www.BonairExel.com October 15 to 29, 2004 Volume 11, Issue 40 Kaya Gob. Debrot 200 • E-mail: [email protected] • 717-8988 SINCE 1994 Members of the Pelikaan Board sup- port teacher Wilma Bohn: Elke Bot- terop, Margon Müller, Muovis Schräder, Simone Sweers drugs from Colombia through Vene- zuela to Curaçao and St. Marten. The IN THIS ISSUE: ultimate destination for the drugs was There will be no Bonaire Referendum Followup “warm welcome” at the airport. The Europe and the US. Commission Recommends Reporter next week in keeping flight originates in Bonaire with a stop The suspects are believed to have Breakup of Antilles 4 with our policy of publishing in Curaçao with a new, speedier, transported or sold hundreds of kilos The “Crash” of an Airline 6 four issues a month. (Four times longer range ATR-500 model turbo- of cocaine. A total of 120 police offi- Double Presentation 8 a year there are five Fridays in prop. cers from different departments of the Remax Birthday 8 the month.) The next issue will police corps, the RST (Criminal Inves- Conference Center Opens 9 be available on October 28th. X Former Antillean Prime Minis- tigation Unit) and members of the Announcement ter Ben Komproe died in hospital on HARM team (Hit and Run Money (Wedding Sellars/Fielstra) 9 Curaçao on Monday. He was 62. Laundering team) formed part of the Regatta Roundup 10 Komproe, a former Antillean justice actions. During the entire investigation Regatta Windsurfing 11 minister as well, had been sick for the police were aided by the Customs Ask the Dietitian (low fat, low sugar some time and underwent an emer- Department, the Coast Guard and the recipes) 13 gency operation on his stomach in St. American Drug Enforcement Agency. Bistro de Paris Review 13 Elisabeth hospital last month. He had Pelikaan School Opens 18 been in intensive care since. Komproe X The Bonaire Island Government was Antillean Prime Minister for sev- has decided to create a central man- eral months in 2003, filling in for the agement for the airport and harbor WEEKLY FEATURES: he Exel Aviation Group will leader of the FOL party, Anthony authorities, named Bonaire Ports Flotsam & Jetsam 2 T take over the independent Godett, who was accused of fraud. Authority N.V. The Ports Authority Police Update 5 airline, DutchBird, effective Novem- Komproe was arrested on September will oversee the operation of the Bon- Opinion (Terrorism in Bonaire) 5 ber 1, 2004. This will add five planes 7 this year on suspicion of corruption aire International Airport N.V., Bon- Vessel List & Tide Table 9 and 250 employees to the Exel family. and being a member of a criminal aire International Seaport N.V., and Pet of the Week (Mariana) 12 Reportedly, two new Airbus 320s will gang. While serving as Justice Minis- Port Security Services N.V. Classifieds 12 be assigned to Curaçao for “the Carib- ter, Komproe had issued Colombian Hit Parade 14 bean operation.” and Bolivian prostitutes with residence X To meet the standards to obtain What’s Happening 15 According to published reports, this permits, despite claims he was not au- ISPS certificate (International Ship Shopping & Dining Guides 16 will enable the airline, which had al- thorized to do so. It was that incident and Port Facilities Security Code) On the Island Since ready purchased a Boeing 737, to start that began the fall of the Mirna Godett Bonaire’s ports have been fenced; a (Aimed Ayubi) 17 flying to more regional destinations government that resigned shortly after- security organization has been ap- Picture Yourself (Volendam, quicker. The target is to start flying the wards. pointed to carry out all security duties The Netherlands ) 18 Miami route, to be left open when such as I.D. control, luggage, vehicles Bonaire Sky Park 19 Dutch Caribbean Airlines (DCA) stops X The choice of becoming a UPG and cargo; TV cameras monitor the The Stars Have It 19 operating, as soon as possible under a (Ultra-Peripheral Territory) or LGO ports when there are no security November 1 “wet lease” arrangement (Countries and Territories Overseas) guards or no ships visiting the harbor. with DutchBird ( the planes can oper- should not be for financial reasons, Lighting has been improved; port se- operate, maintain and develop the air- ate with their current Dutch registra- said visiting Kingdom Relations Min- curity officers completed a security port. The airport has almost completed tion and crews). Look for a more in- ister Thom de Graaf, but for political course; and a port security plan has its privatization. At present the nego- depth story on the history and demise reasons. De Graaf says an island must been completed. tiations with the labor union are in of DCA on page 6. ask itself, “What type of country do Continued on page 4 you want to be in relation to the rest of X Due to the increasing cargo arriv- X Curaçao’s Commissioner of Eco- the world?” Bonaire officials said ing in Bonaire by container from nomic Affairs, Ivar Asjes, visited they will schedule a second Referen- Curaçao, immediate plans are to build progress for the transfer of personnel American Eagle headquarters in dum to make the choice sometime in a new roll-on, roll-off (Roro) pier to and a labor agreement. Puerto Rico in company with the is- the future. be used as a back-up pier during the Infrastructure and commercial im- land’s Tourism Bureau Director to cruise ship season in order to release provements at the airport include: the discuss transitional flight arrange- the pressure on the south pier of Kral- extension of the platform, a new de- ments and the possible takeover of endijk. A possible location for the new parture and transit hall (tax free shops, some of Dutch Caribbean Airlines Roro pier is south of WEB in Hato. restaurants, toilets and waiting areas), (DCA) routes. There was interest but The supply boats, Doña Luisa, Don a catering facility, a new main access no commitment. Andrés and Ronald, will use this pier road and an extension of the runway. X The first flight of CuraçaoExel to deliver the containers transported Planned infrastructure improvements landed at Princess Juliana Interna- X Last week in a series of 13 raids, from Curaçao. are: an arrival hall (including baggage tional Airport in St. Maarten shortly 11 houses in Curaçao, St. Maarten and conveyers), renovation and pavement after noon on Monday, October 4th. Holland, as well as two companies in X Up until 2002 the island govern- of platform strips, improvement of “We can assure St. Maarten that we the Curaçao Free Zone, were searched ment was in charge of the manage- drainage and grading the strip, pur- have a warm heart for you,” said Man- by police. A total of 11 foreigners, ment of the airport. Since then the chase of the fuel farm by Oil Trading aging Director Raymondo Saleh of mostly from South America, were de- management has been in the hands of Bonaire, security installations, a new Dutch Eagle Express, CuraçaoExel’s tained. With this operation authorities the government company, Bonaire fire department building and renova- parent company. Saleh said he was managed to break up an international International Airport N.V., (B.I.A.). tion of airport fencing. Commercial (Continued on page 4) “really surprised and honored” by the drug gang known for transporting B.I.A.’s primary task is to manage, Page 2 Bonaire Reporter - October 15 to October 29, 2004 ©2004 The Bonaire Reporter Published weekly. For information about subscriptions, stories or advertising in The Bonaire Reporter, phone (599) 717-8988, 791- 7252, fax 717-8988, E-mail to: [email protected] The Bonaire Reporter, George DeSalvo, Publisher. Laura DeSalvo, Editor in Chief. Address: Kaya Gob. Debrot 200-6; Bonaire, Neth. Antilles. Available on-line at: www.bonairereporter.com Reporters: Zamir Ayubi, Jack Horkheimer, Greta Kooistra, Dabney Lassiter, Ann Phelan, Angélique Salsbach, Michael Thies- sen, Features Editor: Greta Kooistra; Translations: Peggy Bakker, Sue Ellen Felix Distribution: Yuchi Molina (Rincon), Elizabeth Silberie (Playa); Housekeeping: Jaidy Rojas Acevedo. Printed by: DeStad Drukkerij Bonaire Reporter - October 15 to October 29, 2004 Page 3 (Flotsam and Jetsam. Continued from page 2) Referendum Followup- improve- ments and expansions Dutch/Antillean Commission will include: Recommends Breakup of the Antilles a business lounge, a flight infor- he result of last month’s Bonaire mation sys- T Referendum turned out to be a tem and preview for the recommendations of a Internet fa- work group on administrative and finan- cilities. cial reforms. The study group report ti- Don Andrés and Doña Luisa tled, “Now’s the Time…Now’s the Mo- X Good ment!” (informally named the “Jesurun news as we Report” after its leader, Edsel “Papi” Je- go to press: There have been 125 con- surun), counseled that the three Antillean firmed reservations so far for the mas- islands with the least population - Bon- sive Free Sterilization Program, Octo- aire, St. Eustatius and Saba - should get ber 18 to 30. The aim is to combat multi- direct ties with Holland. The more popu- tudes of unwanted litters of puppies by lous islands of Curaçao and St. Maarten Council on referendum matters said, sterilizing 200 to 300 free-ranging dogs should become autonomous countries “This will open the way for many great on the island. Veterinarians from the US, within the Dutch realm. opportunities, more than one could imag- Canada and Holland are donating their The island of Bonaire polled its popula- ine. The breakup of the Antilles is now an services. tion on September 10, 2004, on the gov- irreversible fact, but not one done out of To sign up, call Shelter Manager Jurrie ernmental structure they preferred for malice.” Mellema at 717-4989.