and here they are:
maybe not so funny
refreshing your memory:
the conscience many political clowns lack
a selection of acts in Curaçao's political circus, starting with the most recent ones.
alphabetical searchable list—at page bottom are links to years past.
Politicians are the Nuts and Dolts of Society
come-back of
Statuut-Dag as Koninkrijksdag
well, no...
in
to December 2010 or 2011, but to
2012, or maybe 2013?
so don't blame me for not adjusting that clock once again - I give up
Former Politicians' Promise:
1 July 2007
Politicians can survive sex scandals or fiscal mismanagement,
but they cannot survive being laughed at
Voodoo Science - Robert Park
Maritime flags stand for (from left to right:)
D - keep clear, maneuvering with difficulty.
G - require a pilot.
K - stop vessel instantly.
"Only a nation which is ill at ease with itself, or uncertain of its own identity,
needs to parade its national flag at every opportunity."
EU Referendum
This July, for the first time in what's (for the Internet) a long history,
over 5% of our visitors came from the Netherlands Antilles
This button really was successful:
Literally overnight percentage grew to 7%, then to 11.6%.
Welcome!
Welcome, Tourists... We're Happy to Pay for Your Trip!
Insel Air has recently opened a route to Miami, 4 weekly flights. If you fly from here, it's ANG758 (74 cheaper than American.) But if you fly from the USA,(AA or InselAir) the Tourist Board pays you $100 back! Guess who pays for that 25% discount? We suckers, right; an underhanded way to subsidize a private company with tax money.
Aren't you ashamed to come here as a tourist?
2008-12-03
Anything Goes
Blue Skies helicopters now offer diving trips. After take-off, they first take you under one bridge, fly over the harbor over another bridge, and then drop you wherever you want to go dive. Hopefully, they will not crash while you're out there or at least warn the Coast Guard what they're up to.
Just go and try to get a permit to fly under the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge (about 2 times higher and 6 times wider than ours) or even over the Hudson in New York - let alone under a bridge there. But here, anything goes.
2008-12-03
What Confidence?
PAR deputy Willems, in a meeting on the 2009 island budget, said that it served to maintain "the refound confidence in Curaçao." It might be predictable the opposition didn't follow him there; that's because they have a point. DP George remarked it was copy'n'pasted from preceding 2005-8 budgets that weren't so hot already.
In the country budget deliberations, MAN Eisden chose to take exception to the fact that some ministers spoke in Dutch, not in what she called "the official language" (meaning, of course, Papiamentu, which is one of the three official languages - Dutch, English and Papiamentu. How like her.
2008-12-01
Bad Day at Fuik Bay
Based on what the media, AKA "gossip sheets" told us, we carried an item on the brouhaha at Fuik between owner Willy Maal and trespassing Isla director Jimenez. We managed to get the real facts on this; please check them out. [sorry, not uploaded yet - want to get it right]
2008-12-01
Wheels Whirl in Wiels' Head
December 14, the eve of agreement-signing on our new status, there will be a public concert in Willemstad to celebrate. Wiels has announced he's gonna spoil the party, "because the population is angry." Maybe it will be just as big a hit as his last demonstration.
He must have been reading up on Kristallnacht.
2008-11-30
PayDay
Holland has decided to take over virtually all debts of the Antilles; now said to be 3.1G guilders. As one result, local governments will now, as a December bonus? start paying their bills for contractors, drugstore medicines, dentists - you name it. About time, too. Many have been waiting for years and years.
2008-11-26
Aqualectra behind the Times
So what else is new? At a trade show Aqualectra was distributing their future vision. But some students noticed that vision dated from 2005 (when oil prices were about $50; while they are even lower right now, Aqualectra tries to raise tariffs based on a $170/barrel crude price).
OPEC feels a "fair price" would be $70 tot $90. It's hard to know what they base this on. On December 1 gas-price will be lowered to ANG2.29/liter, still higher than January this year when crude was $84.70.
2008-11-26
Blame It on the Weather
Again, schools had to close and send their pupils home for two days because of big black smoke clouds. Isla refinery manager Gijsbertha says it's just because of the weather, otherwise there'd be no problem: The wind didn't carry the pollution away. Anyway, Isla was working just fine, it was caused by BOO (which, as he and we all know, is largely owned by Isla).
2008-11-20
Instinct Will Tell
A bunch of wasps has attacked FOL Godett so he couldn't make it to the bestuurscollege [island government] meeting.
2008-11-20
Isla Contest
Movementu SI wants to turn the Isla terrain into "Central Willemstad". Apart from the fact this seems over-ambitious, it's extremely doubtful if it is feasible (PdVSA does have a contract for another 11 years) or even desirable.
There are more groups working in this direction, but none of them seems to realize how extreme the pollution at this location must be. If you think you have a solution, contact MSI at 523-1930 or 518-0411. For a project of that scope, the prizes are rather meager (top: A flight to Amsterdam). They want a 3D presentation and for some reason are in an awful hurry: Before the end of this year. They'll get what they pay for.
2008-11-18
Not Fired
Turns out (nobody tells us these things) Curoil manager Capella has not been fired because of "alleged" fraud by his personnel. We only learn it because he announces he refuses to pay the bill of a bureau that has investigated such "alleged" fraud.
2008-11-17
A Purloined Letter?
On the other hand, Asjes, who these days regularly bores us with self-righteous and oh-so socially-conscious letters to Ye Editor, never even seems to have sent an original letter of application for his function at Selikor. Well, he says he has, but Selikor denies it. Whom to trust? An extremely moot point!
Maybe he never sent one, and Selikor managed to mislay it anyway. Anything goes.
2008-11-17
Transparent Closed Doors
MAN Puriel is writing letters to PAR PM de Jongh-Elhage that it's about time she comes above board with results of and more interesting info on the geological search for oil in what, after all, really are "our" waters. "We" have already paid 315M guilders for this, and the follow-up will cost another 311M. But de Jongh-Elhage has chosen the easy way out by being offended by Puriel's first letter (10 weeks ago) and declaring she only wants to discuss the subject behind closed doors (translation: "So much for transparency").
2008-11-17
Tours, Trips & Tips
NPA Rooijer is now asking rather nasty questions about trips made by employees and director of government-owned corporations (there are plenty of those... plenty.) He not only, just like us, is rather interested to learn how much they spend, but also in what good they do. In other words, "what's in it for us."
To get to the exact point, how many there have been per company this year, what they were undertaken for, how long they were and how much has been spent in total. As if anybody could know!
2008-11-17
Selikor Goes in Business
Selikor is negotiating with DAF trucks, Holland, to become their dealer. Find it hard to believe? You'd better believe it!
2008-11-17
Bag Ban
The last plastic bags have been banned. Now even FOL has started to wonder if this is such a good thing. No matter, "everybody knows" plastic is bad.
Or is it? In the first week, standing in line in supermarkets, I noticed twice a customer got a brown paper bag for his purchases. So much for progress!
2008-11-17
A Joke? Revenge?
An envelope containing an odorless powder and the suspicion that this could be the deathly anthrax poison held workers at the tax office of Vaal, South Africa (another ex-Dutch colony), in the grip of fear for several hours.
When a worker opened the envelope, also containing a letter with the words "remember, remember", she was so frightened that she threw the envelope up in the air, causing the powder to fall out and to spread out over a large area.
Police said, it might be a joke, as it happened on Guy Fawkes day, November 4.
2008-11-13
| Reuklose poeier het SARS-werknemers op hol |
| 'n Koevert met 'n reuklose poeier daarbinne en 'n vermoede dat dit dalk die dodelike gifstof antraks kan wees, het werknemers by die belastingkantore vir etlike ure in 'n angsgreep vasgevang gehad.
Die voorval het op Dinsdag 4 November omstreeks 10:00 plaasgevind toe 'n werknemer in die kontant-kantoor 'n koevert met die onbekende en reuklose poeier oopgemaak het. 'n Brief met die woorde 'remember, remember..' was ook daarby ingesluit. Volgens 'n ooggetuie het 'n werknemer die koevert oopgemaak en toe sy die poeier sien, so groot geskrik dat sy die koevert die lug in gegooi het, wat veroorsaak het dat die poeier uitgeval en oor 'n groot area versprei het. VaalWeekblad 07/11/2008 |
Two new fire-fighting trucks were needed (at least, that's what we are told.) Lowest bid was 1.3 million, by Tigris n.v. (that's a river running though Baghdad). The company was exactly 18 days old. 50% was paid in advance, with 25% to follow with assembly in a satisfactory state and the rest after delivery. But somehow, Tigris rep. Witteveen got all the money transferred before building even started - and then disappeared. Nobody even knows if the first payment has reached the factory (if it did, we'd be out only 700K.)
Opposition had a field day asking nasty questions, but as we all know, awkwardly at the time this happened most of them were in power.
2008-11-12
They Should Lower the Price
Aqualectra, in court to force us all to pay higher tariffs, argues that while present crude oil costs $120/barrel, their prices are based on $55.
Actually, though (tip for the judge) prices as of November 7 are $54.77 (OPEC) but for Venezuela crude only $52.96.
2008-11-11
O Yeah? But When Will It Be Ready?
After Etienne van der Horst, citizen, asked BC island government to send him the yearly report over 2006, it took BC some 9 months to reply that "the reports 2003-2006 are not ready yet." No surprise there.
ERNA law stipulates that the report on the preceding year must be ready and available before April 1st.
2008-11-09
Fist Fight in Aruba Parliament
Too bad I can't show you a picture: But after AVP Thijsen had been insulted by MEP Oduber they started a "scuffle" which ended when other MEP members physically restrained Oduber.
(Otmar Oduber; I mention his first name because the Odubers are quite a
2008-11-07
A Fat Lot of Good
FK Damoen asks BC island government what measures they plan to fight the world economy crisis; he wants BC to guarantee a continued flow of tourists. As that same flow is petering out all over the Caribbean, it's hard to see what BC can do about it. Let alone the world economy.
How nice to have a firm opposition that insists on proper steps!
2008-11-07
Plastic Bags Are Tough
Since plastic bags have been banned from supermarkets it turns out, again, that not enough thought has been given to the introduction of the new bags. The supermarket boys who pack your purchases complain their income has been halved, as most people now pack'n'schlepp their stuff themselves.
For the record: People come with their own bought bags: Sturdy (50 cents), durable (2.99), deep-freeze (1.99) and the good old standby, a free cardboard box.
2008-11-04
Wrong Gamble
About the new 2009 budget, DP George remarks that while it does contain a 10M guilders income post for casino "player tax", the law arranging this is not even ready, nor will it be before January. Adds George, "not to mention many other budget problems and -posts for which the realistic content and feasibility are very disputable or, simply, do not comply with rules of law."
The budget also presumes growing tourism, while it is going down.
2008-11-04
Slavery Discussion
At a discussion on slavery at UNA university, where everybody spoke Dutch, two of the forum leaders insisted on speaking in Papiamentu, which the moderator then proceeded to translate. When he made a mistake the speaker corrected him - in perfect Dutch.
Ex PM IJs stated he had never had any wish to wallow in the past; he never had any truck with being a victim of something that had never happened to him; so at an early age he had decided to go to Holland and study there.
2008-11-04
Hurry Up, It's Raining
In the midst of the rainy season, Curaçao farmers are complaining that it's next to impossible to rent a plow; that the drivers of tractors pulling that plow don't know what they're doing; that several plows have broken down (seems to happen every year); and that the farmers can't buy seeds anyway. MAN Koeiman says this can't go on: Crops, cattle and even fences are being stolen as it is. He has been informed a brand-new plow has arrived, but that it won't be available before November 4 when it will be officially transferred .
Koeiman hopes he will get a reply in the four weeks stipulated. By then, it's December 3.
2008-11-03
Taking Their Leave - Really
PAR Deputies Rhuggenaath and Alcalá-Wallé have started resigning as commissary from government-owned companies. Rhuggenaath has 5 of these functions, Alcalá-Wallé 3. Note that PNP Davelaar and FOL Godett (there must be more!) have not announced any such intentions.
2008-10-29
But, Is It Safe?
13 years ago 78% of the people, according to a poll, lived in fear of becoming crime victims. Now it's "only" 47. But 80% has been an actual victim, versus 71% then; only 46% (was 45%) took the trouble to go to the police.
2008-10-29
Smart Thinking
PAR deputy Willem warns that we shouldn't make ourselves over-dependent on one income source: Many Caribbean islands are in trouble because tourism is going down. So he wants to invest more money to attract more tourists. Even if CHATA hotel association is with him all the way, it's hard to see the logic behind his utterances. Anyway, as it turns out there's no money on the 2009 budget. No surprise there; neither about CHATA's complaining we need more airlift from the USA (which has been receding from the market since way back when). Again anyway, next day Willem made a U-turn and said no extra money was available.
2008-10-28
Of Little Help
PAR deputy Rhuggenaath does not accept an American court's ruling that CDM has to pay $80M to their former Cuban slaves. A local judge will have to look at this. Besides, says Rhuggenaath, "CDM doesn't have the money."
Dutch jurist professor de Waart disagrees, though: Even if CDM does not have the money, it is owned by the island - which means the island or, finally, the Kingdom of the Netherlands will have to pay up (with possible repercussions for the debt take-over). Comments de Waart "CDM management was unwise not to appear in court" (they fired their lawyers and claimed the judge was "partial".)
2008-10-28
Compare Our Prices!
In Canada, a 250ml bottle of Calamine lotion costs, say, ANG5.40. Here, you pay ANG17.82 - well over 3 times as much.
2008-10-27
Same Work, Less Pay
Workers for contractors doing jobs for Isla refinery habitually get paid only 50% of what those get who do the same work, but are hired by Isla. (Fair guess: The first tend to be Curazoleños, the last, Venezuelans.)
Opposition feels it's about time gas prices go down again. No such luck until now.
2008-10-24
O-W-T!
Finally, coalition has knuckled down to public opinion and will include an article in new laws to prevent ex-cons partaking in government. An all too rare yielding in of those in power to the wishes of those who gave them power.
Godett didn't like this at all and was very denigrating about the level of discussions. He thought they were all "useless." However, he did propose to introduce the death penalty. Jolly good idea! I have one candidate; first, we do business, then, we abolish it again.
merely because he's an ex-con:
That would be "undemocratic".
Cheap Slavery Comes Expensive
The court in Miami has ordered CDM to pay $80M compensation to three Cuban workers, who had escaped from their slavery-like job.
Possibly, a Curaçao court may have to force CDM to pay as USA courts do not have jurisdiction here, but CDM may be wise enough not to wash their dirty laundry here.
UPDATE: CDM is unwise enough to contest the US decision. They say the US judicial system is "partial". Besides, they don't have the money. We'll see about that. Yes, I know who will pay (you and me), but still...2008-10-22
Told Ya So
Several times: The National Debt is not the grosstimated 2.5 billion, but a whopping 1.5 times that of 3.7 billion.
If not more. Independence, anyone?
2008-10-18
Not the First Lie They Told Us
Aqualectra is celebrating the 80th anniversary. Untrue: The company was set up by Dutch colonial enterprise OGEM (Overseas Gas and Electricity), to be nationalized in 1979 as Kodela and only later integrated (with Enron) in Aqualectra. For the occasion, they will hold a media campaign offering answers to burning questions like "Why keep prices going up in sync with failure rates?"
Ogem and Enron successively went down in quite similar scandals. Coincidence?
2008-10-17
Cruise Tourism is Down; Let's Build Another Mega-pier!
While cruise tourism all over the Caribbean is going down and operators are now pushing other destinations, heavy lobbying is going on to build a second mega-pier in Otrabanda. Truly, there's money to be made on projects like that; look at Dubai!
2008-08-17
What Goes up Does Not Have to Come down
Just like more people in other countries, we are only saddled with energy price increases. But with the oil price plummeting now, the inferior brand of Chavez economy is in severe trouble (and that of his friends in both Russia and Iran). Construction of a $4 billion oil refinery in Nicaragua is postponed, and subsidizing terms for oil exports to some Caribbean countries will be tightened.
Which means that PdVSA will go on needing Isla refinery, and that those who still dream of getting cheap oil deals can now definitely forget it.
By the way, begin October Curoil director Capella stated that gasoline price could be lowered when crude price should drop with another $10. It has since dropped at least $35.
2008-10-21
A Joint Effort Succeeds
Tropical storm Omar and Aqualectra did it again: Hundreds of mains disruptions - contrary to UTS telecommunications, Aqualectra refuses to go for underground cables. One result is that at my friendly PC clinic the floor was covered with a stack of ruined computers.
2008-10-16
Kick Him out! No, Keep Him in!
The ruling coalition has a real problem. Their proposed staatsregeling [say, constitution] omits every reference to keep politicians with a conviction record out of government. Figures, because their one-person (11-10) majority consists of Godett, a convicted crook (for corruption and fraud) who is now deputy and minister. It also figures that the opposition (which for the largest part wholeheartedly collaborated - le mot juste - with Godett in former governments) now want that stipulation in.
2008-10-10
Surprising? Not to Us!
To some people's surprise, in the period 2005-2009 office costs for government are going up with 36% for rent and 60% for supplies. BC expects that with future central purchasing this will go down, but we're not so sure.
2008-10-07
Holland's Groen Links: Close Isla
The Dutch Green Left party proposes to close down Isla refinery without more ado when there's no solution in sight.
They also want to force Curaçao to accept single-sex marriage, and to subsidize sporters so they can dedicate themselves to a full-time career. Evidently, it doesn't occur to them guys like musicians might deserve the same consideration (just one example).
2008-10-06
Vantage and the Unions
It certainly looks like everybody has had a bellyful of Aqualectra. Now Vantage rejoins the club, accusing manager Casperson of "trying to stop publication [of Vantage's audit report] and to force them to change conclusions and recommendations." "We admit never having come across a company culture as the one that manages Aqualectra." Vantage has also sent copies of the report to several Curaçao instances.
The trade unions are also fed up and want to replace all Aqualectra management. Lots of luck - I mean it.
2008-10-02
"Successful" Action
PS Wiels' Aliansa Patriótiko claims they held a successful action called rosea di pueblo (breath of the people - no comment) against the political changes. 100 people joined the action, which helps to explain why it went along so peacefully this time.
2008-10-02
Isla Must Pay
In court, the judge decided Isla refinery must pay €25K for additional research into ways of improving conditions (they can afford it.) Isla thinks they need to invest 180M less than advised by StAB [foundation advise government jurisdiction] and that it all will take 2-6 years to implement; the judge feels differences are too large to be acceptable.
2008-10-01
The Professionals Speak - Which Explains a Lot
Telecommunications trade union Sitcom (I'm not making that up, nor what follows) proposes laying an electricity cable between Venezuela and Curaçao. This cable can be earned back in 3-5 years and will deliver DC, which can be inverted to AC - or so "reasons" Sitcom: UTS phone company has ample experience with transforming AC to DC. They seem totally oblivious of the fact that, for long distances, all over the world high voltage AC is used, for very good reasons.
2008-10-01
SEI Grinds to a Stop
The much-vaunted social economic initiative for which Holland made avalibale 130M to improve conditions, has not had any follow up to speak of. Maybe some people must first figure out how to get a slice in their own pockets.
2008-10-01
Money Leaks Like Water
Utility Aqualectra, now suing the government because they want to raise prices - again - claims leakage loss has been reduced to (are you ready?) 29.9%. That's actually higher than in 2007, but they promise that by 2010 it will be reduced to 20%. Sure:
NPA Rooijer feels that as Aqualectra made a 21.7M profit in 2007 (while they claim that money problems prevented them to stop leakage problems) the company "abuses" the Curaçao population by wanting higher rates now.
Look, you have to reckon like this: The more they leak, the more they charge, ergo, the more money they make.Meanwhile, Curoil complains that, while Aqualectra claims a profit of 27M they owe Curoil a 60M debt which will get Curoil in trouble with PdVSA. Which in turn astonishes deputy Davelaar, who claims that day before yesterday he was informed they had some shortages but could manage all right.
2008-10-01
Godett: Go on Paying Twice
As it turns out, those who lease ground from the government have, just like owners, to pay property tax over that terrain as well. Godett sees no reason to end to that; after all, that would mean "the island will have less income."
2008-09-01
| NO, we have NOT gone orange |
| just to let you know we're out of the game until half October for your sake, hope you don't miss us |
George has had no reaction to his remarks on 12% transport costs (the figure quoted for ocean transport by tanker) between Isla refinery and Curoil distribution company. He now accuses island government BC, Curoil and StIP privatization of "larceny" - they are in a conspiracy to rob the Curaçao people.
George asks PNP Davelaar what steps will be taken to stop this theft and to get back the surplus money paid for many years. He also wants to know who has profited by this dishonest practice. So do we.
2008-09-19
Lottery Loses!
Yes, of the 1.8M Wega di Number [number games] guarantee fund .7 has disappeared. This money serves to cover bets made at "number sellers" (who also pay for it) where you win if your number is the same as the winner of a more official lottery. The former director states it has been used to run the bureau, of which government subsidy was reduced from .5 to .25M - we can only guess per year? - with "4 or 5" workers. One of whom is César Prince, notorious co-director of national airline ALM/DCA when it went bankrupt and yet another "democratic" slotverklaring rejector. So that's where he ended up after his party was wiped out at the last elections!
2008-09-18
Money? Who Needs It?
Of the 130 million made available in May by the SEI Social Economic Initiative "hardly a cent" has been spent. Except, presumably, on the bureau that was set up to manage all that beautiful money.
At the same time, it turns out that the debts that Holland agreed to take over have grown since - if only anybody knew with how much! Only this week a new emission of obligations at 5.5% interest was announced, shortly after finance minister PNP de Lannooy announced next year's budget would be balanced - even 10M in the black as a reserve. There are plenty of reasons to predict that won't be enough. Island government just plain seems to have given up.
2008-09-18
Macaay's Memory Miss
MAN Macaay protests that PM de Jongh-Elhage keeps talking about "our" slotverklaring [final accord] with Holland. Let us remind Macaay that he was a member of the delegation that went to Holland and accepted the accord, only to renege once back here. We also remind Macaay that this is how democracy works; his party was voted out at the last elections. These guys just don't understand.
2008-09-16
BOO: Back to "Normal"
Isla refineries announces the cat-cracker is up and running again. It has been out of service for two weeks, but now BOO electricity plant is back on line.
Makes us wonder why mains disruptions keep going on, with barrios switched off in a regular pattern, traffic lights not working. To be sure, by now that's "normal".
2008-09-16
Juliana Teaches a Little Lesson
Another trade union man who turns politician (PLKP Bakoba started out the same way.) He fits right in with many of the present batch who don't understand what democracy is.
He feels we should have closer ties with Venezuela, as dictator Chavez is busy building up this great economic block in South America. (His sources are different from mine.) I'll spare you the tiresome rest.
2008-09-14
Kura Hulanda Hotel Opens Junkie Rehab Annex
After having been told for years that the hotel had gotten rid of many Otrabanda junkies, making it so much cleaner, now we hear part of it will be turned into a 20-room center for treating High-Class alcohol and coke addicts. The difference is, these guys are rich or they couldn't afford the €600/day (20K total for a month). Clientele is expected to consist of doctors and lawyers, notorious junkies. (Competition for the Scientology Freewind ship, moored just across the street.)
2008-09-14
Which Three?
The Hilton Hotel, planning 132 more rooms over and above the 196 ones it now has, puts the plans on the back burner. It seems that three US airlines have cut Curaçao from their schedules. That's the first we hear about this - how typical. They must have lost their subsidies... Can only be Delta, Continental - who else? Good, solid, info is so hard to come by here.
As I have a valid ticket for AA a week from now, I certainly hope they are still flying.
2008-09-13
Who Cares? They Also Ruined My Airco!
BOO production is not what it's supposed to be, so once again Isla refinery has lowered capacity to 20% - it costs. Well, isn't Isla one of those who was insisting that BOO came? Stupid greed is punished - eventually. Too bad we are punished as well (as usual, too - there's that); exactly in these days when the temperature hits 35º Celsius daily my airco blew up when the mains cycled off and on a couple of times.
Not to mention that night after night around 1 o'clock there's no water, I
PR
Davelaar Agrees
PNP deputy Davelaar figured out Aqualectra must become much cheaper. It took him no more than 3 A-4 sheets, too - a welcome contrast to the fat reports by well-paid 'specialists' nobody ever reads or takes any action to. That should be no surprise, Aqualectra has had one of the highest tariffs in the world for many years now and is complaining that those are based on a crude oil price of $54, and it now is $161. Actually, it's 107 and keeps going down. (more on that)
Davelaar mentions, the first time we ever heard about it, Aqualectra pays a credit-card like interest of 16.75%. This may have to do with the many take-overs, about once every 5 years: From Ogem around 1980 to Enron (remember?) to Mirant to Marubeni - any banker will tell you that those things pay very well to those concerned.
Davelaar also feels Aqualectra, after all a crummy little utility serving less than 150,000 people, doesn't need a top-management of four directors.
As a matter of fact, crude oil price has been less than $30 from 1984 to 2003. It starting going up to $50 in 2005, went up still more and now is on its way down again. Iran may feel that it can't drop below $100/barrel, but it is falling perilously (for them) close to that level again and many analysts feel it may go down even more. The price of $161/barrel Aqualectra quotes is an outright lie, as it never went over $147 (July 11, 2008).
2008-09-07
No Yellow Star
Dutch government thought it would be great to collect personal information on Antilleans (living in Holland, I guess) in a special database. Amazing for a country that went through World War II; but that's so lang ago... DP George introduced a motion of protest to the Dutch government, which was, for once unanimously, excepted as a resolution.
2008-09-07
A New Standard!
During recent Venezuela-Holland combined "fleet exercises" F-16 jets have flown, quite illegally, over Willemstad at a 200m height. For everybody else (except of course Blue Skies helicopters) it's 3000', say 915m. But armies, navies and air forces are notorious for not caring a damn about civilian laws; they just went ahead and did it - try and sue them. Now, PS Wiels proposes to set that noise level as maximum for the carnival Gran Marcha. First question: Has anybody actually measured it? Or how high they really flew? Nobody can even tell me how many F-16s were involved, nor whether they used afterburners - very popular to shake up the civvies a bit.
Remember what went on for months at Hato when they were stationed there, for the FOL base? The pilots made it a sport to play war, taking off and screaming over the airport at some thirty feet high, full power, afterburners on. Drove everybody working at the airport, and then some, nuts. Several requests to their commander didn't help one bit until they were finally threatened with some serious action.
2008-09-07
Wind Change
No, alas, not for our policians' mentality - really physical. You have to know that we have fairly continuous wind from the East, the "Trade Wind". For a few days, happens every year, it hardly blew and came from the West. Several funny effects (depends, of course, how you look at it):
A school that a year ago, with lots of publicity (you bet!) had been renovated and equipped with airco, paid for by Isla refinery that also pays the utility bill, had to be closed regardless because of the stench.
This was not because Aqualectra did another of its famous disappearing acts: They have to switch between barrios every so many hours. This is, they say, because they cannot invest as they are not allowed to raise tariffs, based on a $52/barrel oil price. It's 162 now, they say (it has been that for a week or so, now it's only 107; if it's not an outright lie they don't know their business; maybe both.) But at that time, they already had the highest rates in the world. Besides, it's our own fault: Because it's so hot, the population just uses aircos and fans like there's no tomorrow.
Their publicity finally enabled us to figure out how much those veritable jungles of windmills deliver: about 15 megawatt, say 10% of the total capacity.
And of course, again several of those wonderful tourist-attracting artificial sandy beaches have washed away to sea, smothering another wonderful tourist attraction, the coral reefs. No doubt they will get new sand in time for the next round.
2008-09-06
Food Follies
Skai (another of those acronyms the military and Antilleans are fond of: Skol Avansá Integrá, integrated advanced school) is, as far as I understand, a department of the "humanist" Erasmus college started by author Frank Martinus. They started a new project to teach the kids agriculture. Speeched Martinus that they already have their own windmill for electricity (no fair guessing how much of their needs it covers and against what cost), "now pupils will learn how to grow their own food." Sounds like Prince Charles talking; but then, they both have the same superstitious 1960s philosophy. Martinus also boasted it's the only school in the world teaching in Papiamentu; it has been that for almost 25 years and it certainly looks like it will remain that.
2008-09-06
Race Riots Resolved?
Anyway, after a long time of waiting now 4 people have been put in jail for their role in the recent race riots. "Recent"? it took two full months. Two of them are mini-bus drivers, one even the headman of that tribe (I always avoid riding those things anyway - rather wait for a regular konvoi.) The original cause, before PS Wiels started inciting the mob, was a protest against high fuel prices.
The only good thing about the riots, they were the direct cause of disbanding the Aliansa Patriótiko gang; even that took 6 weeks.
They were both released for "lack of proof".
2008-08-29
Jiminy Jiménez! Wild West in the Far East!
Isla director Jiménez (a cousin of dictator Chavez' wife) thought it a good idea to take two boats and go to the private Oostpunt property of the Maal family for a Saturday picnic. He was requested to leave, but refused as there weren't any "No Trespassing" signs. So Willy Maal turned up 15 minutes later and summarily told him so. Jiménez refused again, saying the paper Maal showed him to prove his authority was in Dutch which he can't read. (The same would go for those sorely missed signs.)
At this point it gets somewhat confused. Maal claims he was attacked by Jiménez and what sounds like a bodyguard, resulting in a bruised hand and a bruised rib. He (then?) pulled his gun and started shooting in the sand. Jiménez indignantly told a 61-year old woman got a burn mark caused by flying sand. (I wonder if you can see it without a magnifying glass.) He then left, but not in a real panic, as he found time to collect Maal's shells to show to the police.
Both Jiménez and Maal have lodged complaints with the police; Jimenez was held for 6 hours and Maal for six days.
To really appreciate this brouhaha, consider: While you may be excused for judging Maal over-excitable, remember that Oostpunt is bugged by a stream of coke smugglers, illegal immigrants and just thugs. Jimenez really conducts himself as a haughty aristocrat in the best colonialist tradition, not bothering to learn the language of the country where he's a guest. He kept yelling "I am the Isla-director", obviously feeling this gives him prerogatives. This got even more obvious as Lawyer Blaauw, who acts both for Maal and Isla, is now told he's lost the Isla account for not accepting Jiménez as a new private client.
Jiménez asks if this a way to attract tourism. Well, Jiménez, this is why some people prefer not to attract tourism.
It's really striking how exactly those politicians who always rave and rant about Dutch [neo-]colonialism want to associate with these Latin-American imperialists.
>Check , not based on mere gossip-sheet stories.
2008-08-29
Cooper Complains
Because there's some illegal building going on at Caracasbaai, which MAN Cooper considers to be 'his baby', he has been calling all official authorities to stop this; and getting no action. Now, maybe, he knows how we feel all the time.
2008-08-27
Doctors Detest Demands
The MDs of the Windward Islands vehemently protest the SVB (health insurance) demand that they take refresher courses of 40 hours per year - sounds like a bare minimum to us - or they lose their license.
2008-08-25
Up to Date
Just a minute ago, a civil servant passed by our house (in a car) to deliver the tax sticker for the car license plate. It was supposed to have been stuck on almost two months ago, July 1st, and paid for in February. Millions have been lost because of crazy malversations here.
While I appreciate the service (beats waiting in a queue for hours), I'd rather have paid less and gotten it at once. Quick estimate: 44,000 of these things have been distribited by courier; to get a machine fixed I have to pay at least 50 guilders to get a truck to my house: At least half a million wasted.
2008-08-25
Olympic Nationalism
We had occasion to see that all the bragging about how the most corrupted games in the world, the Olympics, are supposed to improve "international brotherhood", resulted in a surge of strong nationalism here when 'our' athlete Churandy won silver in some race. PM de Jongh-Elhage emotionally speeched he was "the figure-head, the symbol of success for the Antillean people." Then he was disqualified...
Didn't stop cars showing the Curaçao flag (not Antillean, naturally); UTS communication company gave out 100% extra yacking time free on phone cards bought that day. (They can afford it - wonder it it still counts? I bought some.)
Churandy got his medal anyway, in November - USA athlete Shawn Crawford handed it over because he figured Churandy really deserved it.2008-08-21
Teacher Democracy
Sitek teachers' trade union held a meeting. They did not invite all of their members, and those they did invite only 1 day in advance (rules stipulate 7). No head count was done, but estimates are only 100 of 1500 members were present (to evaluate 2007-2008 and preparing new board elections.) When one member protested, they were shouted down by other members and the president who said it was quite legal, they "had done the same thing in the past." Quite in style for these guys who seem to have the same weird ideas about democracy as some of our politicians.
2008-08-19
Wised Up, a Bit Late
Aliansa Patriótiko has been left by parties MAN, FK and NPA, who all realized that they had lost voters' support because of AP's tactics - to note, inciting race riots and starting fist fights (which caused DP to quit first). The only AP parties now are PLKP (no seat) and PS (one seat). But PS Wiels cries out they're growing!
2008-08-16
There's Oil Below Them Thar Waves!
It's rumored that reports strongly indicate that there may be oil around the island. However, those are kept carefully out of sight. PAR Jamaloodin drops the pearl that "government transparency isn't always possible, circumstances may preclude it." Like when there's money on the horizon for those in the know. We should give the government the benefit of the doubt, she adds, not giving us a reason. I may be a dumb voter, but not that big a sucker - I prefer to doubt the government.
PM de Jongh-Elhage explains that there's a clause in the agreements stipulating secrecy (omitting to say who put that in there.) But as the country parliament Staten will get a peek, no doubt there'll be a leak.
Meanwhile, Isla workers agitate to keep the refinery open. People die all over the island, they 'reason', who is to say Isla causes deaths? Edgar Leito should shut up and pay his Shell-pension to ten downwind families. (There's a contradiction there.) It is claimed Leito has sent a letter to Venezuela Chavez to please dismantle the refinery and shove... no, not that: To take it to Venezuela. Too bad it won't work.
But you can hardly blame the (~900) Isla workers for getting paranoid: They are afraid that, just like in 1985 when Shell decided to close, they will be the last to hear about it.
2008-08-15
Olympic Delegation
We do have some guys participating in the Beijing games, but from what we hear they and their entourage form a much smaller group than the (you guessed it) government reps who made the trip to support them. Says minister Leeflang 'she needs to hold their hands' (not an exact quote, but close enough to make her think twice before suing for defamation.) How unselfish of her! We'd like to know how many times she's actually met them over there. One thing you have to admit, our sporters had great training for the Beijing pollution!
2008-08-15
Tula Nationalized
Tula, one of the leaders of the 1795 slave revolution, has a yearly remembrance day. Until last year, that was organized by a private committee, but minister Alcalá-Wallé found the ceremonies too "superficial" and stopped the subsidies (reason: application was one week late), long after she had already instructed island government organization Kas di Kultura to present their version. Opponents protest that this is only because the former organizers are strong sympathizers of the "complete autonomy" movement. So this August 17, we will have two Tula ceremonies! Ain't solidarity great?
2008-08-12
Now They Tell Us
Not so long ago, CTB came out with their yearly misleading cooked-up statistical report on how well tourism was doing. But CHATA hotel association complains that tourism from the USA has gone down with 3%, while prognosis was 15% up. (Who does these prognoses, and how? Cut open a chicken and watch the entrails twist? Or a spreadsheet - yeah, that must be it!) Nou doubt it will get worse with the fuel prices, CHATA prognoses.
In Aruba, June cruise tourism has gone down with 82% - there's only one cruise-ship still coming there (Adventure of the Seas - better avoid it). We would really like to know about those cruise-ships coming here, as we don't remember getting statistics on that; a bad omen. (USA tourism throughout the Caribbean has gone down.)
2008-08-11
Troubled Waters
Soab government accounting once more repeats their regular complaints that all govermnent accounting is a mess. It figures, because as those "working" there know, that makes for great fishing. No wonder that Soab feels the present financial problems are caused by bad administration.
Soab just now checked the Curaçao 2001 report without according it, and hopes to deal with 2002-2004 this year.
Compare this with the fines the taxman will give you when, for example, you're one day late with your monthly OB sales tax return. One more proof that "our" government works for itself as a separate entity in the country - not for the country. It's not unique, of course - you can say that about Hitler Germany, Stalin Russia, Castro Cuba and Chavez Venezuela. To name but a few.
Last joke is, the government hasn't paid Soab to the tune of ANG2.4M.
2008-08-03
A Heave of Relief
As from next year, the catholic schools will go back to teaching pupils reading and arithmetic in Dutch, not Papiamentu, at a cost of ANG2M/year. Reason is that the government never came through with teaching materials, teaching the teachers or delivering the promised assistance. Típiko!
The teachers' union didn't like it one bit and will "support 8 catholic schools to prove Papiamentu is the best choice once again." Their words. Scientific, it ain't.
2008-08-03
even the abandoned Snip
had a more graceful ending
The End of a Sordid Affair
The last DCA MD82, which had been sitting on Hato airport since 2004 when the company went bankrupt, has been towed to the western end of the airport to be demolished there by heavy machinery. It seems obvious no real effort has been made to sell this still very populair type; which exemplifies the disgracious way the affair has been handled ever since government took over from Dutch airline KLM.
2008-08-02
Asjes' Future Threatened
Arsjes, who has gone to court again to fight the judge's last judgment (ending his Selikor job) now's mad because Selikor has scratched his former function there just so "he can't come back there in the future" if and when he wins his case.
While I feel Asjes sheds mere crocodile tears when he goes on about how Selikor has spent over ANG50M in the past twelve years without public tender, even if he's only jealous his point still is well taken. (I suppose they can miss the ANG132K salary of which we haven't been told if he's paying it back.)
Arsjes threatened he will hold everybody who cooperates with scratching the function "personally responsible." I cooperate! FOØL gang member Rojer supports his boss (Godett, who helped Arsjes to the job) by asking his coalition partner PNP Davelaar nasty questions.
By the way, Schotte is still warming his comfy DROV-seat as far as we all know.
2008-08-01
Feeling the Heat
MAN wants to get wider support for Aliansa Patriótiko. They're looking for 'social organizations', not political parties; let's face it, those are abandoning AP one by one.
2008-08-01
Inflation Record - Gas Price Stays High (Here)
While in the USA and Canada gas prices are falling again after the first scare (and while the price of crude has gone down again with 16% from $145 to 125/barrel - was $100 end 2007) here they remain at the same exorbitant level. Shows once more how much Our Leaders really care about the people's problems. (Inflation over the past 12 months was a whopping 4.6%.)
But in Aruba, inflation was 8.4%.
2008-07-31
Maal Has Had It, Lets Them Have It
After eight years of waiting and getting nothing but promises and committees [not] to negotiate with, Willy Maal is taking the Oostpunt affair to court again. Another instance where we will pay unnecessarily for the incompetence of those in charge.
Maal's views (in Dutch)
2008-07-31
Gesundes Volksempfinden Backfires
Some years ago, Pietermaai was renamed after "Papa" Godett, notorious daddy of the present FOØL party-boss. (Everybody keeps calling it Pietermaai regardless.) Now, the streetname-sign has been renewed after some "ruffians" had damaged it. Renewal went a lot faster than much harder needed repairs elsewhere.
Letter-writer Baselmans proposes to name all roads after that guy, so they'll be maintained.
2008-07-31
Ominous
Utility Aqualectra has been working on a Utility Plan 2020. That now has now been changed to Utility Plan 2030. No Comment (nor is any needed.)
2008-07-30
Always Hard Up?
While the government keeps borrowing money, you can't pay your car tax for the second half of the year before August 8. Reason is, the license plate stickers will not have arrived before then.
2008-07-30
Godett's Bonus
FOØL Godett, while deputy of infrastructure, also is president of UTS telecom (for which he gets a yearly salary of ANG45K.) UTS trade union protests, saying this is illegal and asks gezaghebber to take steps to stop it. Godett, not that this is a big surprise, thinks it's quite all right; "his predecessors also got it" and, which is unexpected, "he even paid income tax on it."
2008-07-30
FK Wises up
FK Navarro, back here after a month, is disgusted with Aliansa Patriótiko's mongering; first NPA Pierrot hit DP George; then PS Wiels incited race riots. FK now considers leaving AP, which DP did already.
2008-07-30
Willem Wised up! Blow Me down
PAR Willem figured it out: You might get a credit from Venezuela to get oil products on the cuff, sooner or later you're gonna have to pay anyway. He thinks it's better not to. We wholeheartedly agree.
2008-07-29
Banana Oil
Some, no doubt well meaning, people in Holland are collecting money to send a tractor to Curaçao, so we can start growing you-know-what to prove our "republic"'s name. First, we have at least one tractor, which you can order from LVV agricultural dept. for a nominal fee. Second, as Duke Ellington used to cry out, "Don't waste it!"
2008-07-29
Close the Refinery - When the Contract Expires
A new Movementu Solushon Isla proposes to close the refinery - in 2019. Not to worry folks, it will then be closed no matter what, and you can quote me: No more oil left to process.
Amazingly, other groups want to keep it going after then! Processing hot air, no doubt.
2008-07-29
Bad Bag Blues
This keeps popping up: Paper versus plastic bags. While everybody agrees white bags blowing about landscapes are a pest and an eyesore, they are not more polluting, no matter how you look at it. So we can stop worrying about that and concentrate on more important issues.
Check out this article; but to put it in a nutshell:-
Making a paper bag uses 5 times as much energy than plastic; 20 times as much water; it weighs 10 times as much and takes up 7 times the space in transport. In a landfill (where neither will decompose) they use up more space as well. Recycling paper takes 10 times as much energy per bag, or 100 times as much per pound. "Increased use of paper bags means an increase in environmental ills including air and water pollution, greater energy and water use and higher greenhouse gas emissions."
And remember, it's you who'll pay for all that.
2008-07-29
Pink Paradise Lost
PAR Minister Leeflang published a letter in which she fulminated against the Dutch for imposing their pro-gay laws, like marriage, on us. Fair warning: If you happen to be gay, don't go for that tourist propaganda that this island is soooo gay-friendly.
2008-07-29
Corruption? "Internal Affairs."
NL PVV Brinkman has asked some questions about corruption in the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba.
About the Antilles, staatssecretaris Bijleveld said she was discussing it with the Antillean government, but she had no formal power to intercede in "internal affairs". She did promise to come with more facts in October on nepotism and conflicts of interest, and that the financial aid would be on condition of several criteria connected with "proper governance". But she wouldn't have an idea on how many cases had recently been in court - those were "internal affairs". She did confirm "corruption is a punishable offence" here. (That's good to know - they had me worried there.)
Dutch minister Hirsch Ballin said about Aruba, there had been several corruption cases in court but he wouldn't know how much money was involved, that was Aruba's "internal affair". Same for public contracts, hiring personnel and working of department of justice: All Aruba's (you guessed it) "internal affairs".
Of course both know damn well all those "internal affairs" are public, and public knowledge.
2008-07-26
Corruption? It's Endemic.
Two guys (Roberto Maldonado and Jason Debrot) working for Curoil, local distribution company for Isla products, took their leave when it became known they had set up their own company to sell products they bought on foreign markets to Curoil. Curoil said they knew all about it, but this was a quite usual way for them to do business - which explains a lot. They only got disgusted with the guys when a Panamá dealer seized two cars and one yacht belonging to them, because they omitted to pay his $1.4M invoice. Curoil first did not want to prosecute the guys and says they 'didn't lose any money' because of this; after all, they sold (to us) with a profit; no matter that it could have been higher.
After DP George started asking nasty questions about what's now called 'Curoilgate', Curoil fired director Capella and may sue for unrealized profits estimated at $287K.
Next thing you knew, Joost Pronk announced that, after all, there is clean (low sulfur) diesel fuel available on the island! One of the fired duo "told him so himself." I guess that makes it true. Seriously, last year Curoil promised they'd start selling clean diesel early this year. As it turns out now, they do sell clean diesel to Santo Domingo - and they buy it in Panamá cheaper (including transport) than from PdVSA/Isla.
2008-07-26
Hurt Them Where They Feel It
Again, RD Lampe's car has been damaged on the parking place of the Aruba parliament, where he's a not very popular opposition member. Lampe "suspects" governing party MEP is involved; he feels the money now spent on luxurious interior decorating might better be applied to protecting the premises.
2008-07-26
Dead Dolphin
Another Seaquarium dolphin died, Nemo, # 7 in what's promising to be a long list. Not to worry, though, the remaining lot will make more hours to ensure therapy will go on as usual.
It's a never-ending source of wonder to me that the same people who rave about dolphins being so smart and almost-human tend to be the very ones that love to keep them as slaves.
2008-07-24
Guess Who Pays for Tourism!
It turns out that the airlines flying to Curaçao all get guarantees if they are not full to 60% capacity. Lion's Dive hotel manager Will Vogel figures it all out in a letter to Amigoe editor:
| airline | flights/week | seats | à USD | Total |
| American | 7 | 1036 | 52 | 53,872 |
| Continental | 1 | 124 | 52 | 6,448 |
| Delta | 1 | 154 | 52 | 8,008 |
| Total per week: | 68,328 | |||
| Air Jamaica | 4 | 500 | (estimate) | 20,800 |
| InselAir | 4 | 800 | (planned) | 39,736 |
| JetBlue | 3 | 800 | (invited) | 15,600 |
| total capacity | 139,464 | |||
| total guarantee | 83,928 | |||
| yearly | capacity | 177,528 | guarantee | 4,364,256 |
| US visitors | maximum ever | 45,000 |
A pity Vogel doesn't make clear if this is paid by CTB (or, island government). I'm pretty sure that it is not paid by CHATA.
Meanwhile, CTB is also insisting we need more hotel capacity...
2008-07-24
Very Ironic
One day after the USA court session on CDM slavery became public, MAN Eisden thought it opportune to blame the Dutch government once again for the slavery in the past, claiming it had to do with "bagatellising Curaçao people's right of self-determination" and referring to "UN-treaties accorded by Holland."
First, her own party was a government member while those Cuban slaves worked here for a government-owned company (which Holland ended effectively); second, the UN has let it known repeatedly that the treaties are respected by Holland.
After having seen the trailer (!) for a documentary on the affair, newspaper Amigoe judges it is more anti-Castro (than anti-CDM?) and seems to agree with CDM management that the trio was just "looking for a way to escape from Cuba." We, only now, at least know 100 Cubans were at work at CDM.
The judge explicitely said that one of the reasons CDM will have to pay heavy fines is that the management has not deigned to appear at the sittings.
2008-07-24
CDM Slave Case in Miami Court - Management Manages Not to Show up
Now it's coming out in the wash. Cubans sent over to work at Curaçao Dock (under the supervision of Castro's wife's nephew) were supposed to get $1500/month for 112 hours/week, but instead received 12/day - as a food allotment - plus $18 month in wages. Normal wages would have been $6.90/hour. They also got board and lodging - where they were forced to stay all the time.
The balance was used to allow Cuba to pay off its debts to the Curaçao government; the very same guys who now are complaining about neo-colonialism and the return of slavery. This cosy affair was broken up in July 2007 after Holland stopped giving Cubans visa to work at CDM. Yet another colonial intervention in our internal affairs! Castro's nephew, bomba Manuel de Jesus Bequer Soto Del Valle, "a Nazi", then sued CDM (he'd probably become superfluous) and was recompensed with $125,000 in damages. I guess [NOT] it was used to pay off Cuba's debt.
The management of CDM declined to show up in court and their attorneys have asked the court to allow them to be removed from the case, citing "irreconcilable differences" - a very rare thing for attorneys to do. The workers' attorneys assert Curacao Dry Dock is trying to dodge the case -- and a financial judgment against the firm -- by not cooperating in the suit.
After the USA court pronounces judgment, the case will probably move to Curaçao court, as the USA have no jurisdiction here. That could be fun!
Nice tidbit: Cuban government and the Curacao Dry Dock company may have formed the joint venture to skirt the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba. Final sordid detail: the escaped Cuban's attorneys claim revenge is taken on those families remaining in Cuba by refusing their children access to day care and higher education. ¡Viva la Revolución!
Our information comes from The Miami Herald who gave it much more attention than our own newspapers.
Verdict (August 7): CDM, after having 'conspired' with the Cuban government, will be held responsible for the Cuban workers' damages. May well result in CDM having to pay millions of dollars. Like the Dutch are wont to say, "count out your profit."
2008-07-23
Godett at Statistical Loss
FO
Farmers who work hard for a living should be exempt from taxes, he feels. Well, we all work hard for a living, Godett; then we pay taxes to support all those politicians who (he got that one right) do not do any real work.
2008-07-23
Not Wanted by Police
The Customs Dept., always on the alert for cocaine smugglers, would not mind use of a helicopter to intercept beach landings, but doesn't want to pay for it alone. But minister of justice Dick is not enthusiastic at all. Maybe because his department has had experience with helicopters in the past.
2008-07-23
Jolly Good Idea!
"The Ivory Coast government is halving the salaries of its ministers to pay for a reduction in the price of fuel" and "the managers of state-owned companies would also have their pay cut in half, to pay for a 10% cut in fuel prices." "Overseas trips by government members would be reduced to a 'bare minimum'" (all our country government trips are overseas) - "running costs and investments in government departments would also be cut."
"Having heard the people's cry from the heart, the government has decided to cut the price of fuel," PM Guillaume Soro said. (BBC 2008-07-21) Which explains why it won't happen here. Just like this.
2008-07-22
That Might Explain It
PAR Deputy Jesus-Leito complains that the opposition is never present at the meetings of the Committee for Political Structure [staatkundige structuur]. But DP George says they never get the information they request, so what's the use of sitting there as a dummy?
George gives PAR PM de Jongh-Elhage one week to explain why the advice by Raad van State (on financial supervision) leaves out fundamental and politically sensitive matters from the concept. He joins many of us when he says he's disgusted with the 'mendacious, manipulative and intimidating actions' of island and country government. Finally, he feels that there is a conflict of interests by having Frank Kunneman as a committee member. De Jong-Elhage denies all this and gives George one week to show proof, but fails to show that concept-advice.
George's reaction was to request governor Goedgedrag to take steps for guaranteeing Raad van Advies' integrity. PAR Willem says George doesn't get it, "it doesn't matter how many functions you have, but how you handle them."
2008-07-22
"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed - and hence clamorous to be led to safety -
by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary."
(H.L. Mencken)
Wiels Shows How Much He Knows
Wiels is against the governor, as the queen's rep., being a member of the Antillean Raad van Advies [advise council). Says Wiels that in Holland the queen may well be a member of the Raad van State, but Holland "has a monarchy for which it chose itself" - showing once again that most of the time he doesn't know what he's talking about. Not that we needed more proof.
2008-07-21
This Is Getting Boring
Of the 539 job appointments by bestuurscollege [island government] between 2003-2007, there is hardly a single one that conforms to correct procedures. Anyway, theoretically there was a personnel hiring stop in force during that time. Just like now. Present BC has decided it will stop the practice of helping ex-members to lucrative jobs. O Yeah?
2008-07-20
Tourism: What's in It for Us?
Building of that giant Renaissance hotel on the Otrabanda Rif is a year behind schedule, because of delays by Manhattan (USA) building contractor. Not only does Manhattan have a tax holiday, they thought they'd make some extra money by selling those import-duty free materials to a local contractor, Betonbouw, raided by Customs officials to check this. Again we ask bewilderedly, why are we supposed to pay all those taxes, but not the tourists? Aren't we supposed to make money on them?
2008-07-18
Space Sickness
Some bright guys from Holland want to start a Caribbean spaceport here, where they plan to offer trips in space. I am sure that the well-known risks to your health will not stop them from getting some foolish customers; on the other hand, the price may pose a limit.
Let's look at this in detail, lifted from their web site and a presentation held here to crimp investors.
Space travel could "possibly be possible" two years from now.The trip would go up for one hundred kilometers (just fine to get a massive dose of cosmic radiation) and return after 4-8 minutes of weightlessness. Total time 3 hours (about 1/30th of this spent up there, vomiting: "Also known as 'the vomit comet,' KC-135's are used to simulate weightlessness. The plane soars to high altitudes, then falls back toward the ground, giving passengers a few seconds of zero-G experience" - 911 myths. What fun!) Price $150K-$250K - who knows; anyway, surely stems from before the recent energy price problem. Don't forget either, all space travel turns out to be at least 4-10 times as expensive as originally
First phase investment $150M. "Aw, that's peanuts for some people" the promoters wishfully think; makes one wonder why they come search over here with things so tight. (Nobody shared their fresh enthousiasm.)
They want to use Hato airport with its long runway and other facilities, "which are not present at other locations." Huh? The space craft does not make much more noise than a Boeing 747, they claim, conveniently forgetting to mention how much more and which 747 (the 1970 models were well over twice as noisy than the latest).
TU-Delft has done feasibility studies; it's technically possible and there are sufficient potential customers. These at least have to be millionaires or have a yearly income of $250K. There are 9.5M of that species all over the world, and 12% of those may well be interested ["is wel geïnteresseerd"]. That's 100,000 potential customers (we figured that out, they somehow forgot to mention it - but, realistically, how many millionaires would spend one quarter of their possessions on this? and how many guys a year's income?); this total clientèle has to be shared with similar projects in Dubai, Sweden and California USA. Hmmm...
I have given this fruit of the loop more attention than it deserves, as it's a hobby of mine: There's no place for humans in space. Much to my regret, in more ways than one; but not surprising at all seeing where we evolved.
2008-07-16
Come Home, Kids... Please?
Remigration is a subject that has been popular for many years (except with remigrators); now MAN Eisden brought it back up. Many subsidies have been spent on it (I did sound engineering for at least one tv-movie on it myself) without any business resulting. Small wonder; after those Antilleans got out and wised up they prefer to stay out. For some reason (hint: read on).
2008-07-16
Is That News?
Newspapers published that in May island government has spent 13.7M more than budgetted for (18.3% over - compare with next item), which was ANG80M in the red already; so now that's over 94M as 0.5M less came in. Total debt grew to 2,9G. It may not be new news, but it is bad news.
2008-07-16
No More Eggs... No More Nuffin'
The government in all its imposing wisdom has decreed that the profit margin of sellers to the public is reduced from 11% to 5%. (How they will control this isn't very clear). The supermarkets do not like it and will, in protest, stop selling "fresh" eggs. They call 'em fresh; it's hard to find one that won't stand upright in a pan of water (a stance to jump out?) when you boil it. The price of eggs went up from 2.95 to 4.95 a dozen, just like that, about a year ago. This more or less coincided with a lower feed price as agents were allowed to import foreign chicken feed, with the final demise of Continental Milling. The story is that government economic affairs does now allow a higher margin on egg production. Result is that about half (30,000/day) of produced eggs remain unsold. Egg producers are pushing for a retail price of ANG6.95/dozen (plus 5% sales tax) - USA retail is the equivalent of 6.66, but quality there tends to be appreciably higher. Egg producers complain imports are sales-tax free.
Meanwhile, a group of well-meaning but badly-thinking guys wants to stimulate our agriculture: "We must produce more food of our own." Please. What a waste of effort and energy.
2008-07-16
Ready, Five Years Late - Now, Start All Over Again?
The Isla Refinery Upgrading Program is finally (almost) finished, five years late. Too bad they will now only fulfill stipulations that are 25 years old; times have changed and requirements have become rather more stringent. Then, the amounts of sulfur could still be much too high anyway acoording to those old stipulations; the judge is looking at this.
All this has cost ANG560M. If you figure that, as it seems, the refinery could save 6M a year by not having to burn all that sulfur in their crummy installations, if they had been on time 30M would have been earned back already. It has been paid by the island and Isla, read: Us.
2008-07-13
Copppal: Questionmark
We have been wondering before what Aliansa Patriótiko thought to achieve with enlisting Coppal's aid in their intrepid struggle against colonialism. Dutch foreign minister Verhagen agrees with us here. The UN decolonization commission only considers correspondence by governments (tough if that is a - legal - colonial government, of course), so there's not much Copppal can do. I thought so all the time.
Apart from this, did Coppal listen to anybody else but those Aliansa Patriótiko hotheads before deciding to storm the UN building?
2008-07-13
This Can't Go On
Even the eternally optimistic tourist bureau CTB warns that the 40% higher number of visitors this year viz. last won't grow much higher. They even foresee lower number later this year, as well they might - what with oil prices boiling over out of the barrel. They try to get more Brazilians over here. Most visitors now are from Holland and Venezuela. Not many words about those USA-visitors staying away in droves, even if the Miami tourist office is the most expensive CTB has - for all we know, which isn't very much.
By the way, a week later we read cruise passengers rate Curaçao 16 on a list of 18. Efforts to build another cruise terminal in Caracasbaai will not be stopped by such facts.
2008-07-13
Wiels Won't Shut Up
They took his radio program away after the race riots, because he was calling the coalition partners "thieves and prostitutes" (not puta=whore), so now he's going on with them on his PS party website.
FOL Adriaensz regretted that our judges held up the freedom of expression guaranteed in our constitution; 'they judge according to European standards' (read: not following politicians' whims as is more usual around here), so the only way to shut up Wiels was to threaten taking away the station's license.
2008-07-08
About Time, Too - Two
The coalition, in power for over a year now (equals 1/4 of their total period) has finally seem fit to present their program. No, that's wrong - they say it's ready, but it has not been sent to eilandsraad.
2008-07-08
About Those Prices
All over the world, all sorts of prices are going up. Unavoidably, here as well. But look at this: A supermarket reprices obviously old stock, making it 6.5% more expensive. It's worth their while because they underpay their personnel: That good old mining town island economy.
To mention in passing, the can was marked 2006 as last year of consumption.
2008-07-06
Wiels Rocks the Boat
That nobody is all bad was shown by PS Wiels' proposal that all deputies who are members of eilandsraad [island parliament] as well, must relinquish their functions as chairman or director of government-owned companies. This because they cannot lawfully vote on those companies' budgets. Four deputies are in this position, and the coalition would be in trouble if they had to go. Good thinking, Wiels! Surprising! (Or did somebody whisper in your ear?)
This should have been obvious years ago, but who would rock the boat then?
2008-07-05
Megalomania Up in the Air
While Curaçao had a police helicopter for some years and got rid of it (they couldn't settle the bill) there is talk again of renting a thing like that from Blue Skies, driven by Rob Tielen. He also had the luminous idea of going up every morning and giving traffic reports - as he said, Caracasbaaiweg and Gosieweg are congested each and every morning. Sure, we all know that. A fat lot of good (except to his wallet) it will do to have him report on it - where else can the poor
Times are hard, sure. For us all, so consider. In Chicago, "David Bayless, spokesman for the 13,600-officer Chicago Police Department, said [...] helicopters wouldn't pay off." (Chicago city has 20 times our inhabitants on 1.5 times the area). I rest my case.
2008-07-04
Great Public Circus Performance, "Free"!
Yes, all celebrations on the "Day of the Hymn and Flag" were free (not counting the tax payers' contribution, but nothing special about that.) In contrast to years past very few cars were adorned with a flag. People are wising up? All politicians held speeches spouting their particular hobbies; only DP George (continuing a growing tradition) wasn't there because 'he didn't want to affront the public by playing the hypocrite.' Regular letter-to-the-editor writer Donker next day called PLKP Bakoba, PS Wiels, MAN Cooper and FK Navarro 'The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse' and pointed out their racism (he forgot fifth wheel NPA Pierrot). Stanley Brown who has been promoting a part-of-Holland status for Curaçao (after being involved in the 30 May 1969 riots) writes it's all racism - just like in 1969; which, oddly, he then pronounces to be a good thing, still!
Speaking about tax, to celebrate the occasion last year,
By the way, what happened to all those flags that we were supposed to get free four years ago? Well, free... they had been paid for with .6M of tax payers' money. They were later sold in hardwares and supermarkets - can't help wondering who raked in those proceeds.
2008-07-04
Talk about Chutzpah
Alianso Patriótiko published an article in which they blamed all race riots not on Wiels' inciting speeches; no, on the coalition, because they had accorded financial supervision for the government. (See Wiels' style for yourself).
PLKP Bakoba (after announcing his retirement years ago, since then voted out by the people) advised us to fly the flags at half-mast on today's "Hymn and Flag" day. Not because it's so sad these riots broke out; no, because the coalition accorded government supervision. All very promising.
When will those asinine politicians finally wake up to the hard fact that it's exactly fascist Vollkslied und Fahne worshipping that stimulates racist feelings? Not to mention the Volkssprache.
Remember Wilhelm Tell where the people had to salute some guy's hat?
2008-07-02
A Little Pollution - Who Cares?
The case of inhabitants breathing the pollution from Isla refinery came in court again yesterday. This time, Isla claimed that SO2 pollution wasn't so bad, really; they supported this by quoting wind factors different from those published by the Meteo service.Isla then asked for yet another report.
SMOC lawyer In 't Veldt felt time for reports was over and it was now a matter of conforming to requirements.
Isla would make $500K/year if they took the trouble to implement a Sulfur Recovery Unit (takes 10 weeks) improving efficiency from 65 to 68%; just never took the trouble even if it would result in acceptable figures. Same for the Sour Water Stripper, but extra profits there "only" $300K/year; makes their attitude very hard to understand.
Isla claims they couldn't use higher grade fuel, nor an additive to the cat cracker costing $2 or 3M/year (not very precise, that), 1% of their yearly profits.
The judge found Isla might have come a bit sooner with some proposals, than on the last afternoon of an 18-month procedure. He will pronounce judgement on August 11 (after getting more meteo-info), without waiting for yet another proposal to be presented on August 30. Isla also refused to answer several pointed questions on their former explicit statements that they would be forced to close down when they would have to clean up their act.
2008-07-01
"Some of Our Best Friends Are White"
After the race riots, gezaghebber (technically chief of police) Lindial held a speech about what a shame it all was. Among the pearls that sprang, toad-like, from her lips was the remark that we all had some white friend; and that (are you ready?) even some white Curazoleños now are afraid to go out on the streets.
Being curious, I checked. The city of New York has 1 (one) police commissioner - we have 6 (count 'em: six); that's almost 55 times as many per head.
2008-06-30
Race Riots Bring Back Fond Memories of May 1969
Before the Algemene Maatregel van Rijksbestuur [for financial supervision of our government] was accorded by the coalition, the opposition had its say, supported by an angry mob of supporters outside the building. They were against, making clear that their beloved autonomy wants to go on spending. Champ was PS Wiels, who not only loudly called for civil disobedience but proceeded to predict "war in this country if this goes through." He managed to make a nice start the same day:-
After newspapers first wrote that the riots at island goverment building had fudzed out, next day it turned out that later in the day the mob started throwing stones, bottles, traffic signs and even a molotov-cocktail (which failed to explode), while traffic was molested, cars turned over, power cables cut. As always, mobbers tried to seduce police into hard action to show that footage all over the world. It didn't work.
All very much like the muslim riots in France, which have just been getting underway for the season.
Later at night a group of (Dutch, white - yes, that's important in this context) students gathering in a bar was attacked by a mob of about 60 throwing stones, firecrackers and "liquids from jerrycans". (The same happened in another bar fairly far away from there. One male suffered a fractured skull.) When it was all over, police turned up to write out reports. The mob's slogan was "Nos ke saka tur makamba for di Kòrsou" [we want to kick all (Dutch) honkies off]. At least it made clear what Wiels' and consorts' real problem is, completely refuting his protestations. One does wonder if this gang of ruffians will, yes, 'discriminate' between Dutch and tourist honkies.
It took a month for the police to arrest one (1) of the stone-throwers.
Several deputies and counsellors went to the police and denounced Wiels for 'insults, intimidation and threats.'
2008-06-28
Please Reverse Charges
The EU wants all inhabitants of the Netherlands Antilles to vote for Dutch parliament (in Holland). Fine. How about giving the inhabitants of Holland the same rights here? After all, Our Leaders insist on everybody having the same rights all over the kingdom, and fair's fair.
2008-06-26
Brinkman Confirmed
Once POK was safely over and done with, Bijleveld confirmed (in Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant) that Brinkman was quite right: Corruption is rife in the Antilles and the St. Maarten situation is "precarious".
Friday - Robert Heinlein
Keep on Trying
Not so many years ago, island government accorded the EOP [island development plan] in which, among other things, a number of terrains were set apart for conservation.
(One of those was Oostpunt, owned by the Maal family, which was declared out-of-bounds for development; next thing the government started charging property tax for something that had become valueless in commercial terms. But that's another story.)
Time and time again, when a developer casts his beady eye on some property, conservation turns out to be less desirable then cash money is, and politicians will eagerly aid and abet so the area will be developed; especially if their name is Godett. Like the Aqualectra wind mills producing energy. Now, it's at the Jan Thiel tourist developments, which feel they need still more built-up areas. As always all over the world, once some real estate has been declared a natural conservation area, the struggle is not over by a long way; the efforts by project developers to nibble away at them will never stop.
Looking at the drawings presented by Halabi, it seems pretty obvious that he instructed his architects not to bother with EOP restrictions - he'd fix that.
Amigu di Tera [Friends of the earth] has started a protest against this, which you can join by sending them an e-mail at amiguditera@gmail.com with the subject "Jan Thiel". Sorry, only in Dutch.
You can also sign a petition on-line (English).
Almost 5000 petitions were signed and presented to gezaghebber on July 25. This is an extremely high number for Curaçao.
As it turns out, the civil servants pension fund APNA was owner of the terrain involved, but Halabi sold his option to Dutch developer Breevast. Development costs >200M and will be financed, in part, by Korpodeko (set up to finance small business) and other government money. A heavy smell of fish permeates this project.
2008-06-25
SMOC Starts Suing in EEC
SMOC is now suing PAR minister of health Leeflang at the European Court of Human Rights for not having taken action to protect children against the deadly pollution by Isla refinery. SMOC's George says they do no wish to wait until all court delaying actions have been exhausted by country and island government, Isla and PdVSA.
2008-06-25
Rats Come Back on Ship
Another ex-con and deputy, MAN Benny Demei (as far as I know, no relation - certainly not in spirit) wants to come back to restart fishing in our waters, as those may be getting troubled enough for him. Demei is bragging he will stimulate our economy; he "brought sports betting to Curaçao which resulted in 2000 jobs" - an insolent lie: It resulted in him losing his deputy-ship and doing time in jail.
Demei also was the man who took along a director of Aqualectra to a USA conference on "zero energy"; a wild perpetuum mobile like idea to produce free energy at no cost with no input, based on quantum physics theories which he could not understand.
Trash Megalomania
Our trash utility has published a book on its extensive history: They are fully 12.5 years old.
There must be pots o' money in the trash business.
2008-06-24
Minetown Economy
Elsewhere, you can find my reports on the soft-drink battle. Here's an update: Until last week, a Venezuelan 2 liter bottle of Coca-Cola cost ANG3.25; it has now gone up to 3.95/$2.17). Don't try to explain to me that the Venezuela Bolivar exchange rate or transport costs have gone up - some supermarket owners had a friendly get-together at the Portuguese Club over the week-end and figured the market would bear it. Of course: where else can you go?
A Curaçao-made bottle, which used to be what a Venezuela bottle costs now, "coincidentally" simultaneously, went up to ANG4.95/$2.89. Meanwhile, inflation in Venezuela is over 30%, so for us the price should have gone down to about ANG2.17.
This morning, I shipped some negatives over by UPS to the USA for scanning. I had to pay a fuel surcharge of ANG23.60/$13.11. The US company will now refund what I prepaid for shipping from Hoboken NJ: $9.17. Total.
There is a lot to be said in favor of price controls; which doesn't mean government costs don't need some reigning in. Whoa!
2008-06-23
Refinery Free to Pollute
In the latest round in court, island government had a rather original argument: The Nuisance Act can never be applied to Isla refinery as regards SO2 output, because everybody knew damn well all the time that it was impossible for them to comply. (Too bad they forgot to put that in writing.)
Meanwhile, the situation has changed because bestuurscollege [island government] has signed the SEI, promising to make Isla comply. Why they should have committed such a rash act may be as much a question to themselves as to us.
MAN Cooper has been rebuked by PAR because, as an Isla worker and a people's rep, he is not allowed to go about making propaganda to sell the refinery to PdVSA - lock, stock and barrel or otherwise.
2008-06-23
My Chance to Make Some Money?
Is what I thought when I read there'll be yet another commission, now on the so-called "democratic deficit" - after all, you only have to read these pages to see why I would be a real expert there!
But alas, it's not on the deficit I keep going on about (that the government does what they want without caring one bit what we want;) nooooh, the deficit is that the island politicians feel there is no control of the kingdom's ministers by chosen people's representatives.
Too bad - no easy money will be coming this way. Gee, I keep wondering what they pay those commissions.
2008-06-23
Another Way of Looking at it
DP George, long since having stepped out (or having been kicked out) of Alianso Patriótiko has his own view on the Slotverklaring (under POK discussions) that same AP is so strongly against: If the situation here indeed is so bad, according to the Statuut Holland is obligated to do something about it. On the other hand, the Antilles have no guarantee that Holland will keep its promises as those have to ratified by Dutch parliament in which we have no say.
2008-06-23
They Never Told Me That!
Brinkman's blog on the present POK talks is replete with interest, even if you don't agree with him. For regular Circus visitors, not much news there, but this was news to me: Pensioned Antilleans can get rid of all future income tax payments by paying 10% of their income in one year - that's it. Normal income tax itself is well over 10% of your income. Makes one wonder what one, or Brinkman, knows.
2008-06-20
Racism
PAR Education minister Leeflang, in a letter to Amigoe editor, points at the racism spread by Aliansa Patriótiko, a combination of opposition parties whose main common characteristic is they want to be free of Holland; thankfully, they can't agree on very much else. This is worth delving into in some more detail.
Dirty pink to light brown, depending, myself, I was born here and in my school years thus was considered to be a yu'i Korsou; then in Dutch a landskind [child of the country]. Now, you have to be koló skur [dark colored] to be one, even if no politician as yet dares to come right out and say so; after all, many members of their own parties look white to the casual observer. With the fine disregard for history you'd expect from those guys, they say that the island belongs to "them" because "they" were here first. Firstly, they were not - the Europeans took 'em here much against their wishes; secondly, since when has this been an historical "right"?
2008-06-20
Schooling Stupidity
Now that youngsters must be at school until they're 18 years old, parents find out there are not enough schools to absorb their children. Another proof that many of our 'policy makers' didn't pick up much when they were in school.
2008-06-20
Now, It Can Be Done?!
All of a sudden, an island delegation has hurriedly departed for Caracas to meet with oil bosses and discuss the refinery problems. Until a short while ago, we were told it was impossible to execute those necessary improvements; but now it gets serious, so maybe it is possible after all. Not that this lowers Isla's credibility: It was zero long since.
2008-06-18
The 2 Rs
Yes, only 2, because NPA R. Rooijer shows once again he doesn't have an inkling of Arithmetic. The supermarkets must lower their prices to help the poor poulation out: "Their profits increase when prices go up." Renfred must be too dumb to realize that the same goes for the 5% sales tax, import duties, profit taxes and... you know, all those things that result in more government money.
Not to mention that it's impossible to have the supermarkets lower their prices, as RR seems to ask, for only the poor sector of the population.
2008-06-18
Transparent Discussions in Private
In the new meetings on future politics between the Antilles and Holland, the Antillean politicians insist on private discussions with no press present. I suppose this is all in the interest of the "transparency" they like so much (to talk about). They, for once as one person, say they won't pay attention to Brinkman's list, but the chairman has announced this will be not be so easy; he can't guarantee that the Antilleans won't get involved (like earlier this year) in such heavy quarreling that they can only save their face by leaving the meeting in protest - a regular habit for our so-called politicians. But, contrary to their act, they have read Brinkman's document and harbor (and stevedore company) director Lopez Ramirez is suing him. And at least one newspaper gives extensive daily quotations of Brinkman's column.
These meetings are titled POK, Parlementair Overleg Koninkrijksrelaties [parliamentary discussions on kingdom relations]. So now you know.
2008-06-18
Boring Old Story: Incompetence and Worse
While the container harbor should be one of the pillars of our economy, most ships now prefer to use Aruba. Firstly, our harbor workers have an 8 hour workday, so ships have to spend valuable time in harbor overnight. (Those workers are united in a trade union inherited from Godett's father, a guy even more notorious than his kids.) Then, most of the cranes are out of order - just like at CDM Curaçao Dock shipbuilding yard.
2008-06-18
Commission Controversy
DP George counts 14 permanent commissions in eilandsraad [island parliament]. Of these, only four have been meeting at all during the past year, of which one has had only one (1) meeting. George feels they should be abolished.
What! And give up that extra recompensation? As I remarked before, and again, "Gee, I wonder how much those commission members get paid?"
2008-06-16
Economy Not So Great?
This came earlier than we figured, but Rhuggenaath's optimism about the growing economy turns out to have been premature: Inflation over May was 0.8% compared with April, bringing the yearly figure to 4.2%.
2008-06-16
Now, Experts Agree
Papiamentu's phonetic spelling is complicated, clumsy and a handicap in using it in education (and, I may add, anywhere else) say the people who publish Papiamentu-Dutch dictionaries: It should be discarded in favor of an etymological spelling.
The only problem I have with this is that those guys seem to think inconsistencies in spelling systems are avoidable. They're not.
2008-06-16
Rèspèt-Me-Not
Our Leaders must have heaved a sigh of elation when Dutch parliament decided not to follow up on Brinkman's motion. They announced the report was, after all, no reason not to enter into the POK discussions. Before, they threatened not to because Brinkman showed "no respect" for them and was always insulting them. Now read what minister Dick says: "Brinkman is derailed [...] unbalanced [...] I'm not going to a psychiatric ward for discussions with patients either." Not a legal expert (by the way, just like Dick) I educatedly guess Brinkman has ample grounds to sue our minister of justice for defamation here.
Meanwhile, as is only to be expected, the politicians have no inkling of how many voters here agree with Brinkman. E-mails referring to the list on Dutch PVV party site are making the rounds. And Dick's traffic bust isn't even on Brinkman's list!
2008-06-14
Brinkman's Checklist of Corruption Cases
Judge for yourself if NL politician Brinkman is really all bad. "Our" politicians resent him, but that's only natural: As far as I can see, his cases are all correct; matter of fact, many of them have been listed on these pages. Check out the PDF version.
Amigoe newspaper comments it's all old hat, and chooses to refer to a letter of (you'll never guess) Asjes in support. Now, really! Is Amigoe now in league with the Bad Boys? Many of Brinkman's cases have been lifted from Amigoe's pages, but they also come from web site Korompi [corruption] for anonymous power abuse reporting.
Dutch parliament voted down Brinkman's motion to investigate Antillean corruption. No doubt they have their reasons.
The day before, it was announced that Marchena, first member of PLKP, then FOL and finally MSL, has been made Godett's agriculture advisor. Marchena is an aircraft mechanic who for a year has been "working" for government Stafburo without having any function there.
2008-06-13
Ombudsman Out
Island government tries everything in their means to stop ombudsman Wiels from investigating gezaghebber having given a job to an intimate friend (as the saying goes) as a member of a public commission. DP George concludes that Wiels is within his rights as stipulated in island law. His function is completely independent to guarantee nobody can stop his investigations.
2008-06-10
The Boob Tube
Telecuraçao, a stronghold of Godett's FOL, only wanted to transmit a world championship football match NL-Italy when commentary was in Papiamentu. Holland gave in; with the result that there was a Dutch, English and Papiamentu commentary - but no stadium audience sound (admittedly, no great miss).
2008-06-10
Godett's Schlägergruppe
PS opposition member Wiels lodged a complaint against deputy Godett ordering his brother to teach Wiels a little lesson by knocking him around a bit. Godett denies this, adding "he didn't do a good job, I would have finished it." He took exception to Wiels' repeated statements Godett is a convicted thief, which (even while it's true) he thought offensive; he then offensively proceeded to insinuate once again Wiels is a homosexual.
Shades of Hitler and his gangs of ruffians roaming München.
2008-06-07
Waiting for Godett
United groups representing Otrabanda interests have been waiting for an island government reaction to their proposals since July 2007. But politicians prefer the large-scale approach, where, might be not incidentally, there's more money to be made.
The Otrabanda proposal is more on Small is Beautiful lines, going for a participative economy, a healthy environment, human diversity and an open city, for a change accessible to everybody.
The Otrabanda groups lodged a complaint with ombudsman Wiels 3 weeks later.
2008-06-01
Cooper's Advise
The guy has been helped to a, no doubt lucrative, job as advisor to the refinery, and he now advises to sell it lock, stock and barrel to PdVSA. He pooh-poohs the "so-called" health problems and thinks that then we will get a discount, so future oil price jumps can just be disregarded. He claims the refinery is "easily" worth 3G guilders (.5G up from what he said last week). That last amount can be used for environmental improvements (needed are at least 1.5G-1.9G), and finally we'll have 1G left to pay our collective debts.
Meanwhile, island government, Isla and PdVSA have been trying for years to find a
2008-05-31
We Are Not Terrorists
The mini-bus drivers seem to have taken hints from Jihad and Fitna: When you call them terrorists, they protest terroristically. Rhuggenaath did so, and they went out in a violent mob, disrupting traffic (and leaving their esteemed clientèle in the lurch), puncturing tires of large buses, even slashing and burning tires of those colleagues who didn't join them. Quod Erat Demonstrandum.
They want ANG25/day fuel subsidy. CHORUS: "Me too! Me too!"
Now that they asked for it, I can confirm this is a Wild Bunch in the first place. No road-rules seem to apply to them: They stop everywhere, even blocking crossings, to pick up passengers. I avoid riding them as a passenger - your heart jumps to your throat when they overtake in road bends.
2008-05-30
Isla Closing Down This Year!
According to their own statements (but these have not always been completely truthful). What happened is, the SEI Social Economic Initiative signed last week decrees among many other things (under pressure of Holland) that "Isla must comply with nuisance act demands before the end of this year." As Isla has always claimed that's out of the question, this should mean they will have to shut down. But don't count on it.
Even then, SEI stipulates that in the long-term vision the desirability of having a refinery should be evaluated. Having it stay entails defining conditions, ownership structure, refinery life as related to international energy developments, and investments needed to reduce pollution and to keep Isla competitive. Finally, it's hinted that there is some hurry.
Isla should comply in this year's last quarter - that's three months from now.
Bijleveld strongly confirmed all this in a latter to Dutch parliament some ten days later.
2008-05-29
Economy Going Great
Well, it's a relief to know. Rhuggenaath himself told us so; he has high expectations and expects the 3.8% growth of 2007 to continue.
Maybe he doesn't read newspapers, or at the very least watch television. We'll see about that optimism.
2008-05-29
Slave Driver Sought
A lot has been going on about the new director needed for CDM Curaçao Dockyard. Requisites are a blameless past and shipbuilding experience. Franklin Sluis, who has neither, is the best candidate according to Soab government accounting. What he can claim is a sentence for forgery. Maybe PAR Rhuggenaath figures that's a great background to run notorious CDM.
Rhuggenaath, after all, is not happy at all with Sluis and has asked CDM to "thank" him (realizing Sluis may go to court as he has been appointed.) Rhuggenaath wants a replacement found in four months.
2008-05-28
That Would Be a Miracle for Sure
The year is not even half over, but the 2008 budget is ready for discussing in island government. Now, it's 67.9M in the red (originally 66M). FOL Rojer was disappointed it wasn't balanced yet, "but you can't expect miracles just like that".
Only two weeks ago, it was announced the deficit had grown from 66M to 103M; now it appears to have shrunk back? It's a Miracle!
No doubt they just cut some posts out for the occasion, figuring Rekenkamer accounting bureau will tell us many years from now what the real deficit was. Which they will; it's a tradition.
2008-05-28
Sabotage!
When the PA system in eilandsraad fudzed out, opposition members were quick with allegations of sabotage: Just while they were discussing FOL! Very suspicious, that. For a guy who travels so much as NPA Pierrot, it was rather surprising to hear him say that Hato was the only airport in the world with a military base (actually, two bases). But many more exist; I just mention Frankfurt Germany and, closer by, Bogotá Colombia or Z