I just saw (2/7) a report on another board regarding an "explosion" at the central power plant. If true, is there any more info?

Martin posted this earlier
Hello all, We just got word from Bonaire that there might be some interuption of images from the webcam. Yesterday there has been a fire at the power station, and they think there might be rolling blackouts on the Island. The webcam server is on a UPS, but we don't know yet how long this situation will last.
As soon as we hear more info, we'll let you know.

A hotelier/partner told me the radio reports "rolling blackouts" much as WEB explained to me. Starting in Antriol at 5 PM there will be 4 hour outages.

I am still online with cable thank GOD..scrambling to get work done.

How is this going to affect the resorts, gas stations (you need electric to pump gas), and the airport?

We're arriving on Sat.... so any info is appreciated.

We won't be coming for two weeks, but the person from whom we are renting our condo at the Sand Dollar said to expect to have to schedule cooking, air conditioning etc. I didn't think about the airport. Mr. Colvard says this has happened before. How did the airport deal with it in the past? I too would appreciate any feedback from local residents. Thanks

Airports typically have their own, dedicated backup generators so incoming planes aren't 'hungup' if local power goes down.

Since Flamingo's regular traffic is relatively few flights a day at known times I can't imagine that there would be problems making sure there is proper electrics when needed.

Also of note here is that the fresh water 'generation' equipment is at the same location and I suspect it requires electricity. ????

Yes, a lot....anyone know what this situation will be? I understand people are filling their bathtubs in anticipation of no water.

Word I have from home is that there will be rolling 4 hour blackouts around the island for the next month until they get the generator(s?) replaced. I guessed I picked a good time to take a week of vacation off-island, eh? ;-)

In the past when there have been water supply problems (used to happen regularly when we first moved to Bonaire almost 8 years ago), water was brought in by tanker from Curacao (you can tell that's happened because the water doesn't taste as good as Bonaire water).

Jake

Thanks Jake.....Bonaire sure has had it's share of problems this year. Paradise is not always perfect! :-) (It's still better than stress and snow)

I post my info as I got it ... there was a severe fire in the central room, the control board and whatever is directly connected to it was completly destroyed ...
Rolling black outs have to be expected in the next weeks - Belnem is lucky so far, the power was out from 5am till about 10am and never after that ... perhaps because they are using the big generator from Transworld Radio by the salt plants and we the big cable passes along here ???
Other areas including downtown have been without power till somewhere around 6pm yesterday ... and now we have to wait how it will go today
Water should not be a problem as Jake pointed out, that water can be brought in relatively easily from Curacao. But people are asked to be economic in the use of water , which I think is normal. And as it rains still regularly, nobody needs to water their gardens ....

Does anyone have a schedule for the 4 hour blackouts. I can handle the blackouts if I can plan for them!

Wow. It sounds like a lot of people must be doing some scrambling right now. It might explain why I haven't gotten my acknowledgement voucher from Captain Don's yet (I thought for a while that I may have mis-entered my CC #s ) It has to be a chaotic time for everyone on Bonaire, just trying to conduct their business.

No schedule for the rolling blackout are known ... And it was the turn for us this morning, Belnem was out from 8am to noon ... I heard that Kaya Grandi was out all night yesterday ....
I guess that Cpt Dons has the same problems as we have ... waiting for electricity and than do as many e-mails as possible and hoping that electricity stays on

Picture and article in the Amigoe ... in Dutch
http://www.amigoe.com/artman/publish/article_11380.shtml

Soon after I posted, I got my voucher. Coincidentally, Jack mentioned the power problems as the reason for the delay.

I can't imagine how much of a pain it must be for the resorts trying to do business this way. I hope for their sake things get fixed sooner rather than later!

(Message edited by susanf on February 8, 2005)

... just down from Capt Don's. We were w/out power from 4 am until 7 pm when it first happened. Then it has been on ever since. So far we've not been affected by any rolling black outs. Supposedly, we were to lose pwr between 5&8pm tonight, so went out to eat. Now it's almost 10 & we still have pwr. Luckily, it has been cool & breezy so the lack (or possible future lack) of AC has not been an issue. So far it hasn't been as big a deal as we might have feared for personal reasons. Now, many businesses have been very much affected (some for the better as folks buy water, candles, batteries, etc.) but with any luck it will continue not to be as major as we first had feared.
Louise

I hope that those of you who are on Bonaire right now will continue to give updates about the power situation. I am considering rescheduling my 2/23 trip, but I don't want to if it turns out to be less of an inconvenience and disaster than it first appeared to be.

I think the main concern other than uses in the hospital would be the loss of refrigeration, especially food markets and restaurants. That could result in big spoilage problems.
AC you can live with out for sure.
Mickey

I don't think I'd reschedule a trip because of rolling blackouts. Once when we were in Bonaire they did have a few unscheduled outages and it didn't really bother us that much at all.

They can still fill tanks, right?

Besides the fact that this is ongoing,how is this different than the constant power outages that are normal on the island?

I have good reason to believe that the power problem will be solved during the weekend.
New WEB management is negotiating to rent 3 mobile generators total of 5 kv. These will probably be in place shortly after the weekend.

And for anyone trying to get a scedule from WEB who is going to get power and who will be disconnected the first coming days, don't waste your energy on that. I have been fighting to get a scedule for the past days and nobody seems to know anything. Seems they start thinking of a new scedule soon as the old scedule is history.
It seems to be very difficult to think 3 days in advance.

Yesterday evening when we had no power in the Hato area and I was a little worried about my stock of 500 gallons of icecream, I went to WEB and asked the lady guard if someone could inform me about the scedule. The answer from the extreme unfriendly lady guard was no. I tried again and said that maybe she could phone one of the operators and ask. You have to listen to the radio for information, she said. I explained to her that my radio only works when we have power.
This was too much for her. She said I should go away and closed the window.
To busy eating, reading a paper and guarding a burned down place.!!!

What I am trying to say is that a lot of people cannot be held responsable for the fire but at least we should be kept informed. Also it seems to me that officials don't understand that a lot of people on this island do not understand papiamentu and still are WEB customers who pay their monthly bills. Any information on the radio is in Papiamentu.
Maybe Dutch and US (business) people on this island should get together and try to use their influence to try to create a situation where at least the officials take us seriously.
Anyone interested?

There was a WEB press release in English with schedule of the outages (and up to now precicely what happend) ... we got it from AKIB (Bonaire Buisiness Association) ... not a member ???

Tantalizing, Brigette! Post it here??? For any non-schedule content, that is. :–)

I agree with Glen, please post the information. I am trying to gather all the information I can from afar to make an informed decision about coming to Bonaire now or rescheduling.

I would love to post it, but I guess it is too long, it gives me page not available....
it comes down to 4 hours per day you have no electricity ... if it was 8pm yesterday than it is 4pm today and noon tomorrow....
The schedule is till Friday and than there will be a new press release ....
We can handle it ... some backlog in replying to our mails when it is day time - and reading with an emergency lamp when it is dark ....
freezer and fridge can handle 4 hours easily too.. and as it is rather cool these days anyhow, one can sleep without airco or fan ...

Thanks to all of you for all the info.It has been a great help in making a crucial decision. After reading the thread regarding the cancelled flights from Air Jamaica, coupled with the power problem and a bad feeling all the way around, we decided to cancel our Sat. trip and reschedule for April when hopefully everyone will have their act together! No sense in asking for trouble - or using water and electric that the locals need! Thanks again!

Here's the WEB release Brigitte was referring to:

WEB NV Press Release
Kralendijk, 09 February, 2005

Electricity load-shedding program valid until Friday, February 13th. [SIC - I think they mean Friday, Feb 11th - Jake]

As you may already know, last Monday a ferocious fire destroyed more than 35% of WEB’s capacity to produce electricity and because of this we have implemented an electricity load-shedding program.
At the moment we now have a rotating electricity load-shedding program valid until Friday February 13th. This load-shedding program is divided into three phases and every four hours an other area of the island will be disconnected from our electricity distribution net.
This program will run from 8:00 am until 12:00 midnight.


Electricity load-shedding program:

Phase 1
We will disconnect electricity in the following areas:
Kaya Betico Croes, Kaya Hulanda, Den Chefi, Senkuria, Nikiboko Suit, Kaya Kanari and surroundings.
Kaya Mrg. Nieuwind, Tera Còrá, Karañito and surroundings.
Caribbean Blue, Harbour Village, RNWO, Transworld Radio, Radio Nederland Wereld Omroep and surroundings.

After disconnecting the above-mentioned areas we will evaluate the situation and maybe we will also have to disconnect the following areas: Hamlet, Oasis Appartment, Hotel Habitat, Hotel Buddy Dive, Lions Dive Hotel, Sand Dollar Hotel, MCB Hato Branch, Sand Dollar Mini Market and surroundings.

We will reconnect the following areas:
Kaya Korona and surroundings, Gas Èksprès, Kaya Neerlandia and surroundings, Don Andres, Voz di Bonaire, Playa Pabou.
Panaderia Selekta, Lagun, Mexico, Kaya Papa Cornes, Antriol, Nort ‘i Saliña, Naguati, kaminda Gurubu.
Kaya Lib. Simon Bolivar, Kaya Cachi Craane, a part of Kaya Grandi, Kaya Nrd. Nikiboko, Kaya Pos di Amor, Kaya Merengue and surroundings and a part of Sabana.

Phase 2
We will disconnect electricity in the following areas:
Rincon, Subi di Rincon, Sabadeco, Caribbean Club, Hato, Santa Barbara, Seru Largu and Republik.

After disconnecting the above-mentioned areas we will evaluate the situation and maybe we will also have to disconnect the following areas: Belnem, Punt Vierkant, the area of Sorobon, Airport, Caribean Court and Hotel Plaza Resort.

We will reconnect the following areas:
Kaya Betico Croes, Kaya Hulanda, Den Chefi, Senkuria, Nikiboko Sùit, Kaya Kanari and surroundings.
Kaya Mrg Nieuwind, Tera Kòrá, Karañito and surroundings.
Caribbean Blue, Harbour Village, RNWO, Transworld Radio, Radio Nederland and surroundings.

Phase 3
We will disconnect electricity in the following areas:
Kaya Korona and surroundings, Gas Èksprès, Kaya Neerlandia, and surroundings, Don Andres, Voz di Bonaire, Playa Pabou.
Panaderia Selekta, Ambiona, Lagun, Mexico, Kaya Papa Cornes, Antriol, Nort Saliña, Naguati, kaminda Gurubu.
A part of Kaya Lib. Simon Bolivar, Kaya Cachi Craane and a part of Kaya Grandi, Kaya Nikiboko Nort, Kaya Pos di Amor, Kaya Merengue and surroundings, a part of Sabana.

After disconnecting the above-mentioned areas we will evaluate the situation and maybe we will also have to disconnect the following areas: Caribbean Blue, Harbour Village, RNWO, Transworld Radio, Radio Nederland.

We will reconnect the following areas:
Rincon, Subi di Rincon, Sabadeco, Caribbean Club, Hato, Santa Barbara, Seru Largu, Republik.

For today, February 9th the following sequence of the electricity load-shedding program will be implemented:
Between 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm phase 2.
Between 8:00 pm and 12:00 midnight phase 3.

For Thursday, February 10th the following sequence of the electricity load-shedding program will be implemented:
Between 08:00 am and 12:00 noon phase 1.
Between 12:00 noon and 04:00 pm phase 2.
Between 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm phase 3.
Between 8:00 pm and 12:00 midnight phase 1.

For Friday, February 11th the following sequence of the electricity load-shedding program will be implemented:
Between 08:00 am and 12:00 noon phase 2.
Between 12:00 noon and 04:00 pm phase 3.
Between 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm phase 1.
Between 8:00 pm and 12:00 midnight phase 2.

After 12:00 midnight, if each of our clients limits their usage of electricity to only when necessary, we will not have to apply the electricity load-shedding program between 12:00midnight until 8:00am.
This is only possible if the demand for electricity is low!!!

You as a client of the WEB NV can also help us in this very difficult situation by:
1. Limit the use of electricity during the day and night.
2. Keeping up to date with the latest information on the electricity load-shedding program so you can be prepared.

By Friday February 13th [SIC - I think they mean Friday, Feb 11th - Jake] we will announce if we will apply the same sequence for the electricity load-shedding program this week-end.

End of press release

TKS, B & J. Friday the 13th as decision day: sounded ominous-- maybe 'the final explosion'???. Glad it isn't so, there or here. :–)

Also glad I am not an engineer at WEB: no fun with outdated, aging equipment such as described elsewhere here.

The odd thing is my friends in Tera Cora near the ball field have NOT LOST any power at ANYTIME. Yesterday, Playa Pabou lost it 7:45 AM - 1 PM and then 8 PM - 12 midnight.

The press release mentions Fri. the 13th..do you think they mean Fri. the 18th or Fri. the 11th?

Ann

Jake,
Thanks for the release info. We have been trying to make sense of the power black outs. As of now, Hato has lost power only between 4-8 PM. We have had no problems as we don't use airco and conserve normally. Resort Row hasn't lost power since the first day that I know of. We are very fortunate and if they can maintain this schedule until the generators arrive from the Dutch Navy, life is good! Susan

When are the generators from the Dutch Navy scheduled to arrive?

Well, here from Hato too. We lost everyday power, and much longer than 4 hours. The first day it was about 16 hours. My freezer didn't make that time. So a good moment for a full clean-up of the freezer.

Yes there are parts of the island that didn´t have any loss of power at all. My advice: if you wanna have more chance of having power, get a house in the neighbourhood of our political decisionmakers, they know how to do it!

Actually two days ago I was reading the power-off info on FlamingoTV, and it said we didn't have any power at that moment. But how could I have the TV-set on then?

Generators from the Dutch Army? Where did you get that information from?

I drive everyday along the damaged plant. I have not seen any (not one single) person busy in cleaning-up the burnt-out mess. Would be a nice time now to do so, before the new (?) generators arrive.
And where do we get the money from to buy new generators, those Dutch Army-things will also not last for ever, if you don't know how to service them.....

When do we really get skilled managers and technicians on those important places, in stead of political engaged nitwits? That would be the first thing to do...

Oh by the way, I did a check, today, because WEB asks us to limit the use of electricity. But WEB-offices, and governmental offices were all having their airco's on. What about giving the good example?

Sorry that I am so negative, but who knows how to change the behaviour on this island. Is a revolution really necessary?

Harrie

Harrie I think your comments a partly just story telling ... if you would read papiamento, you could have read about the generators already yesterday, but you read Dutch? So how come you did not read it ? http://www.amigoe.com/artman/publish/article_11416.shtml

As most of the damage is inside the building ... did you enter the building to look if there is somebody working ?

Harrie,
We also lost power the first day but since then have had power almost all the time. For me it is a factor of island living that things don't move as efficiently or quickly as they would on the mainland so I don't expect instant progress. I am sure the generators are a stop gap but, at least, they are something happening. If what I read is correct then we will have no power today in Hato from 8 AM to noon and again from 8 PM to midnight. I am happy they have managed to have power over night.

I don't know that a revolution is necessary. I choose to live here because of what it has to offer. For me, those things far out weigh the negative and if that changes than I will have to decide what to do, not the island.

I have been speaking to quite a bit of tourists on the island, and they are just "rolling with the punches". No one seems to be that upset. If the power goes out between 4pm and 8pm, they go out to dinner in an area that has power, or sit by candlelite and eat. We did that at Gibi's the other night and the lights came back on during dinner and everyone wanted the "ambiance" back so we shut them off!

We lost power the first day for 16 hours (had to empty the fridge too!), but rolling hours at least are VERY accurate, they say the power goes off between 8am and 12 noon, it is on the dot!

It is really not that bad!

Well of course my comments were story-telling, but there have been so many power-failures over the years, and so little is done to solve it, and there is such a lack of information about the powerplant. It is really not good that we have bureaucratic and political engaged management on those important facilities.
I just heard another story. About 30 to 35% of all the kWh'rs WEB produces is never paid for, which means loss of energy (is theoretical not possible), or illegal connection to the powerlines? If they could manage to get those illegal users to pay for, all the financial problems would be solved. I hear that there are resorts that don't pay for electricity, and also do not have generators. Would be easy to find out, I think.
BTW, Brigitte, I didn't find any remark in that article about generators from the Dutch Army. and actually, I read Dutch, English, and my partner Papiamentu, but we are not subscribed onto local newspapers.

No I am not allowed to take a look inside the damaged building, but if they were working really accurate to get it cleaned I would have seen at least something. From the backside you can look inside through the ventilation openings. You would see light-spots if they worked during night hours....

About the revolution? What I mean, there are so many things going on here in a latin-american way, and I feel that Bonaire should be some "extension" of civilised world. When there was the attack on the Sabadeco-people months ago it also only appeared possible to have the attackers taken to prison after the population was making lots of noise. Perhaps we should now again try to convince the "important" people that our power-supply needs a good long-term solution, and not some scratched together old stuff, that perhaps will help us to overcome some months, but not more.

And of course, I live also here because of the beauty of the island, and the friendliness of the locals, but I also may want to try to get my comfort on a higher level? Nothing wrong with that?

Now some positive news.

I have seen a container with CAT on it arrive at the WEB-plant (yesterday) so that means the first or even all stand-by-units arrived, and half-an-hour later the container was already moved, so they were unpacking. Who knows soon back to some kind of "normal"!

Indeed the rolling schedule works really accurate at the moment. I have seen the power coming back exactly 8:00 pm yesterday-evening, and drop off again 8:00 am this morning. Not really on the second, but absolute on the minute. That's good.... (under these bad circumstances).

Another funny thing not mentioned is the problem, that I cannot go on Internet when there is no power, but when the power is back, Flamingo gets shut off, and there is still no Internet. Same with Telbo, btw, my phones don't work when there is no power, and when power is back, Telbo loses power, and still no phone. But at least some hours a day we have connection. I start to understand the schedules now.

I am wondering how things work out this evening. In one publication we will have no power from 8pm till midnight, and the other one says Hato will have no interruption tonight. I'll take it for safe, I'll be a customer for the local restaurants tonight!

Please don't take my message of yesterday too negative, Bonaire is still near to heaven on earth, but there are still lots of wishes to be fulfilled.


Harrie

strange that the article opening is another one - Harrie, try this link (article from yesterday) http://www.amigoe.com/artman/publish/cat_index_1.shtml and open 'Noodgeneratoren op Bonaire aangekomen" - you do not need to be subscribed, read the Amigoe in the Internet , better than not to be informed - same with the Extra or La Prensa, both are also on the net
If you plug in your old phone instead of the wireless you can use your phone the whole day and you can go into the Internet as long as you have power, because Telbo is working just as usual
And yes, at the WEB they have worked hard on the central board (electronics) and as far as I know Radio Nederland help somehow, even if you have seen nothing
We are much closer to Latin America, why do you expect that everything goes like in Holland ? Which is not that perfect by the way either ....

Amen on that,Brigitte!!
Bonaire shouldn't be like Holland!! Bonaire wouldn't be Bonaire anymore, and that would be a crying shame!
But it is true,things need to be done to get the Island out of inconvenient trouble.
Besides, as a Dutch living in Holland, I have very good reasons for wanting to leave this ****-
country, and have even better reasons for choosing Bonaire of all countries! Amen!

Liza

I just received the following communication from the Tourist Board.....

Greetings from Bonaire. The problem should be solved by Monday, the 14th, just in time for Valentine's day! The auxiliary generators are in place and being tested. It appear that you will be able to enjoy 100% power! Best, Michael, TCB

I have decided to take my trip as scheduled and I hope this information will help other tourists and local residents too.

Thanks Brigitte, and thanks for the tips, would you think I didn't think of that myself? Yes, I have one wired phone, connected to the only phone-connector in the house, but you cannot hear the ring in most part of the house, and I am also available through my mobile phones, but what I said is that the Telbo-connection was also completely down for hours. And my Internet-connection is through Flamingo, which also was down several hours, when Hato had power.
And again, where comes the information from that it are generators from the Dutch ARMY.?????

I also think it is my own responsibility to be not informed on a level that I think is right. thanks for your comment on that, I can make my own decisions.

And may I react on my opinion upon Bonaire. Of course I don't want Bonaire to be like the Netherlands, and it is right it is a ****-country at the moment, one of the reasons I left the Netherlands already 3 years ago. but please read my comment well, it is my right to expect better and more comfortable power from the WEB. We pay quite a lot for the power, and what we get back is bull****, already for years. That is not necessary. If you have the right persons (and once again, managers and technicians in stead of politicians) in place, such a small powerplant must be easy to run, take care of right service in time, take care of the right spare-parts on stock, take care of the right persons on the right places, and it must be possible to provide problemless power to the island. Believe me, I know what I am talking about!
And this has nothing to do with wanting Bonaire to become like the Netherlands. Please!!!


Harrie

(Message edited by the moderators)

Harrie,

The published information that I saw said the generators were from the Dutch Navy. The only reference to the Army has been in your posts.

Sorry Glen, it is correct, from the Navy in stead of Army, is what you stated. I couldn't find any of that information in local papers or on Internet.
Fact is the generators arrived and are being installed now, but the main problem, to solve the problems for the long-term, nobody is talking about. The small rolling black-outs is not the main problem. When do we get a reliable power-supply on Bonaire, and not 0 Volt upto 175 Volt, when we have 110 Volt equipment ?

What to do after the Navy or Army generators, is much more important.

Harrie

For who is interested, I tried to make some pictures of the WEB-plant. It is difficult to see what the damage really is, because the main damage is of course inside. Things still look the same as one week ago, when the explosion took place.


a view from the backside of the plant.


a better view on the burnt chamber


this is what it looks from the Kaya Gobernador N. Debrot.


a view from the frontside of the plant


a closer look on the burnt chamber from the frontside


that nice old generator on the entrance, a jewel! (not in use anymore)

I tried to enter the powerplant, but the guard un duty didn't allow me to enter. I asked if I could see the new generators, and she said, there is nothing to see. I asked whom I should ask to get permission to enter, and the answer was, it is Sunday, nobody is here. (sic) To be honest, there were some cars parked at the plant, so I think there were people working, although it was impossible to see anything happen.

BTW, we still have power-cut-offs all the time, but not scheduled anymore.
But you get used to it, and we can live with it, up to the next week.....

Harrie

Harrie,you are right about the long term problem, and right about the politicians and technicians. It is the same in Holland. The politicians shout all they want to shout but that is all they are really doing. Big mouth, no deeds. Like I said before,I am quite ashamed of our government. And it IS a ****-country,like I said before.
Bonaire DOES need long term solutions,and not only for power but also on the matter of crime.
I'm racking my brain over solutions,but I'm just a house wife and a cleaner. Think of things somebody has already thought of.
Can't come up with anything........Whish I could.

Liza

Looks like Belnem is an other island compared to Hato .... we never had any telephone problems, we did had a schedule (1st up to Friday and than one for Sat + Sun - on which all the other barios of Bonaire had been on too), we never had power cuts all the time but only the ones on the schedule (yesterday 4pm to 8pm) and the scheduled power cut today (noon to 4pm) did not happend, up to now there was no power cut at all today ...

Well Brigitte,

As usual Hato is always the worst. We do have the negative things of living near to the generators, (noise and sometimes smoke and dirty smells), and we do not have the positive things (better power supplies).
One important explanation can be that you get support from the Trans World Radio Station, which supplies Belnem at the moment with power from their generators. We have friends in Belnem, they tell the same as you do.

But it is not so bad here.. sun was shining till 6:30 pm, and some kind of a green flash as bonus.

Harrie

Does anyone know what the rolling blackout schedule is for the upcoming week? Thanks

Haven't seen one yet. I know that we did not have any outages all weekend (last one was Friday night). It may be that they finally got the temporary generators on-line and we're okay for the time being.

Jake

Jake thanks , info is much appreciated

Well, so guess what?

We (Hato) are having uninterrupted power supply now for nearly 48 hours...

They must have the temporary generators working!

Now just wait what happens after that....


Harrie

Any chance WEB would be looking for some electrical engineering help? I'd be happy to consult in exchange for transportation, room, board and a week of diving!

Sounds like they need some serious preventative maintenance programs!

Hi All,
We were out from noon to 4 pm yesterday (Tuesday) and from noon to 4 pm on Monday. I haven't been able to find a revised schedule - any ideas?
Thanks

I've had the pleasure to meet & have one of the local WEB guys work at my place. He stopped for a quick chat yesterday afternoon (Tues) on his way somewhere down the road. They are running their tails off trouble shooting. We don't have full capacity with these new generators so they still have to shut off power to areas part of the time. Luckily for those of us in a hotel area, we are getting some special treatment. Is this fair? Don't know! But according to him they are having to trouble shoot constantly. On Monday evening the locals had turned on big lights at a soccer field & they had to go pull the fuses on them. Way too much power used under circumstances not felt to be necessary.
All of this is just one worker's opinion - but he is in a bit of a supervisory position so it could be fairly accurate.
More equipment is due onto the island in 4 weeks. But all of it will be a long time in getting really set right. The good news for the tourists is that their disruptions will be minimal if any (I think). Don't consider any of this gospel :-)
Louise

We've been having 4 hours of power outage (scheduled) in Belnem every day this week (weekdays). No power outages last weekend. Yesterday and Monday it was roughly 8-Noon. Today through Friday it's supposed to be 9am-1pm (not home at the moment so I don't know it it happened today).

Jake

It did not happehn today Jake, power is still on

Well we are lucky now, in Hato. The last power outage was on Sunday-afternoon. Except for some seconds a few moments ago.
Jake, do you also have the schedule for Hato?

Harrie

We heard on the radio that, due to many complaints, FlamingoTV is thinking of reducing the subscription-fee for cable-TV for this month. Nothing said about the fee for Internet anyhow.

We'll see.

Harrie

Harrie,

Check your e-mail - I sent you a copy of the schedule for Wed - Fri

Gotta run to a plane...

Jake

Jake just ran to his plane, and boy are his legs tired.

Couldn't resist...

And here is the copy Jake sent me, just before he went on the plane. (In Papiamentu, I am sorry)
I don't know how to do it, but I'll try to put it in here as an attachment, see what it looks like.


Harrie

schakelschema pb.web.schakkel16-181.doc (48.6 k)

I think it worked, good luck with it!


Harrie

It is also listed in Papiamentuo in todays edition online of the Extra on page 5 in PDF format
www.extrabon.com

Sorry for my spelling goof,Papiamentu.
Susan