New boats will be sailing from Puerto Cabello(Venezuela) to Bonaire by the end of this year.According to Bonaire´s ministry of health and tourism,Pablo Krum,it will improve the tourism between the two localities,also will benefit many bonaireans who use to do health tourism in Venezuela at low cost.

The ministry of tourism is headed by M. Emmerenciana (deputy he is called) .....
heard nothing yet on Bonaire about it ... interesting news, but up to now, no ferry ever was a succes and stopped sailing after a few months - and that was in much nicer circumstances than Venezuela can offer now .... the permits have to come from Curacao anyhow, and that is not always easy ...

I read the article again and yes,it is the name,Pablo Kroom,ministry of health,sports and social affairs but you must know more than anybody else as you live there.Yeah,I remember a months or a year ago there were ferries sailing exactly from the same port but to Curaçao and suddenly they stopped,I hope this one could be able to last.As you said,there were nicer circumstances,not like all this mess we´re having now with this mad president,oh I long for all those better times...but hope is the last thing to leave.

James Kroon --- deputy of health,sports etc....
From which news paper you took the info ? Normally they do not translate names (James=Pablo).
There was 2 years ago a ferry that sailed for 2 months, 8 years ago a ferry sailt Coro - Curacao - Bonaire, lasted about 5 months .... about 20 years ago a big Venezualean ferry (Commandante Bolivar or something like that) sailt for a little longer, but gave up because the ship was too old ...... so just wait and see

I took it from www.el-carabobeno.com which is a Carabobo State newspaper.Once you enter to that page,go to Ediciones Anteriores and choose 01 octubre 2006,it was the date when I saw the article and once you are there,go down and you will see the title "Litoral" in this section is located the information.

Is this good news or bad news...

I think they are good as long as Chávez keeps himself away haha!

Meryl, in the past we would have been delighted to have a good connection to Venezuela. But with the current political situation in Venezuela, there are not many here on the island who would go. We personally gave up more than 4 years ago.
And as the health system in Venezueal is not what it was either, I would not think it is a good solution. Better to go to Columbia, which is in the present safer than Venezuela.
I still have read nothing in one of our news papers. Somehow I think it is the old story from some years ago ...... it come from a news paper who does not even get the name right of the deputy in charge ...

I think it could be good because most of venezuelan travellers(tourists)always used to go either to Aruba or Curaçao,Bonaire is practicly unknown,and you know,they go to those islands and spend money and it improves their economy and Bonaire is losing that.

I wouldn´t mind going to Venezuela for a day or so... never been there before. I´m always glad not to get on a plane- even though- KLM did a good job so far getting me to Bonaire!

We went to Venezuela for the day from Aruba. It was quite an experience, with Simon Bolivar all over. I would not want to go again after seeing what we saw, and the uprising in the government. Men were standing around with guns , and we could not wait to go back to Aruba.

Just want to add another country to my list of countries I´ve been to:-) A friend of mine who lives in Aruba also went to Venezuela on vacation- he and his family liked it- but it always depends on to which part of the country you´re going to.- But I´m not too crazy about the Ven.-gov either!

Hi Diane and Bea,
didn´t know you were from Chicago- Go Cubs!!!!- I lived in the Chi-suburbs for a couple years.- What an awful season it was- it was pretty depressing watching the Cubs play in the summer when I was in IL. Now I can´t wait to get back to Bon!

Yes go Cubs !!! Yes it was a bad season. Now we have the Bears to go for. Can't say anything about the Hawks ! We can't wait to get back to Bonaire also. Talking about going back in June

It is important to separate governments from the ordinary people,most of the time citizens don´t agree with the politics their governors or rulers apply.Currently in Venezuela we are getting shoot with bad information about the U.S.A from our government but it hasn´t changed our minds at all,all the opposite,venezuelan people keep on going to the U.S either for vacation,shopping or business and it seems to be increasing.

Victor I know exactly what you mean! We seem to get the same kind of media. Not sure if I would be comfortable with "men standing with guns"; that is unless I can have one also! (Do they make pink guns?)
Ease of travel to other parts of the world is a wonderful thing. Having good experiences whether one is a visitor or being visited is what is important. Hopefully if this news is current it will be a good thing for Bonaire.

I agree with you Mrs.Meryl.Notwithstanding I understand perfectly the point of you of Diane and Bea,one of the main thing a tourist want is being safe and unfortunately currently Venezuela is unable to guarantee completely that.I remeber when for the first time I was in Curaçao,while walking on the streets of Willemstad I was kinda paranoid of being robed,and that is because that´s the way we live in Venezuela,at least in some parts,it took me a few time to be aware that I was not in Venezuela and its reality but I did enjoy that trip.