Government

Government News

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Environmental Police Group is Formed on Bonaire

Recently it was announced that a new Environmental Police Group was formed, made up of representatives from Stinapa, the Police Department, SSV, and the Police Ambiental.

Although ten Stinapa employees received official police powers in 2005, their Board of Directors felt that the rangers should not be armed.  However, it became apparent that additional control was needed, and therefore, then-Public Prosecutor Ernst Wesselius suggested the new Environmental Police Group. 

After multiple discussions, this week the group was formalized with Chief of Police van Stratton, and will consist of two members each from the four above-captioned entities.  Their sole purpose will be to investigate any charges of environmental issues, with priority placed on poaching of conch, spearfishing, construction debris and illegal dumping of construction materials, and illegal construction in the Bonaire National Marine Park (the construction of stairs, piers, etc. without permission).  (Source:  Stinapa release)

Saturday, September 02, 2006

Bonaire Day Festivities are Announced

Wednesday, September 6, 2006 is Bonaire Day and is a legal holiday on the island.  The day is filled with festivities celebrating the island and highlighting its culture with music and dance presentations.

Each year the day’s events take place in a different barrio (neighborhood), and this year Amboina will host the festivities which begin as early as 8:30 AM and will run throughout the day until midnight.  For more information and to view the day’s schedule (PDF in Papiamentu), click here.  (Source:  Bonaire Government Press Release)

Monday, August 28, 2006

Bonaire Commissioner Dortalina Offers His Views for the Future of Bonaire under the Netherlands

During a referendum by the residents of Bonaire in 2004, a majority of the population voted that as part of the anticipated change of the nature of the country of the Netherlands Antilles, Bonaire should establish a direct link with the Netherlands. As a result of that referendum and others on the other four islands in the Netherlands Antilles, Curacao and Sint Maarten will be heading to some sort of more independent status, while Saba, Sint Eustasius, and Bonaire will be gaining closer ties with Holland. The devil is in the details, however, and all the islands and Holland are busy at work trying to come to a solution.

Today, Bonaire Commissions Reginald R. Dortalina issued a statement reemphasizing the results of the results of the Bonaire referendum, but also stating that any such direct link must take into account Bonaire’s individual character, culture, and identity, as that is best for Bonaire.

He said in his statement that he feels it is imperative in any future change in status that Bonaire is able to “keep it tailored and made for Bonaire.” This means that any such future change in status be adaptable in its own form to the requirements of a small island such as Bonaire.

Acknowledging that the people of Bonaire have already voted for a direct link with the Netherlands in its past referendum, and that the choice of the people has been ratified unanimously by the Island Council, he stated that Bonaire now has several possibilities from which to choose, such as forming a province, municipality, public body, or the structure of an ultra-peripheral territory.

Becoming a province does not seem viable when one takes into account the small size of Bonaire. In regard to a municipality, Commissioner Dortalina believes the distance between Bonaire and the Netherlands makes this difficult, especially when the differences in character, culture, and identity are also taken into consideration. It is for reasons such as these that Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius have jointly chosen a structure of integration, but with the possibility of deviating from the current structures in the Netherlands.

No matter which structure is chosen, it is imperative that Bonaire keep its own identity, with its own modern port, airport, and fire department, which must meet all international requirements. In considering that Bonaire is dependent, to a high level, upon tourism, Commissioner Dortalina feels that Bonaire must have these infrastructures in place so that tourists are assured of such services.  Additionally, the island must ensure that it has ample training from primary education all the way to specialized education, along with proper road care, rain water drainage, social housing, and social care-especially for the island’s youth and elderly.

Therefore, the Council of State will give its recommendation by the end of September in regard to the new possible structure for the smaller islands of the Netherlands Antilles (Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius).  After all recommendations have been submitted, these will be presented for comment to the Island Council of Bonaire. After both the Island Council and the oversight committee have given their comments, members of parliament will make the final decision at a public Council meeting. (Source: Bonaire Government Press Release)

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Continental Airlines To Bring New Newark/Bonaire Connection

Continental Airlines today signed a new accord with the Bonaire Island Government to bring a second non-stop flight to Bonaire from Newark, New Jersey. The new non-stop flight begins in mid-December, and joins the weekly non-stop flight Continental started in December 2005 from Houston, Texas.

As with the current Continental flight from Houston, the flight from Newark will be a red-eye flight from the U.S. The flight will initially depart Newark Saturdays at 11:55pm, arriving on Bonaire at 5:40am (one hour time difference). It will depart Bonaire Sundays at 7am, arriving in Newark at 10:45am. With this schedule there should be ample time to make connections going both ways. The first flight will depart Newark’s Liberty Airport (airport code EWR) on Saturday, December 16, 2006. (Sources: Tourism Corporation Bonaire Press Release, Internet research)