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Preliminary demographics from last year's census are in. They show that only a bit over half (52.5 percent) of Bonaire's population was born on the island. This is 12% less than in 1992, according to the 2001 census of the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS).
There are 1,035 women to every 1,000 men. The average age is 33 years, compared to 31.1 in 1992. But the numbers of both children and elderly have gone down, creating a bigger working population. People who consider themselves unemployed increased from 8.3% percent in 1992 to 9.3% in 2001.
About 92% of Bonaire's population live in individual private homes, most of which are surrounded by a plot of land. Of those homes 96% were deemed to be in good condition, up from 94.2% in the last (1992) census.
Other results include the fact that 73% of the island's homes have either cable TV or satellite delivered TV, as compared to 20% of homes in 1992. Also 29% of homes have a personal computer and more than half connect to the Internet. Interestingly, only 53% have regular telephones, up 10% from 1992, but 63% have cell phones.
There are about 20 different religions on Bonaire, the preponderant one being Roman Catholic. However, 7.5% of the population does not to observe a particular faith.
u Aviation circles are buzzing about a possible takeover of American Eagle by the one-year-old airline, Caribbean Star.
Last Saturday, February 8, the Antigua Sun reported that American Airlines wants to sell its Puerto Rico-based Executive Airlines, which holds the operating certificate for American Eagle in San Juan.
It said reports that Allen Stanford, chairman and owner of Caribbean Star Airlines, is ready to start negotiations
with American Airlines. It should be noted that Allen Stanford is also the owner of the reporting Antigua Sun.
Stanford's airline would take over American Eagle's fleet of more than two dozen ATR aircraft.
u Bonaire's Flamingo Airport shortly will get three drug scanners: one for persons, one for luggage and one for freight. Antillean Minister of Justice Rutsel Martha and his Dutch counterpart, Benk Korthals, agreed on that during their recent meeting in Holland.
A special detention center that was to be built to house foreigners will also be used to imprison drug couriers. The detention center will include medical assistance and special toilets for the "bolita swallowers." During the past few days several couriers were again caught with drugs at the Curaçao airport, about to board a plane to Holland.
u Which hotel will win the contract to house the "Quito line" KLM crews who need rest?. We hear that the Plaza Resort and Divi Flamingo are currently the top contenders. The contract is worth over NAƒ1 million a year according to our sources.
u Plastic bags are becoming a problem again on Bonaire, so much so that some call them the unofficial Bonairean flag because the trade winds blow them on to the thorny plants where they wave in the breeze. While all admit the problem is less than on other Caribbean islands, most Bonaire residents have a zero tolerance for plastic bags because of the risks the bags pose to sea life.
A campaign to encourage the island's markets to switch to paper is in the works. Currently only Cultimara offers paper bags (at a 25 cent charge). Bring your own grocery carrier and save.
u Sand Dollar Dive and Photo's boats and office equipment were auctioned off by the SVB (Social Security Department) last week. But never fear, the boats will be used by the other shops to carry divers. In fact we saw the 'Sand Diver,' now being used by Bon Bini Divers, at Oil Slick Leap today.
u The 2-11 crisis came and went at Harbour Village. Meeting between the resort's directors and the condo association produced a direction that means the project can move forward. We will report more details as they are made public.
u It's a crime to take conch shells, considered a part of the island heritage. But the same apparently doesn't hold true for the island's donkeys. According to our reliable source, a Venezuelan fishing boat attempted to smuggle two dark colored baby donkeys when they were intercepted by Customs. There doesn't seem to be any legal protection for this type of traffic which has long been suspected of going on, since the animals are not an endangered species.
u The Bonaire Tourist Bureau announced a new event focusing on underwater digital photography. It's the 2002 Digital Shootout in Bonaire, to be held November 9 - 16, 2002. More than a standard photo safari, the Digital Shootout is an in-depth learning and vacation experience. Meet other beginner and advanced shooters and rub elbows with professional photographers like Stephen Frink, and industry experts for a week-long program including educational seminars, free digital demo days, hands-on workshops in Adobe Photoshop and Premier and a photo contest with great prizes. Host hotels will be Captain Don's Habitat and Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino.
During the past, when Nikonos sponsored a "shootout," the reef was stressed by overzealous photographers in their quest for the best photo. It is important that the Bonaire Marine Park and the organizers of the Digital Shootout take steps to minimize this type of behavior.
u Cindy Lott, the biologist who spent several years studying Lac Bay wrote
in Lac Bay that is coming soon. "This is about the time in the season for the event at Lac Bay which I call the 'big sucking sound' that commences as springtime nears. The waters will begin to drain out of Lac, and the back country areas in the mangroves will drain, stranding fishes, as well as leaving the sediments that suffocate the fishes as they struggle in the shallow water that remains.
This is a seasonal solstice shift which takes the water out every year about this time. The bird life which happens to be in migration patterns at this time of year, respond positively to this event, feeding on the stranded fishes, and thus the web of life goes round and round. Currently, Cindy is working and studying in Florida.
u The Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) has invited the people of Bonaire to help celebrate Earth Day underwater this year by "Diving In," during the week of April 15-22. 2002 marks the third year of "Dive In To Earth Day," a global event that encourages people to join together and take action to help protect our planet's aquatic resources. Dive In activities are organized locally by dive shops, community groups, non-profit organizations, teachers, scientists and other marine enthusiasts.
Last year Bonaire held several events along with people in 46 countries, with approximately 32,000 participants involved worldwide. Activities included beach cleanups, children's snorkeling trips, reef surveys, art contests, mooring buoy installations and more. Let's join together to do as much as we can this year right here in little Bonaire, the underwater ecology pioneer of Earth.
(Continued on page 14)
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