Here is Daddy Warbucks looking for a morning chat.

I reach into the pile of pints outs and hey. It is you Anthony Bond. . How are you this morning? I see by your June 21 post that you are an early bird same as myself, Your post was at 06 09

I beat you today. It is now 04 49 here in Bonaire

You know this poop thing is robbing me of not only my reefs, but also my sleep. And now answering yours is robbing me of my morning. Not being nasty sir, but just a fact.

Having watched BT since it beginning I can't help but to wonder what kind of a face goes with the talker. Some mean. Other fun and other pretty and beautiful.

So Anthony, already I like you. Can't picture what you look like, and can't figure if I would have wanted you in a foxhole on Okinawa but I bet you are one hell of a fine dive buddy. And it is obvious that you love the island and that to me excels. Thank you for you honest concerns. However sir I think you might be confused on certain points.

I am hoping that other BT'er are reading this post. So to you folks out there in radioland. Welcome aboard.

I don't know where you stay when visiting Bonaire but assume it is a sea side resort. NOW knowing that Bonaire had no sewer facilities. Not a single pipe it is only natural to question WDMPG (This is a new Bonairian word) translated." WhereDoesMyPoopGo?" Write that new word on the palm of your hand and look at it when sitting on the hotel john. WDMPG.

Now at my age and with my 47 years on island and considering it was I who first attracted you divers to my island I feel an immense responsibility for the Coral Reefs and they're on going health. Had this been 60 years ago I would have killed for them.

Now Anthony Bond just some random conversation.. I have built a splendid pyramid to scale in the Prodicent cemetery, just behind Napa. It is nine feet tall and promised a golden paint. When a buddy doctor of mine cut off my leg. That was in Curacao. A asked him what he intended to do with the leg. He said. Why put it in the Landfill with the beast. (Goat's, donkeys and the likes)

As the morphine wore off I looked down at the bandaged stump. That foot had kicked a million miles in the Bonairian reefs, but further it had been the foot that first set down on Bonairian soil on that Afternoon on May 21 1962

Then I was to be the first diver ever to slip into the magnificence coral of Bonaire. I cried to Jennie, my mate. Take the foot home and place it in a pyramid of gold. Make it a tourist attraction to show that this is where it all began.

"More" I ran and built much of the first hotel. As I did the second. Then totally involved my self in the third from the ground up. There were no other resorts. Just us. Then you..

Sewerage had been a problem from day one. As it still is today. Many promises. A million word. European money promise. And promise again. One such program even dedicated it to Captain don/.

My own drawing board is full. But the end results are that I find my self-faced with the truth. My reefs are dying and I find that I can not account of over 25000 gallons of wastewater vanishing daily.

Bonaire has no gutters. Like batteries you won't take it home with you.
25000 gallons, That's a lot to be daily escaping into the sea. You divers should be tasting it by now. Huh?

Well Anthony Bond. Her it is dawn and I seemed to have gotten carried away. Besides I need a coffee. Go to Goggles and look up Leaching fields and apply these facts to LVV. The ground works is there. Get Mr, Sean a shovel and I will show him where to trench.

By now!. Daddy Warbucks.

Captain Don, aka Daddy Warbucks,
Your posts entertain and enlighten me. Your approach is hard line and I like that, I've never been one to mince words myself.
Having been a visitor to Bonaire since 1986 (having met you on my first trip) I wish I knew then what we know now. I see that you have realized that many posters are passionate about Bonaire and try to express themselves but sometimes fail at making their point. I am guilty of that myself at times. Please keep up this diligent effort to save our lovely island. Hopefully more people will read your posts and take action. And I might just stop in and visit in August, but please don't make me stir the poop!

Good morning Captain.

A little about me. I lived on Bonaire for three short years and moved back to Scotland a year ago for reasons too many to go into.

I decided to move to Bonaire after a two week visit. I returned to the UK, sold all I had and we were back on the island within a few months, That's how Bonaire gets you. I worked on the island and even became a regular contributor for the Reporter.

Amongst the many people of whom I would now regard friends, a few stood out. Sean Paton is one. I have been fortunate to have travelled extensively over the years but for all of the people I have met, Sean is one of the most sincere and passionate.

He, like you, loves the island and I am sure that the last word that comes from his mouth will be Bonaire. He is using new mediums such as YouTube as well as the Internet and radio to alert people to what he sees daily. Like you, he has to witness the slow erosion of all things natural on the island where most only see surface changes as they travel for their annual vacation.

Many will sit in bars and cafes saying this and that but Sean is prepared to stand up and tell those who will listen, whether they like it or not!

As I said before, the implementation of charging to use landfill is a good idea but badly organised by the Government. There should have been an amnesty for locals on a small income and the hotels and businesses who are making a fortune should be paying a premium with the threat of huge fines for fly tipping. A blanket charge was not the answer.

Many people will be aware of what is happening to waste from large resorts but what will they do? Many people who are animal lovers are aware of the atrocities that take place by fast food giants to get a burger on a bun or some chicken in a bucket but still they buy it when they are hungry or too lazy to cook something themselves.

Many talk a good fight but when it comes to walking the walk, numbers are usually sadly lacking. The owners of the big resorts are, on the whole, foreign investors who are only interested in the bottom line. Before Bonaire loses it's coral, these investors will be long gone and their legacy will only be one of destruction.

As long as the director of tourism has a seat on Stinapa and other such conflicts of interests exist, things will only get worse.

I admire your call to the troops Captain Don and I am sure that many will rally. I also urge you to contact Sean and to join allegiance as although you may have areas of disagreement, your common goals are the same.

The coral is Bonaires main treasure but there are plenty of other areas not to lose sight of. Fast food conglomerates polluting the air and adding to landfill while making the population of yet another country obese. The expansion of rental companies who's trucks and cars are now lining the roads where once donkeys wandered. The ruination of the skyline as endless hoards of soulless apartments are erected. The list is endless.

Bonaire needs to put on the brakes and take stock of what is happening but I fear that the mighty dollar is too tempting.

What is the answer? Well as far as the reef is concerned, a mass boycott of those who are polluting it. Maybe endless empty hotel rooms will get the message home.

However, who will sacrifice their vacation now for the future?

Bon Dia............

Thank you, both, gentlemen. cb

You hit the nail on the head Antony. Who will sacrifice their vacation to make a point on an island where they have no financial ties. Tourists expect local governments and populations to take care of issues like the environment and infrastructure. If these issues are not handled by the locals then tourists will go elsewhere.

Expecting tourists to ask about sewage systems when booking accommodations is not practical or very realistic.

I so appreciate this conversation. I fear I have little to add to island preservation as I've only had the pleasure of one visit (once bitten... ready to return!).
Your points are global.
Thank you both gentlemen for your passion, actions and insights.

We use to stay at Sandollar years ago and I thought they watered their gardens with grey water. The Habitat also has a "system" that looks the same but I am not sure.
If these two hotels are indeed helping the islands preservation by doing so, why don't they put up a "Eco Habitat" sign.
It may not be much..but it would show "they" are trying to make a difference. The whole "green living" move is spreading. We have a TV station for just "green news".
Tourist's will then be able to decide whether to stay at a Eco Habitat or a Polluting Habitat.
Maybe some Tee Shirts that say "Help Bonaire,Stay Green".