordova, Alaska) 14 SuDoku Answer 14 Senator Booi believes that the Minis- and NAƒ398 for a round-trip ticket vided until Bonaire is given new politi- Reporter Masthead 14 ter's position to allow Surinam's SLM from September 21, the day of the first cal status. What’s Happening 15 Airline to fly as a wet lease for the flight, to October 31. This is considera- The Senator pointed out that the Movieland Film Schedule 15 newly founded Curaçao airline, Insel bly lower than the DAE fare. smaller islands of the Antilles could no Shopping & Dining Guides 16 On the Island Since (Reverend Fr. Air is wrong. Bonaire-based airline longer cope with the current situation Ranulfo Gonida) 17 Dutch Antilles Express (DAE) and ► We noted where the Central Government is Sky Park (Moon as Finder) 19 Booi's supporters in Parliament called that in the 2007 broke. "The Central Government has to The Stars Have It 19 it “unfair competition” and “allowing Central Govern- take care of the smaller islands, but foreign companies to fly on domestic ment budget when we appeal to Willemstad for routes.” “Justice Admini- (Continued on page 3) Page 2 Bonaire Reporter - September 22 to 29, 2006 Flotsam and Jetsam (Continued from page 2) There will be a meeting, Thursday, Sep- help, they tell us that we need to stick to tember 21, in the Habitat Conference our budgets and that they do not have Room to present the Bonaire project sufficient financial means,” Booi said. awards. “As an island, we are coping with another reality. We cannot even think in terms of ► The Social Insurance Bank (SVB) id You Know… a budget, but in terms of liquidity. The will change the month for SVB-insured D There are tricks that money that comes in is immediately persons who want to change their help divers get close to spent.” family doctors. This year requests to the coral without damaging it? change one’s family doctor will be There are divers who effortlessly glide ► The General Pension Fund of the accepted during September and will go around the reef without ever contacting Netherlands Antilles (APNA) an- into effect in October 1. Previously, June it; there are divers who stay well off the nounced a few months ago that the and December were the change months. reef but never see the small details; and WEB and Telbo shares will be sold on The decision to alter the date was taken th there are divers who bump, bump, October 30 as compensation for the after SVB received several requests from bump. If you are in this last category, government debts. Now APNA has said it insured members and family doctors. The take a buoyancy control course or find a will delay the sale provided the Island associations of family doctors in new pastime. If you’re in the second Government makes regular payments so Curaçao, St. Maarten and Bonaire were category, perhaps I can give you a tip that may help you to get close enough to see the Island Council can negotiate the debt also consulted on the issue. the small treasures of the reef without worrying about crashing into it. satisfaction as part of the restructuring of It’s all about going head first. Let’s say you’re hovering above an anemone and the Netherlands Antilles. ► Wages in the Netherlands are in- want to see if there’s a cleaner shrimp in residence. Assuming you’re neutrally creasing more than anticipated with buoyant, inflate your BCD until you’re a bit positively buoyant and tilt your head ► The Dutch Government announced average increases running at 3.8%, rather down until your feet are above your head. Slowly kick your fins until you’re just it has increased Acute Poverty Reduc- than the 2% forecast. The increase is up to above the anemone (we’re talking inches). After you’ve had your fill, rise up above tion Funds to the Antilles by about 3.6% for operational staff and up to 4.1% the reef, release some air from your NAƒ4.7 million. In May, the Dutch gov- for people at the managerial level, accord- Biologist Caren Eckrich founded and runs Sea & BCD until you’re neutral again and Discover, Bonaire's ernment made NAƒ8 million available, ing to the Beloningsindex 2006, the wages continue your dive. The beauty of this but the large number of funding requests index published annually by ADP Neder- marine education center ‘head down’ technique is that if you specializing in guided prompted the increase. The funds are ad- land and Mercer Human Resource Con- stop kicking, you’ll rise up slowly. Try dives and snorkels for ministered by the Implementation Organi- sulting. A random sample indicated a di- this skill a few times above a sandy adults and adventure zation Netherlands Antilles Development rector gets the highest wage (110,200 eu- programs for kids. You bottom until you have it down and then may call her at 717- Foundation (USONA- Uitvoeringsorgani- ros), while a cleaner gets the lowest try it out on the coral reef. C.E. satie Stichting Ontwikkeling Nederlandse (23,200 euros). 5322. Antillen). Last week Curaçao received 39 project ► Iranian President Mahmoud Minister Tzipi Livni said that the world inst, next month will start several inter- grants worth more than NAƒ3.2 million; Ahmadinejad shored up opposition to a may have as little as “a few months” to esting language courses. On October 2 Bonaire got 28, worth more than NAƒ2 US drive to curb Iran’s nuclear pro- avoid a nuclear Iran and called for sanc- they will start with different groups of million; St. Maarten, 17 projects for gram on a visit to neighboring Vene- tions. Livni’s country is the only Middle Papiamentu classes: Papiamentu for be- NAƒ3,5 million; and Saba and St. Eusta- zuela on Sunday that cemented an anti- East power that has nuclear weapons, ginners for English speakers, Papiamentu tiiuas each got seven projects valued at American front with President Hugo for beginners for Spanish speakers as NAƒ1 million. Chavez. On the same day Israel’s Foreign ► FORMA, Bonaire adult education (Continued on page 5) Bonaire Reporter - September 22 to 29, 2006 Page 3 he Brand Develop- tor was a prosperous “baby Mass Tourism? No Way! T ment Meeting organ- boomer.” He/she spent an ized by the Tourism Corpo- average of $135/day n interesting closing to the ration Bonaire (TCB) last (excluding airfare) and their A three-day tourism partners week, September 13-15, was top three activities were div- meeting last week was a unanimous vote meant to turn Bonaire’s mar- ing, relaxing and snorkeling.