By Al Schroedel (BonaireTalker - Post #31) on Friday, November 7, 2003 - 10:05 am: |
The Bonaire Reporter Reporter recently proposed an increase in dive tag fees to $25. I find this proposal outlandish unless, of course, it's matched by enhanced protection from crime for divers and other visitors. So, why not have an island fee for all residents of say $5 each to pay for beefed up security? Now, there's an idea that has some merit.
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By Belinda Z (BonaireTalker - Post #49) on Friday, November 7, 2003 - 10:35 am: |
Isn't that money designated for preserving the reef? Don't you think that is more important than paying to protect you? You can protect yourself, the reef can't. Isn't $25 a small amount of money compared to the amount of money you spend on the rest of your vacation? Just my $0.02.
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By gregg brewer (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #377) on Friday, November 7, 2003 - 11:01 am: |
Belinda,
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By seb schulherr (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1069) on Friday, November 7, 2003 - 11:46 am: |
What percentage of average or median annual income on Bonaire would $5 represent? Compared, to, say, to ANYONE on this board? If it seems too costly, then folks will go elsewhere ( also good for the reef). Let me see, 25$ for virtually free diving all year. Oh yeah, you're much better off in the Caymans where that $25 would get eaten up the first day. Compare to Cozumel where the(ostensible) fee is $2 per day.
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By Tony Selby (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Friday, November 7, 2003 - 12:35 pm: |
A 150% increase sounds a little steep to me. However, it won't make a big difference to me in the long run. I always buy a dive tag for my wife even though she doesn't dive. At $25, I'll just buy one dive tag instead of two.
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By gregg brewer (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #378) on Friday, November 7, 2003 - 12:44 pm: |
Seb,
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By Martin de Weger (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2918) on Friday, November 7, 2003 - 2:05 pm: |
Gregg, my costs for a week of diving is close to $1500
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By Marc @ CrystalVisions (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1199) on Friday, November 7, 2003 - 3:06 pm: |
AFAIK, the government doesn't see one penny of the Marine Park fees. Those $15 (or $25) go straight to Stinapa, who dearly need it to stay alive. And Stinapa in its current form has nothing to do with security at dive sites.
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By gregg brewer (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #379) on Friday, November 7, 2003 - 3:07 pm: |
Martin,
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By seb schulherr (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1071) on Friday, November 7, 2003 - 3:10 pm: |
Greg, it's been $10 since 1991. I'd love to hold our own government accountable,never mind Bonaires, but that's not going to happen either. I'd love to see the marine park have enough money to hire a few rangers on scooters, put in small lockers and freshwater showers at the dive sites, stop the rock anchoring by fishermen, and get really snappy uniforms too.
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By Mike Endrizzi (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #261) on Friday, November 7, 2003 - 3:32 pm: |
When I go some place to dive I like to get in as many dives as I can. I usually get over 25 dives every time I go to Bonaire. The increased fee (tax, if you prefer) will still average less than a dollar a dive. I think Bonaire does more to protect their reef than any other place I been diving.
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By Meryl Virga (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3617) on Friday, November 7, 2003 - 7:06 pm: |
It costs 100 dollars to get on Galapagos,not that I've ever been there..not yet anyway. I think Bonaire is worth the 25 dollars... Now the prices they charge to develop film...now that's outragous!
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By joe brannan (BonaireTalker - Post #79) on Friday, November 7, 2003 - 8:25 pm: |
Face it, we'll all pay it if we want to dive Bonaire. It really doesn't trouble me too much, espcially since it is a Stinapa fee. We'd not whimper if plane tickets or car rentals went up because costs have increased for airlines or car rental companies and most of us, at least in the US, take fluctations in gas prices as simply reality. An observation, though, Seb says $10, Marc @ Crystalvisions says $15, There seems to be a bit of confusion, I thought it was $10. We seem to naturally distrust a governmental or, in this case I think Stinapa is non-governmental, charge but we rarely question prices when private businesses like utilities or the petrochemical industry raises prices. Perhaps we just like to rail against the gubbmint (no I'm not a government employee). Just one guy's opinion
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By joe brannan (BonaireTalker - Post #80) on Friday, November 7, 2003 - 8:29 pm: |
I forgot something........Seb, great data, it'd be interesting to see how it plays out now. I'm betting that hotels, dive shops, hospitality, food, etc have skyrocketted relative to the income from the Stinapa charges.
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By Ron Myers (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Friday, November 7, 2003 - 9:13 pm: |
I will be back again in April for two weeks plus. I would be willing to pay a fee/tax that gives some security to the dive sites, ala Pink Bus. The bus seems to attract divers, even to adjacent sites, because of perceived safety.
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By Jake Richter (Moderator - Post #4592) on Friday, November 7, 2003 - 11:38 pm: |
Marc has it right in terms of where Marine Park Tag money goes to.
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By Rneer (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1178) on Friday, November 7, 2003 - 11:49 pm: |
simple answer - make more trips per year
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By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2767) on Saturday, November 8, 2003 - 12:46 am: |
I'm not a diver (we are snorklers) but we buy tags each year anyway to support The Marine Park/STINAPA. I have no problem with the new fee. It goes to a good cause. Carole
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By Julia Graves (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #272) on Saturday, November 8, 2003 - 9:23 am: |
Bob and I have always thought that $10 was far too little. Even if you make no comparisons to anywhere else it is a very small amount compared to other costs of a diving holiday.
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By Mike Endrizzi (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #263) on Saturday, November 8, 2003 - 12:15 pm: |
Jake,
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By Marcus L. Barnes (BonaireTalker - Post #62) on Saturday, November 8, 2003 - 1:16 pm: |
Based on research I have read as to the damage being done to coral reefs (i.e. Cayman Islands), I have no problem paying $15.00 more to STINAPA. At least they are attempting to protect the reefs on Bonaire if I understand their function correctly.
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By Tom Starkweather (BonaireTalker - Post #39) on Saturday, November 8, 2003 - 9:51 pm: |
I have no problem with the 25$ tag. It cost that to go to the grand canyon for 1 day. However, I would like to see the anual reports of STINAPA to see where the money is being spent. How the reefs are being protected.
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By Bart Snelder (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Sunday, November 9, 2003 - 11:27 am: |
Hi all,
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By George and Laura (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Sunday, November 9, 2003 - 12:56 pm: |
Let me try to clear up the $25 charge PROPOSAL. The park fee is still $10 a year. $25 is a new proposal, the Island Council has already been approached to raise STINAPA's Marine Park fee to $15 and apply it to ALL watersports.
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By Glen Reem (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1546) on Sunday, November 9, 2003 - 1:40 pm: |
It seems to me that watersports user fees should be devoted to watersports and marine environment support.
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By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2779) on Sunday, November 9, 2003 - 1:55 pm: |
I just sent a note off to the Governor, George. I believe the monies should be primarily used for the Water/Marine preservation efforts, but I have no issues with some of the funds being used/distributed to other non-marine "worthy/qualified" organizations, also.
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By joe brannan (BonaireTalker - Post #84) on Sunday, November 9, 2003 - 1:57 pm: |
Mr Argumentative speaks
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By Bart Snelder (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Sunday, November 9, 2003 - 3:50 pm: |
Many people may have found the comment: 'let others and not our own guests pay' farfetched, but let us not forget that stinapa is a foundation for all the parks in the Netherlands Antilles, not just Bonaire. Since most separate departments of stinapa(Statia & St Martin parks) are in such deep financial trouble, it is entirely conceivable that if you send a message of good will to the governor, who then approves with the island council in favor of the increase, your money may end up in St martin!
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By gregg brewer (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #380) on Monday, November 10, 2003 - 10:06 am: |
If George and Laura's comment about how the proposed increases will be used is true, I continue to question the right to raise the water tax. It is outrageous to expect the water sport visitors pay for every good cause in Bonaire. No one disputes the good cause for the Donkey Sanctuary and Animal shelters. However, the support for those activities should not be a mandatory fee for divers. What will be the next cause? ...food for starving children? These are good causes but are not the responsibility of tourist divers. When visitors come to the U.S. and visit our national parks, we don't have a "foreigner" tax to support the local causes.
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By Marc @ CrystalVisions (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1201) on Monday, November 10, 2003 - 12:46 pm: |
Gregg, no matter what you call it, someone always has to pay; most islands or countries will do it through tourist tax or airport tax, in which case the governments will get their hands on the money first. Personally, I'd prefer the Marine Park fee.
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By gregg brewer (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #381) on Monday, November 10, 2003 - 1:02 pm: |
Marc,
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By Jack Chalk (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #200) on Tuesday, November 11, 2003 - 12:52 pm: |
Dear All,
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By Robert Fishman (BonaireTalker - Post #74) on Tuesday, November 11, 2003 - 2:18 pm: |
Jack,
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By Susan Taft (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #233) on Tuesday, November 11, 2003 - 2:51 pm: |
Thank you for such a clear and well written description and explanation. It has been very helpful. BTW, I have no problem with an increase in the marine park tag fee.
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By Brian (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #407) on Tuesday, November 11, 2003 - 3:05 pm: |
Jack
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By gregg brewer (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #384) on Tuesday, November 11, 2003 - 4:37 pm: |
Jack,
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By Jack Chalk (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #201) on Tuesday, November 11, 2003 - 5:22 pm: |
I want to thank all of you for your continued support of the STINAPA Bonaire and especially the Bonaire National Marine Park.
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By Ron Myers (BonaireTalker - Post #12) on Tuesday, November 11, 2003 - 9:37 pm: |
Thanks for a well stated and easily read explanation. A 5$ increase to continue maintaining the health of the reefs is a "no brainier" to me. I agree as well that all users of the water environment should pay the WSNP or BNMP fees. My 2 cents.
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By Marcus L. Barnes (BonaireTalker - Post #63) on Tuesday, November 11, 2003 - 10:51 pm: |
Jack: Well Said. Your explanation reinforced my understanding of STINAPA's function; I'm glad I went ahead and emailed the Governor my support should an increase be decided upon in the future.
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By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2802) on Wednesday, November 12, 2003 - 12:22 am: |
Thank you for taking the time to thoroughly explain the organization and the matter to us, Jack. We have absolutely no issues with the increase being proposed. Carole and Joe
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By joe brannan (BonaireTalker - Post #85) on Wednesday, November 12, 2003 - 12:26 pm: |
Sent my support email. I truly, and it's just me, don't have a problem support the STINAPA works and those of the other Environmental programs on Bonaire. As someone already said, $25 aint very much
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By Bart Snelder (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #7) on Thursday, November 13, 2003 - 4:42 pm: |
Thanks for the explanation Jack, I still have a few questions though. Would Stinapa oppose or support the increase of the tagprice to $15 if it was to be paid by divers only? And would Stinapa support or oppose the increase to a "nature fee for all" to $25 as suggested in the George and Laura post?
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By Jake Richter (Moderator - Post #4615) on Friday, November 14, 2003 - 12:13 pm: |
I can't see the $10 additional fee that George proposed going to anyone other than STINAPA, to be frank. If it went to the Nature Alliance (Aliansa), of which, last I knew, George was President of, incidentally, how would they divvy it up? Who would make that decision? I personally don't think all the organizations in Aliansa should get an equal cut of general funds derived from a nature "use tax", but heck if I'd stick my neck out and say so-and-so should get this amount, and they should get that amount, etc.
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