During my last stay on the island, in January, I noticed a new building on construction, just north of the airport. It was definitely a commercial building, with almost no window and a large parking lot. What is it?

PS I hope that the "construction boom" on the island does not get too far, so it stays intact and unspoiled. I already resent losing some shore diving sites, like Punt Vierkant, to new constructions...

Michael - I think the building that you are referring to (looks like a large "squared off" quanset hut) is home to the catering service providing food for the new/additional air traffic going thru Bonaire to Quito and ?Caracas?
We were down in May and it appeared to be occupied and functional.

dsao

Yes, it is the Catering Service's building. Don't worry! Carole

There are actually plans for transhipment warehouses east of the catering facility, and they are working on extending the parking apron for jets just to the east of the new departure hall.

Jake

All I want is direct service from New York, like Aruba gets from Delta, AA, and Continental.

Well, I suppose a certain level of development is unavoidable. We BT'ers write again and again about the greatness of the island, we thus can expect more tourism, and everything that goes around. At least, those new constructions are not on the seashore.

Ah, yes, direct service from New York, that would be very nice!

Well,I don,t know about that.
Direct service from New York would undoubtedly make Bonaire into another Aruba.
Mickey

We would not want that. Part of the fun is just getting to Bonaire!!!

As Jake pointed out, there is a large construction project going on at the airport. Earth moving equipment is generating a tremendous amount of dust, too. When I was there last week, I thought that the underwater visibility at sites near the airport (eg, 18 Palms, Windsock, Bachelor Beach, etc.) was sub-par. I wonder if the dust has anything to do with it.