and here they are:
maybe not so funny
refreshing your memory:
the conscience many political clowns lack
selection of acts in Curaçao's political circus, starting with the most recent ones.
come-back of Statuut-Dag as Koninkrijksdag
and when for real?
"Anybody's Guess"
Former Politicians' Promise:
1 July 2007; last date mentioned: 26 March 2010 (PM de Jong Elhage, January 2009); postponed again:
"Not later" than October, 2010 (same reliable source, June 2009); the governor said it!
(2009-09-08) 10 October 2010; Godett does not agree. We'll see...
Latest date
(proposed by that genius, P.S. Wiels):
12-12-12
that's my birthday! - if I make it
Oh wait, the ombudsperson said it should be 11-11-11
so government could give better service... Still better!? (May 2010)
After having been sadly remiss keeping up with latest developments I've picked up the thread, frayed as it is.
One of the problems is my old links to Amigoe did not work anymore, so several items have been skipped.
Then, I still have to finish processing my trips through South Africa (2007), Canada (2008) and the USA (2009).
What's there already looks worthwhile - to me at least.
The price of liberty is eternal vigilance
-Edmund Burke
Troubled by Transparency?
The manager function of C.T.B. has to be filled shortly. But a popular candidate does not care for the job. She feels professionals are not treated ethically by the islands politicians and much prefers her present hotel management job.
2010-07-24
"Isla Never Exceeded Standards"
After five years of delaying fights in court, Isla refinery and BOO are finally forced to pay when they exceed pollution standards. We even have measuring stations to catch them in the act. Naturally, since these have only gone into operation this year, Isla now denies they exceeded the norms last year. So, judging from the readings, they have grown worse since. In Europe, this is viewn as rather serious pollution.
The problem with the verdict is, it only applies to a yearly norm, resulting in a long delay.
2010-07-24
Megalomania Reaches Record Heights - Guess Who'll Pay
Because of plans to establish a "space station" at Hato airport, first the law will have to be changed; cost USD70K. It gets better. The (unnamed) USA builder of the (unspecified) space craft gets, from us, USD350K to enable it to collect the permits needed to export it. In case you wonder why we should pay this—wait, it still gets better.
Because yet another amount of USD4.5M is needed "for starters" to lease the space craft. Notice how these amounts
It would be slander to say that somebody is skimming off those amounts, so we will refrain from
This stinks to high heaven.
Also check "Wild Visions", "Apemen" and "Space Sickness", where we were told that two outfits were trampling each other to death to start those trips.
As it turns out, this is Space Experience Curaçao. Declaration of intent has been signed, so it's official.
2010-07-24
Caribbean Guilders
Our Antillean guilders will be replaced by Caribbean guilders, valid for Curaçao and St. Maarten (where everybody uses US dollars anyway). We won't have them by 10-10-10, though. There may be more things that are not ready by then.
2010-07-24
Back to Basics
After all those songs and dances—don't forget all that money
At least it does mean that we can vote "invalid" again.
2010-07-24
Sour Grapes?
In one of his twice-weekly letters to the Editor, Baselmans advises everybody not to go vote. This would achieve the same result as a not-valid vote, just about the only effective way you can protest against the democratic con-system. But since the introduction of electronic voting, this became impossible as there was no way to write something extra on your voting form, or to vote for more than one candidate, whatever.
Of course, Baselmans rants and raves about having been made a slave, humiliated and all that. Maybe. But why, then, did he want to become part of that system only recently?
2010-07-15
Sporting Life
After all the hysteria, the Dutch soccer team was defeated by Spain in the Durban Suid Afrika championships. Remember? my, how time flies by... As we have come to expect for a long time since, this was followed by heavy rioting - makes no real difference if they win or lose. In den Haag, the usual anti-semitic slogan "all Jews to the gas" was popular. Even here, in four different locations, riots broke out by drunk makambas who couldn't stand their loss. By a maybe not-so-weird coincidence, two of those were the same as where years ago race riots started (the suspects have just been acquitted).
Causing PS Wiels, an expert at causing riots himself, to wonder why no measures had been taken to prevent this. I hate to admit it, but Wiels has a point.
As it turns out, some Dutch marines were involved in the riots. A Grand Tradition.
2010-07-13
Never Pass on a Windfall
In other countries, competition often forces the supermarkets to sell a product cheap when they can get it cheap. Here, they get together and keep the extra profits themselves. It happened before with the soft-drink imports from Venezuela; while the bolivar keeps dropping versus the USD/ANG, the drinks get more and more expensive. When the € goes up, prices go up accordingly - when it drops again (like these days)... you fill in the rest.
Now it's a species of fish that has a certain resemblance to our local mero, selling at 24-30 guilders/kilo. The price for aquaculture pangasius/swai should be 8-14 guilders/kilo.
2010-07-10
Confusion Reigns
Don't send me hate mail please, but I'm no soccer fan. Anyway, after Holland won the World Cup (as they tell me) you wouldn't have thought Curaçao was so anti-colonial as they vote. The fans painted downtown orange; not because, for some incomprehensible reason, it's the color of Godett's FOL party.
2010-07-07
Only the Establishment Gets Breaks
Some forty years ago, there was an influx here of "Miami cars", second-hand automobiles imported from the USA. Because this
2010-07-07
Hato Airport
It's only now we hear that, three years ago, Alterra chose to postpone proper ten-yearly landing strip maintenance and opted for patching up instead. How like them. So now the longest strip of the Caribbean is in such a sorry state, several companies avoid it. Meanwhile, the last proper maintenance has been fifteen years ago so it's about time. No information on what this is going to cost.
2010-06-30
Let's Go Figure
Isla refinery is back on line. Sort of: because BOO is still misbehaving (for exactly four months today), the best Isla can do is produce lube oil. Loss since March has been USD60M.
To buy out Mitsubishi and Marubeni will cost over USD40M. To do necessary repairs, USD7M. Total 47M, which is less than the USD53M that mysteriously disappeared during construction, not to mention the as yet unknown quantity that was paid for "spare parts" that never arrived.
The yearly refinery rent paid by PdVSA is USD15M. We have been told a refinery upgrade would cost USD1.5G. Meanwhile, the yearly fine Isla has to pay for excess pollution is USD75M.
My advice? Tear the whole bloody thing down and save us all a lot of money.
2010-06-30
Civil Servants Want Parking Freebie
Parking in Willemstad Punda is no longer free, a condition for an agreement to have a parking garage built - no matter if that thing ruins Willemstad's Unesco heritage status. The civil servants of course protest. Everybody who works downtown has to pay, but they do not want too. Seem to feel that's their right; their argument is civil servants who work elsewhere get it free. Well, maybe they can walk to/from the free parkings that still abound. Get rid of that fat, all to the good.
Checked it on Google Earth; the maximum walking distance is like 1 km; a total daily walk of 24 minutes. Anyway, the minister of health recommends walking 7.5km/day—why, I wouldn't know.
2010-06-28
Nos a scapa! [we slipped through]
Kousa Komun [common cause] foundation wanted us to vote in yet another referendum, this time voting on the political future and constitution. That would be number four, or five - we have lost count by now. Enough is sufficient, already.
2010-06-22
Finally!
The promised measuring stations for refinery (and other pollution) have been uploaded to a website, here. The results for Cas Chikitu and Beth Chaim are far from complete, with strange laps. No doubt starting-up troubles. More later!
2010-06-07
Anybody's Guess
Isla refinery was supposed to have started up the last week-end of May. Driving by on Saturday morning, we noticed immense clouds of soot coming out of the exhaust stacks, so something was going on. However, nobody seems to know if the boot-up succeeded.
As there have not been any news releases, it's safe to guess that it didn't. Once again.
2010-06-07
Modern Efficiency
Downtown Punda, 8 wielklemmen [wheel clamps] have been installed, with 12 cops to take care of them. Figuring 8 hours guard duty, 1 cop per 2 clamps.
Oh no, all wrong - there won't be any clamping at night, but only from say from 9:00-17:00, 1.5 clamps per cop!
2010-05-28
Not Up, Down
Tourism has gone down, no surprise there. The real surprise is that there have been less tourists from Haïti - no surprise there, they add. What's [not really] surprising is, so they count those Haïtians not as [illegal] immigrants but as tourists.
As the € is in a spiral down, sure to get worse before, if, it gets better, future developments here will be replete with interest.
It's also interesting to note that while discussions are hotting up again over a second cruise-ship pier, ship visits have been reduced from 108 to 88 last year, with a 19% reduction in passengers from 199,714 to 161,302.
2010-05-21
Good Advice
Next time they knock you over the head with a bar stool, be sure to record the act with your cell-phone.
Reason I mention it, all suspects in the racial bar-fight have been acquitted for lack of proof.
2010-05-21
Politicians' Promises
Schotte, "Son of Salas" on his way to the Power Top has passed through several parties already. Last one is MAN, but he now got kicked out. He claims he was promised the top of their list; but they won't put him there. Say Schotte, are you really so naïve you believe party promises? Remember how in 2007 you replaced Smith right before the elections?
If you have time to spare, look at the trace Schotte left behind on these pages since 2004. Just fill out his name on the FreeFind search engine. He sure has been busy.
2010-05-21
Sumptuous?
For his involvement in the Isla refinery problem, chemistry teacher/SMOC member Arjan Linthorst received the enormous amount of €15,000 from a Dutch prince (at least, out of his hands). For SMOC it's a lot, for BOO it's peanuts...
2010-05-20
Injurious Insult
Not only twice as many ambulances than needed were ordered, against a higher price than quoted - after arrival they have been sitting for over a month in the garden of GGD (community health service). When one of the older ones, still in service, broke down, Red Cross had to help out. Some people blame deputy of health Humpty Dumpty Davelaar, but why? You can't blame a man for his total incompetence. (But hey! I blame him, too!)
2010-05-20
Deep Waters
Israël is going ahead with five desalination plants using the reverse osmosis technique, just like Aqualectra uses in their Fuik plant. The standard price here is ANG13.49/m3. As the Israeli production cost is $0.52/m3 [ANG0.94] we have to conclude either the Aqualectra plant is rotten, or their leaky distribution system is more than 13 times as expensive than the water is to produce. Probably both.
By the way, somebody is asking nasty questions in island government, wondering if the exorbitant new buildings planned will result in yet another tariff adaptation. He might well ask, but we know the answer, don't we? YES!
2010-05-19
We Can Only Agree
The six-year old airport building (read all about it here) is unsatisfactory and will have to be replaced, we're told. It's not hard to believe. Maybe now they will hire a local architect—after all, he just has to dust off his fine old plans. Or maybe, there's an idea! have a committee look into it.
2010-05-15
One More Committee!
Now, after the BOO committee, there'll be yet another one to look into CEMS (the ambulance flop). Gee, I keep wondering how much you get paid for a committee job.
2010-05-15
- Robert Heinlein, Time Enough For Love
Now a guy from Curaçao wants the Kingdom of the Netherlands to adopt a new flag, where all partners are represented. Such childishness.
2010-05-11
New Party!
John Baselmans, well-known letter-to-the-editor writer, announces a new party Partij Burgers in Vrijheid [citizens in freedom]. One of his many ideas is, those who steal community money should be executed. Let's hope that's a newspaper mistake; they also say the party's on Facebook, but not where I looked. If I find it I'll put in a link.
"Religious views: World of positive energy". Can't be helped, I guess.
On June 8 Baselmans announced he stopped working on this and blamed the population for not accepting that a makamba [Dutch honky] began a political party, not even to give "all Antillean citizens back their freedom" (I never particularly missed it.)
2010-05-11
That's No News
But not good news either. To keep it short, Isla again tried to start-up again this morning. Didn't work—BOO failed.
2010-05-11
It Adds Up
The Big Bad Brodders and Sisters may have made an awful lot on BOO, but don't forget the fire-engines. Every little bit all helps to get through these hard times. Now we will get new ambulances. Only four were needed, so seven have been ordered. As if that's not
Doesn't seem to occur to reporters to ask, either.
2010-05-11
Day of Papiamentu
Our minister of (unless she changed to another post, a habit in our amateur government) education announced a Day of Papiamentu. We all should feel proud of our language and celebrate!
Now here is another of those semi-fascist notions that keep popping up. Our country is the best! Our carnival is the best! Our flag is the best! Our national hymn is the best! Our music is the best! Our language is the best! Our government is the... uh, well, that may be going too far.
I could find no single other language in the world that celebrates such a day. Not even notoriously chauvinist France. However, there is a Mother Language Day. It started in Pakistan in 1948 to celebrate Urdu, but those who spoke Bangla started riots where students were killed, which finally led to the separation of Bangla-Desh and Pakistan. Bet you Leeflang never heard of this.
2010-05-07
The Story Gets Better
The committee looking into BOO has discovered that, although $200M has been spent on building the damn thing, there are no bills for about 1/4 of that amount, $53M. Although more and more money was paid over the years for replacement parts, these never arrived. They don't tell us (yet) how much "more and more money." This, at least, makes clear their earlier pronouncement that there was no interest in running the plant, only in building it, was not correct. Plenty of money to be made in running a plant—in running it down, that is.
Another occasion to yell "I told you so!" The first time I mentioned BOO on this site it was immediately followed by the words "still nastier." I find very little occasion for joy in this.
All this goes to show how extremely shameless those profiteering NGO-pirates have become over the years.
2010-05-07
Less Smoke, More Stench
The situation with BOO is so bad now, the refinery will remain shut down until September. Is this even possible? Seems so. The utility plant is one big mess where almost nothing seems to be work; even simple repairs just were not done. A committee says "They were not interested in maintenance, only in building the plant" and darkly hints at 'possible' wrongful acts. There have been nine catastrophic failures in ten years; but deputy Davelaar does not want to use the word "catastrophe" for the present trouble. He must be hard to please: how about calamity, disaster, debâcle; or still better swindle, fraud, double-cross and sham? With adjectives shameless, corrupt and political. Oh, I forgot - Davelaar is a politician, so of course he's used to much worse.
Gee, once again I wonder how much you get paid for being a member of such a committee.
2010-05-07
Aruba's Rude Awakening
The former director of Aruba's National Bank, Rob Henriquez, advises to abandon the Aruba Florin and introduce the USDollar. This development is more or less forced by the Aruba government which has been spending money like water. From 1979-2001 the yearly budget was 79 million in the red, which in 2008 had grown to 271 million. National debt had doubled to over 2 billion in ten years. Henriquez refers to the recent problems with Greece which managed to fall from a BBB to a junk rating in a mere 24 hours.
2010-05-07
We All Knew It
It was long since obvious to everybody, so I can refrain from saying "I told you so"—the Isla refinery will not be back on-line in the first week of May. New replacement parts have not even been ordered yet. Talk is now about BOO not even starting up before September; which should mean the refinery will have been out of order for some six months.
Consolation is, the air measuring stations will not be needed before then, so there's ample time to get the results on the Web. Also, this year we will have only nine pollution-caused deaths!
Meanwhile, the state of the roads will even worsen before there's any new asphalt available.
2010-05-07
So Much for That—Once Again
Pupils from Colombia (speaking Spanish), China (Chinese) and Haïti (Patois/French) do better at school than our own.
No doubt this is because of language problems with Dutch! No? Funny, I have doubts myself. So do the researchers who note that those children are more motivated, even though their parents are less often at home and have less social contacts.
So much for the tired theory that we have to use Papiamentu for an instruction language. Even [big] IF it may help, other factors seem more important. Like (surprise!) discipline. Good thing it's not race. Endless discussions leading nowhere; we're having enough of those already.
2010-04-26
Sis Wants to Work
No cracks, please, about how amazing that is. But all three coalition parties are united in their stand: Selikor must take Mirna back. Trouble seems to be, island NGOs cannot be forced to take a politician back; they never seem to think it through, do they. "Consequence may be that people will not make themselves available for political functions" says PAR Sulvaran. I say, GO FOR IT!
The boil-down is, Selikor will re-hire Sis and put her at island government's disposal. Anything but having her back in the office! But high-ups in Selikor management protest against paying for someone they don't want.
2010-04-26
"Laganan Kima" — Let 'em Burn
The Fire Dept. refused to give the Hyatt Hotel a clean bill of health for the opening, because it has not been finished as planned. Tourism deputy Dick is livid. He has done his utmost to get the license anyway, but the Fire Dept wouldn't budge. Says Dick (don't blame me for that name!): "We must take a pro-active approach and go for quality" [and let 'em burn if it goes wrong - they're just tourist suckers anyway, there's a thought? Is that "quality"?].
So it turns out Dick, first minister of Justice, then a political drop-out, who made a come-back as minister of Justice, now is tourism deputy. Country run by amateurs. We could do better than that, yes — but those guys do real work and are not in politics.
Without knowing the first thing, and agreeing that the Fire Dept can be a damn nuisance when they go on a power kick, it's easy to imagine things that could be wrong and put them in the right—like, has the fire escape yet to be built? How about stand pipes for firefighting water, are those in place? Me, for now, give the Fire Dept the benefit of the doubt. I keep seeing hotels that just scare the living shit to run out of me — in streams.
2010-04-21
They Just Must
NGOs Aqualectra utility and UTS telecommunications need new buildings. They say. They have invited local architects, but they want one with minimum yearly sales of 2 million. That's a lot as architects' fees are say 10% of building costs. So the job went, essentially, to a Dutch architect who "works together" with a small local architect.
The buildings will cost ANG10K/m2while a very luxurious building does not cost over 4K.
At a recent occasion when something like this went on (with the renovation of Hato Airport) another small local architect who got the job spent a year in jail; it just served as a good method to pass on the bribes. There's a lot of money involved here and it's easy to imagine some of it may fall by the wayside.
2010-04-21
Just What We Needed
A new party! It's called PAIS [cuntry]. If anything important happens (like, it lives until next elections), not to worry - we'll keep you informed.
2010-04-20
Wiels Ashamed
You might have thought this impossible, but he is. That is, he says he is, there's a difference there. And why? Because of the political process. In that case, stay away from politics, Wiels, you'd be surprised to find out how you will be loved for it.
Wiels was in Holland with a delegation to discuss our new status with Dutch parliament. After they all got stuck there because of an Iceland volcanic eruption, some way was devised to bring 'em back. What a pity.
2010-04-20
Pollution Helps Polluters
The next court session of SMOC versus Isla will have to be delayed for 6 months as the entourage of jurists can't be flown over - Dutch airports are closed because of that same volcanic eruption. (There are only two sessions per year).
2010-04-20
You wouldn't Want to Know
One day after an air scrubbing system had been introduced that was supposed to clean the fumes coming out of the "asphalt lake" which now is being cleaned out, Curaçao Drydock personnel went on strike because of the unbearable stench. As yet, nobody has made an effort to analyze these fumes.
2010-04-15
"Nothing Going On"
According to the refinery trade union, "nothing's going on" at the BOO plant. In the six weeks after the power plant's breakdown, no repairs have been made yet. This while the plant, and refinery, are supposed to come back on-line two weeks from now. The union claims that foreign investors Marubeni/Mitsubishi are not interested in putting up more money, as they "will never make it back."
2010-04-14
Good Advice: Hold Your Breath—or Don't?
There's a pollution monitor for Isla refinery in place since January 1, and a second station will follow in May (but they haven't even agreed on a location yet). It is the intention the measuring results will be shown live on the Web in Papiamentu and Dutch, but they are "still being tweaked." Hope I'm not too paranoid when asking if this could possibly be because they're not below the court order of less than 80 micrograms/m3. After all, how hard can it be to get that web-page up and running?
2010-04-09
Junkie Paradise: Dépendance for Drug-Dependants
I can't tell for sure the Jellinek Retreat for High-Class Junkies like MD's, businessmen, pilots, and 'BN'ers', has any association with Gelt Dekker's Kura Hulanda's outfit; but it's hard to avoid the impression. With facilities for 20 patients @ €600/day (don't know if this includes tax) the poor addicts can
The Dutch government may be the biggest sucker here by subsidizing the project with €600K.
BN'ers is one of those weird Dutch expressions you can't have an inkling of if you don't follow their slang. It stands for bekende Nederlanders [well-known Dutchmen... pardon me, don't want to discriminate, Dutchpersons.] Like MP's, ministers, bishops? It's a thought, but presumably meant are like actors, musicians, writers.
2010-04-08
What Can You Do with Someone Like That?
As everybody seems to have forgotten, Godett's sis Mirna was still a member of the Antillean government. Never heard a peep out of her (be thankful). Now that this cushy job has come to an end, she wants to go back to her "work" at Selikor; but they don't want any. They say they have assigned her function to someone else long since, which figures—would be embarrassing to leave her seat empty and waiting for those four years and nobody noticing the difference! Mirna has been offered a 70% VUT-arrangement [Vervroegde UitTreding/advanced retirement] instead which she refused.
The Godett gang has a problem with Selikor director Kook anyway, because he managed to get rid of notorious Asjes after Mirna's brother had given him a comfy and cozy Selikor-job.
2010-04-08
There's One Thing Good About It
Helmin Wiels is going to Holland to protest (at the top of his voice, I presume) against the political changes. In the name of the Curaçao people; the same who gave his party two (2) seats in the last elections. This is one of the guys who won't take "Yes" for an answer.
Oh yes, the good thing about it is, he's paying for it himself.
2010-04-08
Tourism Down
Tourism in January was down by 13% to a 72.4% room occupancy. It was inevitable and we have just been granted a reprieve while it was down all around us. CTB thought it necessary to exclaim all the time that we were recession-proof.
2010-04-01
"Fuck Aqualectra!"
The wave of popular disgust with our impopular autocratic utility is growing so strong that there now is a Facebook page on it. People are talking about a one-hour strike of switching off all their lights and appliances, but Aqualectra warns this will result in a technical disaster. (Good thing, then, that Earth Hour action is finding so few takers.)
According to Aqualectra, the difference in use during that hour was not discernible, which is the impression I got looking from my balcony. The initiators are crowing from the roof that it was an "enormously successful super-fantastic action". Hmmm.
2010-03-24
Up to Their Old Tricks
DEA complains that Korpodeko, a government institute to help small companies with their investments, holds a 20% interest in Inselair, which is quite contrary to regulations. Korpodeko and Inselair deny this, but they would, wouldn't they?
This is not the first time Korpodeko has been transgressing like this. Well do we remember their "loans" to DCA when it was perfectly obvious to everybody that DCA was going down the drain, fast. Millions and millions gone and lost forever.
2010-03-22
Dirty Clean Diesel Coming, Comes Expensive
The story is, it has finally arrived (after 7 months of promises). However, the "clean" diesel fuel is not available yet. Price will be 55 cents over the present liter price (in most countries, diesel is much cheaper than regular gas). This spells bad for Aqualectra utility tariffs, which just have been heftily raised already.
Anyway, what do you call clean? This stuff is still 10-50 times as dirty as what's acceptable in other places. The price solution is simple: gasoline price will become higher so we all pay for diesel users.
2010-03-19
A "New" Refinery?
Isla management held a presentation, claiming they could have a modern refinery in less than five years for a 1.5G dollars investment. One slight problem would be to get PdVSA interested in signing a new contract (the Fat Dictator is threatening to shut down operations if the USA FOL bas is not closed down - as if we didn't have contractual obligations there. Such slight details mean nothing to Chávez of course.)
Anyway, that amount is so ridiculously low compared with everything we have heard until now, it's completely unbelievable. Small wonder Isla workers thought it was 'a fine presentation'. No doubt.
Like they say, "It's easy to lie in PowerPoint."
2010-03-19
Longer and Longer
Isla refinery needs three new air compressors. They are supposed to arrive, at least one of them, by the end of April. But nobody has an inkling where they have been ordered (USA? Venezuela?) A real confidence builder, that. If PdVSA has to pay for them, their credit is so bad that all bets are off anyway.
Now, it turns out the BOO holding company may go bankrupt (which explains why the government would consider a take-over; so we'll pay once again for gigantic criminal mismanagement.)
2010-03-19
Godett's Revenge
Godett is pissed off because in the last elections (a disaster for him and FOL) the western Banda'bao part of the island had only 200 voters for him. He has announced he will do nothing any more for those ungrateful bastards, and all his further efforts will be directed at the rest of the island.
After a deluge of criticism Godett declared "he had spoken the truth, and the truth sometimes hurts."
2010-03-13
Even Money Won't Help
The BOO power plant is in such trouble, that even a financial injection by island government won't speed up repairs. Result is, Isla refinery will not start-up before 3 or 4 weeks have gone by—it's hoped. Ominous words: The plant will not be able to fulfill its contractual obligations for "most of the year." (Fixing BOO will take 4 or 5 months and cost ANG7M. The last day of March, it was announced Isla won't be back on-line before April 15-16, which had by then been postponed to end April.)
The good part of course is, it won't cost us any more money—for now: there is talk of the island taking over the BOO plant.
2010-03-13
Not Much to Measure
Now that Isla refinery has been inactive for weeks, which may go on for much longer, finally a pollution measuring station has been installed. Results will shortly be available from the Curaçao government web site. (I tried the search engine there, but don't bother—no results, just as expected.)
2010-03-12
An Accord!
Godett and Maal have finally reached an accord in the deadlocked negotations about the Oostpunt terrain.
In a nutshell: about half (2000 ha/5000 acres) will remain a conservation area, open to the public, while Maal c.s. can develop the rest of their terrain; 75 ha/18.75 acres will become available for public building; government will pay Maal an amount not revealed, but somewhere between 20 and 50M guilders.
2010-03-11
It's a Start
Finally! There's a law which should make it easier to fine polluters. Throwing rubbish out of a car can result in a maximum fine of ANG500 (~USD275). Private citizens can lodge a complaint when they catch somebody in the act. Problem here may be, nobody likes to do this; then again, the fine is pretty low compared with what schlepping a truckload to the landfill will cost you.
At plenty of locations, you'll find one dirty mess of discarded building materials, old refrigerators and dead dogs. Nice for the tourists—and us.
2010-03-06
Listen Who's Talking!
The Dominican consul-general was clumsy enough to send out a press-communication protesting against the celebration of their national independence day in hut camp bordello Campo Alegre. Most of what these days are called 'sex workers' there come from Colombia and República Dominicana, so it's not easy to understand what the excitement is all about. (The party was a great success.)
2010-03-06
No Free Air
CAP airport holding wants to liberate air policies to attract foreign companies, among which Brazilian GOL. GOL now has one weekly charter flight CUR-São Paulo-AUA-CGH but everybody would prefer two weekly regular line flights. This is not easy to achieve in negotiations with Brazilian bureaucracy.
2010-03-06
Great Timing!
BOO power plant had yet another breakdown just after PdVSA started threatening to stop operations. The entire refinery was left powerless (heh heh). Nobody has any idea how long this will last.
Next day, Isla personnel went on strike. There have been 15 shutdowns last year and re-starting the refinery is a process dangerous to employees. Eight months of protest have not resulted in any satisfactory guarantees for no new incidents.
The strike had one immediate result: stocking the fuel stations was made impossible, causing a rush to tank and even hoard gasoline and diesel.
2010-03-01
Empty Threats—or Empty Barrels?
Now PdVSA is threatening to close down Isla refinery operations because of the US FOL base, after "President Hugo Chávez, who has said the United States is plotting to invade his country, in December accused Curaçao of allowing the Unites States to launch spy flights over Venezuelan territory from the island." [Petroleum World]. People in the know maintain Isla is the best refinery PdVSA has got going (which is almost frightening)—another factor may be the recent court ruling that Isla emission standards must be improved to the tune of USD1.5 billion, even though it's not clear if PdVSA or the Curaçao-owned refinery must pay up.
2010-03-01
Insulting Farce: "Why Bother?"
Every year the Antillean government is supposed to have the budget checked and accepted. Such is the law.
It's only now we get to hear that, shortly, parliament will accept all budgets from 1965-2005. No doubt in one fell swoop, hammered through 21 times; or even just one. What is this but criminal negligence that richly deserves prosecution of all guilty parties?
Including the media who never noticed—or reported it.
2010-02-27
Wind Mills Grind to a Stop
Aqualectra utility recently announced that they will invest even more in wind energy. (They will not tell you that their wind generators near Tera Corá have not been working for at least months and months and maybe for well over a year.) While all over the world investment in wind generators has as good as stopped, especially since the demise of the global warming hysteria, Aqualectra will go ahead anyway. The reason investments stopped is that subsidies have stopped, it's as simple as that. The reason Aqualectra doesn't need subsidies is, they will take it out of us directly instead of via taxes.
Denmark, the so-called greenest of European countries, not only has the highest electricity price of Europe, but has to import nuclear-generated power from France. The UK runs into deep trouble every winter because the wind generators do not work when they are needed most. The much-vaunted Dutch North Sea windmill park went bankrupt in 2007.
Even existing wind parks are not efficient enough to keep working without subsidies: In Kamoa, Hawaiï, 37 of them are just rusting away. On three of the best world locations (in California: Altamont Pass, Tehachapi, and San Gorgonio) there are thousands of abandoned wind turbines. It's getting like Isla refinery: In a couple of years, we may not even have money left to demolish those "green" eyesores. Around 1988 the first trial was installed; now, twenty years later, those obstructing my view have not been turning for at least several months which means an average working life of just over six years.
One consolation is, these will definitely be the last ones. Mark my words.
2010-02-17
Food for Misanthropes
After the children's carnival parade passed through Breedestraat last Sunday, one building had moved for 3cms/1.2" because of the blasted sound blasts. Now, the grand parade of next Sunday will be detoured along another route. There are more old and weak houses along that street.
Of course, nobody considers turning down that insane volume a bit from 120db. Let 'em enjoy going deaf! Public health? Who cares!
2010-02-12
Let That Be a Lesson to Him
But nothing can teach an old God new tricks. Dogett, anyway, now is sorry those Sm*rtm*tic machines have been introduced. Too late now, dummy. Lick your wounds.
Get me right, I don't blame the machines! Why should I... let us blame Dogett!
2010-02-09
Shot in Fot
DP has removed George as their leader, blaming him for their last election defeat. They forget that, before they invited George to pep up their image, they had been without a single seat for about 25 years in island nor country government. I broke my crystal ball yesterday, but still confidently predict that, if they keep this up, another 25 years will pass like that - and nobody missing them either.
Forty DP members later protested that all this was illegal and in disregard of party rules, and are now threatening to go to court.
It was a matter of mere days for the party to relieve them of their functions, after which they wondered if continuing with this party was any use in the first place. They are starting to leave the party, at least one after a twenty-years membership in leading functions.
On February 23, it was announced that George is leaving the party, and plans to keep his island government seat. Finally, he was replaced with Old Faithful [?] Norbert Ribeiro, who came back from PAR.
2010-02-09
Uní den Viktoria [United in Victory] - Discord in Defeat!
First, three parties (MAN, FK and NPA) joined forces for the election in LdK - they got even less votes together than in total last time on their own. Now they want to split up again for their parliament seats, but this turns out to be illegal. Matter of fact, it's downright dishonest - but what can you expect from politicians?
2010-02-04
Clean Diesel: Empty Barge, Empty Promises
Of course, there is no such thing as "clean diesel", but ours contains 500 times the amount of sulfur the stuff in Europe does. Curoil has been promising cleaner stuff since August 2009, but the only thing they got was an empty barge sitting in Schottegat harbor, waiting for the stuff.
2010-02-04
No More Referenda, Please!
Bonaire Gezaghebber has requested the Antillean Gouverneur (both are representatives of the queen) to scratch the referendum law. This law was agreed on by Bonaire island parliament. It's the same old boring story: the politicians do not wish to accept the people's decision as regards their relation with the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
One point is that the law will not permit Dutch
2010-02-03
What's the Use?
It's not unexpected that those guys forming LdK for the last elections have already decided to join parliament as three separate parties. They will not stop cooperating, though. That's good to know. (Unless something better turns up, of course.)
2010-02-01
Politics, Curaçao Style
Brinkman, member of Dutch (Geert Wilders) PVV-party, is among those coming over for deliberations between Dutch and Curaçao parliaments. FK Damoen has announced he does not want to sit down with him at a table, but PAR Jackson thinks Damoen is going too far; after all, we can just ignore him, he says.
In my naïvity, I always thought politics were supposed to bring conflicting viewpoints together. Live and learn.
2010-02-01
Unfair!
As was only to be expected, both LdK and PS (election losers both) are protesting against the way the elections were held. Especially the use of the Smartmatic machines (if I remember correctly, for the third time now.) Says PS Wiels: "We warned before the elections these were no good. 'They' didn't listen to us and look at the result." MAN Coffie talks about "a system that has proved not to function."
The Smartmatic machines were introduced by FOL, who have been losing ever since, but do you hear them complaining?
2010-01-29
Thanks, But No, Thanks
Cooper has announced he will not be a member of the new, last N.A. Parliament [Staten]. He prefers to remain in Eilandsraad island government. I guess everybody agrees with that.
2010-01-28
After the Ball Is Over
FOL minister Adriaens says he's looking for a job - well, he still has his plantation full of illegal or not aliens. Says Adriaens "We hadn't counted on this at all. Godett has been very quiet all the time but still, now this." Maybe people do remember Wechi?
LdK Andrade was waiting to order at at a MacDonald's drive-through window when out popped the head of PAR Castro, who started to insult him with sexual innuendos. Andrade ran into the restaurant and started a fist fight, in which he bit Castro in his arm. Wish I'd been there! But most customers did not agree and left. Both Curaçao-style politicians lodged complaints with the police.
2010-01-25
Elections Over
To keep it snappy, in the last Antillean parliament seats will be distributed as follows: PAR 6, LdK 5, PNP 1, PS 2. From the other islands: Bonaire UPB 2, PDB 1; St. Maarten National Alliance 3; St. Eustatius Dp1 1; Saba WIPM 1.
"That's All, Folks!"
Combining three parties on one list resulted in a net loss of votes for LdK (List of Change; must have taken that from Obama's campaign - now it's too late to be sorry;) PS loudmouthedly complains that it wasn't honest, booh hooh. FOL is out of the game.
Effectively, were this for the country of Curaçao, the island would now be ungovernable - unmanageable! with such a government. Both sides will not concede a micron to the others' view.
2010-01-23
News Flash! (Yawn)
Muslim van Rossum is now on the list of Lista di Kambio. Don't ask me to explain - suffice it to take my advice, don't vote for those... uhh... uhh... well, you get what I mean (it rhymes).
What really gets me about this, haven't these guys noticed how even "African Americans" (if you understand what that means... OK, let it go) by now are totally disenchanted with Assbama and many even think racial relations have suffered a severe set-back because of him? But these guys keep using his has-been slogan! What's the word here, PC or not? Backward? Retarded?
2010-01-20
Don Quijote, Please Call Your Office!
Not only never fails to remind me of his fight against the windmills, also of C.S. Forester's The General: if one company doesn't make it, thrown in a battalion - if the battalion fails, throw in a division! Aqualectra wants to replace the present wind generators with new ones. The Amigoe article is not too clear (may be the press release is to blame) but I understand we will now get 10 generators of 3 mega Watts each. Total capacity will remain the same; between you and me, wouldn't they enlarge it if it's such a success? Good question or not?
The windmills will be eyesores of 125m high with a blade diameter of 90 m. The mind shudders even to contemplate, even without knowing the revolving speed. But not to worry, we'll pay, anyway! At least, the total number of generators will go down.
2010-01-19
Dutch Parliament Does Not Like It
It's no surprise that Dutch parliament members were flabbergasted that fully half of the Antillean national debt consists of government-withheld payments to APNA civil servants pension union. They were told that now it's too late to be sorry and, anyway, they were told about it long since (no doubt in minuscule print hidden somewhere in the mass of paper they were offered for perusal).
I, for one, can feel along with them. Those civil servants, who spent it, should pay up; not the Dutch tax payer.
2010-01-18
Chávez at It Again
To distract problems from his national problems like devaluation, The Fat Dictator is lashing out in the best Goebbels tradition at the enemies without, USA and Holland. He claims a Curaçao-based FOL Lockheed Orion has been intruding Venezuelan airspace. Trouble is, not only is the picture he showed the very first one you find when you Google "Orion"; worse, only E-3 AWACs and E-2C Hawkeyes are stationed at Hato Airport - no Orions, so sorry.
2010-01-15
Wiels "Ripe for Psychiatrist"
Comment by ex PM (be it ever so short) PNP Suzy Römer on PS Wiels wildly suing her and PAR minister Omayra Leeflang for alleged fraudulent actions; probably just to score in the election campaign. My personal feelings are, he's beyond ripe - he's rotten! As the Papiamentu lingo has it, kabé putri - rotten head. (And now Römer is suing him.)
2010-01-14
Stop Stinking or Pay Up
After long and extended fights in court, the appeals' judge verdict is now in: Isla refinery will have to pay a yearly sum of ANG75 million if her average yearly part of SO2 pollution is over 80µg/m3. A last appeal in den Haag is still open to Isla, but meanwhile they will have to conform to this verdict
A measuring station has been placed at Beth Chaim on December 2, not before Isla, no surprise there, had been complaining that it's "impossible" to keep to that norm. Our hearts bleed for 'em, poor babies.
2010-01-12
Tough Luck
Lista di Kambio party has polled the population, and as it turns out the voters are hardly interested in political future anymore. What they want is a stop on higher prices, better education and less government scandals. (LdK claim their raison d'être is to stop future political developments as planned now.)
2010-01-08
One More Party!
PNP Mike Franco and PAR Alex Rosario have announced yet another party! Join the club... the more the merrier. No name is mentioned, as yet. Anyway, they can't participate in the coming election.
2010-01-08
| Search this site powered by FreeFind |
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Licence
