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Antillean Prime Minister Mirna Louisa-Godett arrived in The Netherlands last Friday morning for a round of meetings. "I've come to further the solid relationship between the Antilles and The Netherlands," she stated after arriving at Schiphol. The Prime Minister has meetings planned with Queen Beatrix, Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende and Minister of Kingdom relations, Thom de Graaf. She will also visit Rotterdam where Mayor Ivo Opstelten invited the Antillean Prime Minister to address the ministers during a round trip in the harbor. Afterwards she will visit the Antillean community in Rotterdam.
During an airport press conference she touched on some sensitive matters such as the threat to block air traffic between Curaçao and Holland if the flow of drug smugglers doesn't abate. The Prime Minister reacted to the threat by warning, "If the Dutch cancel DCA's flights we'll do the same with KLM and Air Holland flights to the Antilles." But a Dutch Radio 1 report said scrapping KLM and Air Holland flights would deal a severe economic blow to the five financially struggling Caribbean islands of the Netherlands Antilles. Tourism to the region has helped lift Antillean economic growth to a healthy 2% recently.
Dutch Minister of Justice Piet Hein Donner, who made the threat, believes that comment is based on a misunderstanding. "I don't understand why she's taking it personally. I'm not targeting DCA or any other company. If it ever comes to that, the entire route will probably be cancelled. There's no point in only taking measures against one airline because the smugglers would simply change airlines."
The Prime Minister didn't want to say whether or not she would give up her position if her brother Anthony Godett is found innocent. "We shall see," she answered to that query. A question she answered most positively; "Did you come here to break the ice with your tropical warmth? "In capital letters!" she responded.
u The press conference questions were motivated by last Friday's discussions by the Dutch Council of Ministers about ordering supplementary measures to combat cocaine smuggling. "Flights constantly used as a smuggling route can be banned if the situation doesn't improve. The possibilities of refusing travel to, or placing certain conditions on repeat offenders, are also being contemplated," announced the Dutch Kingdom's Information Department (RVD).
The enforcement at Schiphol will be '100 %' for flights from the Antilles and Suriname, according to the RVD release. The chances of being caught will increase so that the criminal organizations can see their profits disappear. The Dutch Unusual Financial Transactions Reporting Data Base will be utilized to catch criminals transferring funds to the Antilles.
u Airline preflight checks have led to stopping over 9,000 people suspected of drug smuggling from flying (and an increase in no-shows of 13,000. The RVD doesn't indicate the dates these figures are based on). Now airlines will also refuse certain passengers travel to and from the Caribbean based on information given by the government. And drug smugglers sentenced in their absence as cocaine-ball swallowers will be arrested upon arrival and will have to sit out their punishment immediately.
The Dutch government is also working on a law that will deny Dutchmen residing in the Antilles, who have been convicted of drug smuggling, entry to The Netherlands for a specific period of time. There is already a law in place that withdraws the passports of Dutch drug smugglers who are repeat offenders. At this moment foreigners caught with drugs at the airport receive a notation in their passport.
To prevent drug dealers from changing to other routes, for example through France or Germany, there will be a closer cooperation with those countries.
Just as the Antilles, The Netherlands is used as a trampoline for drug smuggling as well. The Dutch user-market is estimated at 4,000 to 8,000 kilos of cocaine per year according to the RVD, while 40,000 to 60,000 kilos of cocaine is smuggled to other countries through The Netherlands.
u KLM Royal Dutch Airlines reported higher second quarter earnings on Thursday due to cost cutting but warned its business outlook is not improving. KLM, which is in the process of merging with Air France, said net profit in the July-September period was euro90 million ($106.3 million), up from euro86 million a year ago.
Like its rivals, KLM has been hurt by the weak global economy, the war in Iraq and the SARS virus. In response to falling business, the company reduced its fleet and cut 1,400 jobs this year. It currently employs roughly 37,500 and plans to cut another 1,600 jobs by year end as previously announced.
Last month, KLM and Air France announced plans to merge. The Air France-KLM combination is the first such deal between two major European airlines and will pass British Air as Europe's largest carrier. The merger is due to close in April, pending approval of European and US regulators.
u Perhaps KLM's problems are good news for Bonaire? As part of the cutbacks KLM postponed delivery of some new long-range Boeing 777 aircraft. The twin engine 777s were being considered for both non-stop Far East routes and South American routes. That would mean that the present "technical refueling" stops in Bonaire would not be required. The delayed 777s were the ones for the South American flights. That means the planned 2006-2008 deployment of the new 777s, and also the stopovers for KLM's profitable Lima and Quito flights, are delayed to 2010-2012.
u The new radio show on Mega FM-101, Becker Live, is getting some reaction. Comments regarding comments about Dutch queen Beatrix and BONHATA sparked controversy last week. And Lt. Governor Hart discussed, among other things, the accomplishments of his tenure.
The English/Dutch program has been on the air for over a month and has gained more and more listeners each week. Is it possible we'll get an all-English talk show some day? Tune in to FM 101.1 every Friday from 4-6 pm and find out for yourself what commentators Ben Becker, Sean Peyton and Conny Zwart are saying. Then call in with your comments to 717-2101.The program is repeated on Sunday, 12-2 pm.
u Disgusted with WEB. That sums it up for the people who live north of Kralendijk. Six power failures in one week disrupted businesses and lives, including The Bonaire Reporter. For people it means frustrating inconvenience, being late for work and discomfort. For businesses it means lost money when employees get sent home and deadlines missed. Some of the failures occurred in the early morning hours so load isn't a factor. Would it get WEB's attention if they (Continued on page 4)
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