Kunuku Shimaruku, PO Box 407, Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, Phone 786-6125, 790-6518, email: [email protected] Since 1994 Cover by Albert Bianculli WILLING TO HELP and (Prosecutor) Mr. van Delft, • The Police Department offi- “Dear TCB, Police Depart- have good intentions, but good cers have been undergoing fur- This Week’s Stories ment, Prosecutor's Office: intentions alone will not solve ther training in Holland with a Personal Chef 3 Love Our Planet Week 5 this problem. We need increased focus on crime prevention and I am happy to do whatever it WindsurferTable of Report Contents 7 enforcement, and it needs to are introducing two initiatives – Regatta 8,9 takes. Please just tell me the start now. In the long term we one targeted to schools and an- time and the place. I consider Announcements 10 need to reduce the local drug other toward local business RE/MAX party myself a guest on the island, but markets, as well as offer better owners to encourage helping the Birthdays-Gina & Elizabeth I also consider myself part of education and employment op- island’s young people by pro- SGB Chefs in Italy the community, so please don’t portunities to the local young viding them with jobs. Turtle Tracking –Darwina take this the wrong way. Special Olympics Gold 11 CRIME ON BONAIRE people. • Together with the private I think Bonaire is at a critical I don’t want to just be seen as Softball 11 time and if crime of every type sector, the Bonaire Government Doggy Myths 13 Diving newsletters and re- a complainer, so PLEASE let Tourist Board is in process of ports on the Internet are full is not stopped now someone me know what I can do to help will get killed and you will all designing a new crime report- WEEKLY FEATURES of stories of crime on Bonaire solve this problem now. ing tool for business establish- these days. Burglaries, thefts have the residents marching in A Concerned Businessman” the street for improved safety, ments such as hotels, restau- Flotsam & Jetsam (Crime) 2 and hold-ups spoil people’s va- Sudoku 6 much like they did years ago. rants, car rental agencies etc. cations causing untold incon- A PLAN TO ATTACK Sudoku Solution 9 This is not good for tourism or involved with tourists that will venience and trauma. Up until CRIME enable them to download a form Pet s of the Week (cats) 13 now Bonaire has been fortunate for any kind of business. Many Ronella Croes, Director of the Biologist’s Bubbles: of the people committing these and bring it to Police headquar- (Slippery Dicks) 12 because violent crime against TCB, replied that she has been ters, thereby eliminating the island visitors, as is a problem crimes are experienced crimi- working with the police to get Picture Yourself With need for the guest to do so The Reporter (Siciily.) 12 in the Dominican Republic, St. nals who are VERY thorough action. Her office has instituted and who know exactly what themselves. This is intended to Classifieds 12 Lucia, Jamaica and other places the following actions: enhance visitor experience by Dining & Shopping in the Caribbean, is practically they are doing. Many of the • The TCB has created a letter burglaries are not local kids just attending to a guest’s needs at a Guides 14 unknown. Official reaction has for all accommodation provid- critical time (after an incident Clear Blue Water News 15 been muted, sometimes giving getting into trouble, however ers to distribute upon check-in Tide Table 15 this is how local kids learn to be has occurred). the impression that the island's to their guests reminding them Reporter Masthead 16 leaders don't care enough. Be- bad guys. that, although they are on vaca- • The TCB has also recently What’s Happening 16 low is a letter from a local busi- I have been on Bonaire long tion and relaxing, to remember established the Bureau Sky Park (Jupiter) 17 nessman that does a good job enough to know that much of to always be cautious, thus Slachtoffer Hulp, or “Crime Café Astrology (October) 18 Carbon Neutral 19 expressing the willingness and this is due to either poor police boosting awareness. The letter Help Center” to attend to every training or police indifference, possible need, both emotionally frustration of island residents contains safety tips and various The Bonaire Reporter, and the reaction from Bonaire's or perhaps worse. The local emergency phone numbers as and administratively, of victims people know who the bad guys of any crime no matter how P. O. Box 407, Bonaire, tourism office (TCB). Recently, well as victim help lines and a Neth. Antilles. Minister Elvis Tjin Asjoe, the are, so I assume the cops do too; police tip line to report suspi- small. yet the problem continues. I can Antillean Central Government's cious activity. Available on-line at: spot the open air drug markets man in charge of Economic Af- • To combat the social aspect www.bonairereporter.com fairs, expressed his concern that are taking place every day, Continued on page 4 so I assume the police can see of crime, a Community Men- Published every two weeks publically. He wants the police tor program has force, local businesses and the them too. Yet day after day there are drug sales going on in been developed tourism sector to work together and launched to reduce crime. “ The Antillean the same place. I see lots of police during the with the purpose island of Bonaire (with 14,000 of providing care Unique Gifts for you and yours… inhabitants) is for a large part day, but there is virtually no police presence at night when and attention to dependent on tourism,” said. common social Tjin Asjoe, who is from Bon- crime normally occurs. This is Books and magazines for a breezy afternoon compounded by the fact that we problems. Fo- aire. He explained that tourism cused largely on is "the chicken that lays golden also have an absentee Police read… chocolates and candies for the sweetest Chief, (no offense Jan. I know I youth, these eggs." mentors will talk Police protection is a Central could not run my business effec- tively if I was gone from the with young peo- of teeth… toys for tots of all ages... Government responsibility and office half of the time) so I ple about the high level action is needed to issues that they obtain increased resources for know that such a situation does not help with effective operation deal with includ- VALERIE’S AIRPORT SHOPS Bonaire police, which officials of the police, or with the moti- ing peer pres- say is at the root of the police's sure, parental Airport Shopping,.... "Localized" vation of the cops who are N failure to stop these crimes. communication PE working on the street. O Phone 717-5324/ fax 717-5610 Now the letter: and other daily TE! I think everyone, including LA (Police Chief) van der Straten life concerns. 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Lunch: Open Monday through Friday from 11am-3pm Dinner: Open Monday through Saturday from 6pm-10pm Please visit us at: Kaya Amsterdam 23 (far right side of the building) Phone: 717 3973, e-mail: [email protected] Page 2 Bonaire Reporter September 28– October 12, 2007 He’ll Do It All For You ur little island is becom- are turnkey and include every- everything from the paperwork at O ing tres sophisticated as thing from providing tables, Government House, the church, we now have a Personal Chef at chairs, linens, bartenders, and the florist and the photographer, our disposal. It’s no longer just waiters, to delicious, creative food to Philip’s creative food for the the rich and famous who can have and end-of-party cleanup. reception. They have done wed- personally prepared meals, but Theme dinners have been very dings at Sorobon, at Seru Largu you and I as well! Philip Joukes popular with his clients as are and on the beach and are prepared of Philip’s Cooking & Organiz- romantic dinners for two at your to make all your wedding wishes ing Bonaire saw a need and has home, on a quiet beach, or wher- come true. met it. The Dutchman, whose ever you would like to have it. He Other offerings include gift cer- hobby has always been creative also offers four-course dinners for tificates for romantic dinners for cooking and who has worked with up to12 people including specially two (the gift for those who have friends in the restaurant business, selected wines. everything!), cooking lessons is a born chef with a natural tal- Wouldn’t it be fun to get a (want to learn to make pasta or to ent.