Come on Marc, Michael, Jake....give us an update on the happenings with BonairExel. What is the latest rhetoric. If the jet and ATR are on the ground, they are not making any money. Lot of money sitting there...

The Netherlands Antilles Central Government dissolved this week, so that would appear to delay any signing of any permits by the Central Government in Curacao until a new coalition has been put in place... Annoying.

Jake

uh...Jake, what does "the Netherlands Antilles Central Government" dissolved this week mean? Did they kick the Governor out?

I did a search on google and couldn't find anything, except that the Central government is Federal, which includes the Governor...

The Governor of the Antilles is chosen by the Queen of the Netherlands - so that's a separate position. The Central Government is the Parliament of the Netherlands Antilles, where Curacao's political parties tend to hold the majority of seats, which is why Bonaire keeps getting the shaft in all things that might benefit Bonaire to Curacao's (perceived) detriment. Oh, and the central government also includes all the ministers, including the Prime Minister.

Jake

thanks jake, the "website" i went to with that information must have been wrong...now that is UNBELIEVABLE! LOL! so is there any information you have found online (that is credible...clearing my throat here) that would explain what is going on?

Sounds like Bonaire needs a loud, brash, fiendishly political and calculatedly insane representative in the parliament.

Jake -

Lo siento, but I still do not understand what caused the NA Central Government to be dissolved. Might we please ask for a bit more education.

Was it a result of a vote of "no confidence," (by whom?); term expiration; or what?

And, now that the Central Government is dissolved, what happens next, when? New elections and/or new appointments?

Finally, what is the immediate day-to-day implication for life on Bonaire with the Central Government dissolved?

If you have time to answer and or all of these questions, it will be most appreciated.

Charles Poteet
Dallas

Not sure what caused the dissolution, although the most likely cause is that one of the member parties of the previously tenuous majority coalition decided to quit the coalition. I was told by someone that it had to do with the results of local island elections in Curacao a few weeks ago where the pro pro pro labor party, Fronte Obrero, won the most seats (Marc, Kitty - please pitch in if you're reading this).

What happens next is that a new majority coalition in parliament has to be formed, which requires lots of politicking and jockying for position.

No immediate day-to-day implication for Bonaire, other than the delay of permits for BonairExel I guess.

Jake

[Pitch]

Yes, Frente Obrero Liberacion [sp?] or FOL won the most votes in the island-elections of Curacao. Ironically, it's leader, Anthony Godett, was just released from prison on bail, after being charged with corruption. The FOL made this out to be a setup by its rival party, the PAR... but you know, where there's smoke, etc...
So now the FOL can form a new island government on Curacao, and will also get a major stake in the Antillian parliament... which is bad news because Godett will not be taken serious by Holland as a partner for development (The Antilles are a separate country but still rely heavily on Holland for support).
Meanwhile, Ramonsito Booi's UPB has sweeped the elections here on Bonaire with an overall majority. So now we have situation where 2 parties suddenly have a lot of power on either island, and a major share in the Antillian parliament. I think the swifted balance was cause for the collapse of the government. There will be a new Antillian government as well now where both parties will be well represented.

The FOL wants more power for Curacao (either within the Antilles, or independent like Aruba), and the UPB wants the same for Bonaire... or at the least, be less dependent of Curacao to make major decisions like BonairExel. So don't be surprised to see the Antilles break up completely within a couple of years.

Jake, Marc, thank you for the explaination...I didn't realize that Aruba was independent of the coalition (hope I said that right)....so if Bonaire and Curacao became "independent " of each other, I assume that would be a good thing?

"Ironically, it's leader, Anthony Godett, was just released from prison on bail, after being charged with corruption." Sounds like the re-election of Mayor Marion Barry in Washington D.C. (I was living there at the time), right after he got out of jail for cocaine charges...hmmm...I guess something that we have in common...go figure....

It will take at least a month or two before a new Antillean Government takes seat in Curacao, today the local elections will be held on the island of Sint Maarten. The result on SXM would likely influence the coalition to be formed at the Central level.

FOL has already put his eyes on the Traffic & Communications Department, so the UPB of Bonaire would likely lose his Minister in the next Antillean governmet in Curacao. I hope that the procedures taken place to grant the permits for Bonairexel can be given priority so that the Airline can begin running it's business.

In other countries, pro-labor parties favor government ownership of entities like airlines so I would not hold my breath for the permits coming to BonaireExel, unfortunately. Hope I am wrong.

Jake, Marc, Lisandro -

Masha danke! Muchas gracias! Thank you very much!

Your taking time to explain the situation to we who are off-island is greatly appreciated.

The more we hear of politics around the world the more it sounds the same!

Charles Poteet
Dallas

The guy just got out of jail, eh? He wouldn't happen to be from Rhode Island, would he? Rhode Island's been known to elect a politician or two who were still -in- jail...

Faith

Lisandro, apparantly the FOL prefers the PDB (Democrats) party over the UPB to join in the Antillian government. This according to the Bonaire Reporter.

Cynde, Aruba has a "status aparte" since 1986, effectively making the Kingdom of the Netherlands three separate countries: Holland, Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles.
And I think I would prefer a leader addicted to cocaine over one who is known to be corrupt... The first will use his own money, the other will use mine! ;-)

Saw some errors in my earlier post... I hate that... swept, shifted... sorry :-/

Oh, BTW... Godett has announced he wants to "re-evaluate" the Justice department and the joined Holland-Antillian police team... Why am I not surprised...

Marc, thanks for the clarification of Aruba, Holland and Netherlands Antilles. I didn't know that. Oh, and cocaine was just one of Mayor Marion Barry's "illegal" issues...not sure if he would be any better than yours...oh, is there such a thing as a "non-corrupt" politician? or is that an "oxymoron?" LOL

Marc, suppp I got that message too, that FOL wants to be in the government with the DP of Bonaire, I would like to see both parties of Bonaire in the central government. So that will be the UPB and DP Bonaire representing Bonaire in the central government. I just received info from SXM that the Democratic Party of SXM won the elections on the Windward Islands, so that means that there would be no major changes in the formation of a new Central government.

Also had some rumours that BE will start effective June, so i'll keep my fingers crossed.. and uhmmmm Marc I'm still waiting on that shot of the Emb-145 of the BE ... :-)

Hi guys, kon ta bai? Seems like we are dragging away from the question of Gregg. Info about the BE. It's taking a little bit more for the operation permit, because of some documents they have to provide to the Aviation department. Asoon they have those documents the permit will be granted. By the way, the government gave the "Main" Technical permit already, so it's Hakuna Matata even with our dissolved government. Have a nice day and I will keep you all informed.

Eddy,

That's great to hear!

Jake

You r welcome Jake.

Edward,

Good to hear the bad scenario isn't likely!

This week the last-Hopefully- documentation was handed over to the Aviation Dep't. I'll keep You informed by next week.
Let's hope Jake. Are You Ready to Fly BE?

Hello:

How many aircacft does BE have? All all of them ATRs?

Thanks

Reza
According to what I could find,they will have
2 ATR 42,s and 2 Embraer 145,s
They can be seen here
file:///Macintosh%20HD/Users/mickndot/Desktop/pics%20Bonairexel.html
That is, if they ever get out of their never ending legal, political and etc. snags.
Mickey

Aag
It looks like somthing went wrong with my link there.I think it was in "Just Planes" but I've lost the link now. Maybe next time. Mickey

Once more.
http://www.justplanes.net/pics.html
Mickey

Eddy,

I am ready indeed!!!

Jake

Thanks for info. Lets hope for the best.

The BE fleet consist of a mix of ATR 42's and Embrear 145's, untill now two planes are already in Bonaire, one ATR-42 the PH-RXB(soon PJ-RXB) and the Embrear 145 the PH-XLL(soon PJ-XLL). If I am not wrong a second ATR will join the fleet as soon as the operations start at the Flamingo Airport.

As Eddy already confirmed, the last steps are being taken, so that the BE can start operations in a week or two ...

This is real exciting!!!!!!!

Just because of BE, I am witholding buying tickets to BON for next feb. Lets see what happens.

Your not the only one holding off booking air--- Any good news to report!!!!!