The current issue of The Reporter has a paragraph indicating that there is a freeze on the approval of any new construction or development projects on Bonaire.
In view of the current economic world climate I suspect this is wise move.

we'll see how long it last. if i'm not mistaken they have done that before. maybe in my dreams
es

Good thing Vince. For many reasons this is good and not selfish ones for us non-locals. The island will live longer and prosper that way (as Spock would say).

This hopefully will please many. I have a friend who has lived on Bonaire for a very long time and who has invested deeply into the island both in his home and his activities on the island. This is what he wrote just after Christmas.

Bonaire is in turmoil as you will have heard.
Integration to become a County of Holland.
Dutch speculators have raped the island with their valuable euros buying up all the dollar priced properties and building giant apartment complexes to make incredible profits.
This is making Bonairean people homeless and destroying the economy.
It’s not a nice place to live any more.
If we could find somewhere cheaper with an identical climate we would move..

Thank God. During the last freeze they only built 125 homes up north, the Plaza , and cut seven waterways. Anyone there remember the 3 AM TNT blast?

OMG there is a beach here now!

The last freeze was in the mid 90s and the water ways around the Plaza (was the Parker project) were blasted in the early 80s (or even end 70s)

Barry, I know of a few young Antilleans who have to live with their family. They cannot afford the rents as the two medical schools drain a lot of the rental market and have driven prices up. I also heard we will soon have to pay 1000,000 ANG to register our businesses on top of the 5% OB we pay AND income tax. My other friend got his income tax bill for 2005!! It was over 4000,00. Luckily he has it..it's a very expensive island to live and soon to do business. I have to re think things.

As Brigitte mentioned about the Parker Project, that too drove prices up. That was because they brought in outside labor and paid them well, which gave the Bonairean homeowners who rented homes out a good excuse to raise the rents.

It is sad that locals are suffering because of it. If the government has gained a windfall to their coffers they should build more houses for those less fortunate.

They did that in the 90s and I believe it had good results. Maybe they'll do it again.

Brigitte
I know the waterways around Plaza were not there in early Jan 1981 when I first went to Bonaire. I believe it must have been 1983 when that work was done.
Mick

been going since 1985. remember the building and the noise and dust. was not very pleasant. when heard they were building up i would talk to locals alot (especially business owners) thought that it was great. i kept on saying but bonaire can't obsorb the housing. but nobody agreed.
es