We all had a lot of conversation following the BOPEC fire last fall. Any updates from BTer's living on Bonaire about progress on restoring the damage and/or improvements in protecting the environment from future damage?

I find it quite interesting that there was an oil fire, soot and ashes all over the place, reports that there had been an oil leak into the ocean prior to the fire, reporting that some semi-top-secret-highly-skilled investigative team from Holland would be completing an investigation within a month...and all this on an island with a fragile ecosystem that the economy is dependent upon.....and there is not only no follow up info but everyone seems to act like it never happened. AND I am sure I will get attacked by someone for this post here on non-partisan BT. Just like anywhere, I suppose that when tourism dollars, oil money, and the government are involved this is what you get. Or perhaps I am too cynical. Or perhaps no one will attack me on this post 'cause few people read the Environmental Action topic. Anyway, I find it odd that such a large environmentally damaging accident could have happened and the "investigation" that had to be done in complete secrecy to preserve the "integrity of the investigation" results in no public info at all.

Scott, you are a pinko libtard, with delusions of conspiracy. (Those are terms of endearment...) Bonaire isn't going to die from that one fire; it is more likely to die a slow, insidious death from red algae and loss of fish. The lionfish are a much bigger threat than the fire, in my opinion.

Having posted a series of photos of this I was actually quite interested to see the damage and a few months ago hiked thru the brush to get some photos which at the moment I do not have access to.

First there was a thin film of soot over northern areas but that washed away quickly. Virtually all the dark stuff went up and out over Curacao way although I suspect there was little that reached there. Probably burning it out was a judicious approach.

The tank when I was last up there was a rusting hulk. The scars on the adjacent tanks very evident and were not painted or repaired. It was a narrow escape.

I saw this on friday and was thinking of posting a smart reply about new sea walls and multiple new fire appliances, but given what is happening in Japan feel like Bonaire dodged the bullet.

I just hope it turns out so well the next time.

As I understand it the conclusion in the report was that it would be unwise to "stop the carnival".

According to Sean Paton from forum antilles, there were initially a series of investigations from various sources planned.

To his knowledge, little or nothing has been done to that effect.

Mel -- I love ya too, buddy . You are correct in what the worse long term hazards are, but geez, you'd think that if oil had leaked into the ocean in a protected marine park that someone would want to know how much, how bad, and how to keep it from happening again.

John -- thanks for the info

Antony -- interesting, and I suppose not surprising since this all relates to oil, tourism, money, and government