STINAPA - BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mr. Evo Cicilia

Evo Cicilia
Born: Aruba, May 18th 1964
Raised in Bonaire
DEZA employee (Department of Economic Affairs)
The STINAPA board has several seats, and the seats that are reserved for the government were vacant.  I was approached by Elsmarie Beukenboom to be one of the candidates for the government. For the past two years Papy Cicilia and I have represented the government in the board of STINAPA. This foundation has a special task in the preservation of nature, but more specifically STINAPA has been appointed as the managing instrument for the parks. Washington-Slagbaai and the Marine Park and…almost all of Bonaire and Klein Bonaire are the Marine Park.
Washington-Slagbaai covers a large part of the island and as such STINAPA manages a part of the island that is an important source of income for the island.
One of the important tasks that STINAPA has is to supervise the development of Bonaire and to ensure that it happens in as balanced a way as possible. That is very important because the vision of Bonaire is “ Development while maintaining nature and culture”.
The“NOS TA BIBA DI NATURALESA” campaign is very important as it shows the local population that we can not live without nature, and also to show them what STINAPA does, so people realize that this task should not only be carried out by STINAPA, but by the whole community. So, in short, we all have to do what STINAPA does!

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Mrs. Ronella Croes

Born: Aruba, October 14th 1977
Living on Bonaire since January 3rd 2005
Director of TCB
TCB has 1 seat on the board of STINAPA and in February 2005 I decided to fill that seat myself because nature is important for Bonaire and tourism and also to try and reach a balance between economic growth and nature preservation. We are not looking for mass tourism. Bonaire has chosen to attract a high quality tourist and based on that view there will be less pressure on nature and we will be able to strike a balance. As soon as nature becomes endangered, that will affect tourism and we cannot afford that. Nature is one of the things we sell!
The peace and quiet and the lack of social, mental and physical pollution are the things that attract the tourists to Bonaire. Space, the freedom to be yourself and the friendliness of the people…
In the Pourier Report boundaries were established to which point the economy can grow and 100.000 tourists per year is the limit. In the economical plan for 2004-2007, 80.000 tourists have been predicted, and with the new Divi-project we will reach that number.
STINAPA is an essential part of Bonaire as STINAPA has the task to manage all parks and those are important factors for tourism, but also for everybody’s well being. I think it is always healthy to have a body that dedicates itself 100% to this task, in order for all steps that the government takes to be scrutinized to see in how far they conserve and protect our nature. My essential word remains ‘Balance’.
I sincerely hope that with the “NOS TA BIBA DI NATURALESA” campaign, we can convince the population that it’s a fact that the tourists that visit Bonaire appreciate the quiet and the nature so much, and that sets Bonaire apart from other destinations. No pollution, no noise, no air-pollution and no horizon pollution. In these modern times these have become rare goods in the world and because it is scarce, we as Bonaireans have to promote these unique aspects of the island abroad and we have to help maintain these characteristics.

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Mrs. Jeanette Nolen-Heitkönig

Born: Bonaire, October 19th 1948
Employed at BOPEC at the department of Security, Safety and Environment.
In the early nineties I was approached by Friar Candidus who wanted to know whether I wanted to become a member of the board of STINAPA. He thought this would be a good idea as my father was an animal lover and was very concerned with nature. I decided to join and it was very interesting. I have an independent seat, so I do not represent any party, only myself. My motivation is that I think that it is extremely important that someone or something looks after nature, and STINAPA was the one entity that first started with that. Not only must we take care of nature, but we also have to inform the youth properly and involve them in protecting nature. We do this through the NME initiative, one of the big steps that STINAPA took back in the nineties with the help of the WNF (World Nature Fund).
If nature is not protected in a few years there will be nothing left, and that will have grave consequences for coming generations. People have to start to learn to enjoy nature and to feel it inside themselves. Wouldn’t it be a shame if Bonaire would be just as built up as Aruba or St. Maarten, and if your grandchildren and great-grandchildren could not catch any fish or would not know what a Lora or iguana looks like?
The “NOS TA BIBA DI NATURALESA” campaign is exactly what I have always vouched for to be able to convince people that the authentic, characteristic way of Bonaire, and the landscape, the sea, the horizon and all that lives here should not fall victim to so-called development, because I think that once it’s not there anymore, people will be deeply depressed, and then it’s really too late.

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Mr. Herbert Piar

Born: July 6th 1955
In his daily life director of the Government Housing Development Foundation (Fundashon Cas Bonairiano)
This year it will be the tenth year that I have been on the board of STINAPA. I was asked back then by Frits Goedgedrag and Raymundo Saleh to join the board. And…as I was very interested in the conservation of our nature I said yes. Otherwise I would not have done it. I am crazy about everything that grows and blossoms and lives! As you can see my office is full of plants, and we feed the birds and iguanas just like I do at home. I believe that all these things help to reduce stress, because although I have a busy job and a lot of other activities in the social sector, I don’t know the meaning of the word stress!
The importance of STINAPA for the island is the conservation of nature above and below the water surface in the broadest sense. I have lived in Curacao, Aruba, the Windward Islands, the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. I was gone for 17 years and upon my return I noticed that Bonaire had remained pristine, and that was my biggest motivation to serve on the board of STINAPA
Because you love your own birth island, you want to keep those nice and beautiful things that way. That’s my main driving force. Another important point is that we used to always let others, people from outside, do the work, but I think that the local people have to stand up for it!
The “NOS TA BIBA DI NATURALESA” –campaign is very important to make the local people more aware. A lot of people who were born here, I believe are not even aware of the beauty of the island. They don’t see it because it has become so common for them. I think the local population can enjoy their own nature much more, and they should also motivate their children towards that.
Just take some time off and go for a hike in the ‘mondi’. Go somewhere you’ve never been before and try to find a highpoint so you can enjoy the view. Or go for a swim in an isolated place and sit on a rock next to the ocean. Those are simple things. To be able to enjoy that you need peace of mind and Bonaire can offer that plentifully. It’s a valuable commodity and a lot of people just don’t realize it. If you want to come to your senses, Bonaire is the place for it – perfect!

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Mrs. Diana Sint Jago

Born: Bonaire, March 6th 1961
Assistant Administrator for BONHATA
I joined the board of STINAPA in 2000, when they were looking for somebody to represent BONHATA and I volunteered for the job. My father was president of the board of STINAPA for many years, so I basically grew up with it! About 2 years ago, when Corine Gerharts took my seat for BONHATA, I asked for the remaining independent seat. If you are the representative of a certain organization on the board of STINAPA, you have to look after the interests of that organization, even if you do not agree with them. That’s why I thought it was better to be an independent, so I can say what I think, and speak for myself without causing damage to anyone.
Since my childhood I was crazy about everything that had to do with nature; the ‘mondi’ of Bonaire is beautiful, and so is the sea. I am very upset to see beautiful and valuable parts of the island disappear in the name of development. I am not against development, but there is room enough to pick other areas instead of the nicest ones of the island, like what happened in SABADECO. As long as I am on the board, and especially in the independent seat, I can open my mouth and look after the interests of the local population.
The importance of STINAPA is that it watches everything that affects nature like a hawk, and that no weird things happen like with the Mangrove village project, but STINAPA also manages nature areas and has an educational task.
I am happy with the “NOS TA BIBA DI NATURALESA” campaign, because many people don’t realize that tourists come to us for the nature; be it diving, surfing or for the peace and quiet. It is also positive that STINAPA makes herself and her goals better known, because sometimes local people get the impression that STINAPA is only there to forbid everything and that is absolutely not true! STINAPA is there to protect everything, for me, for all of us, but also for our children and grandchildren. I would like to tell the people; ‘take your car and pick a dirt road that you’ve never taken because sometimes you’ll end up in places of which you will think; ‘Is this still Bonaire? So beautiful, so serene.’ For me it is as if these places charge you with new energy. I have always had that; as a child I would go into the mondi with nieces and nephews at Mentor and we would always find something beautiful or peculiar. And it was so quiet there. As a child it used to frighten me sometimes, but you grow over it and now I love it!

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Mr. Bruce Bowker

Born: USA, April 16th 1947
Living on Bonaire since 1973
Owner/operator of Carib Inn
Since two years ago I have been on the board of STINAPA, in which I represent CURO (Council of Underwater Resort Operators - all diving schools of Bonaire)
My predecessor has left the diving industry and I was chosen to follow him.
The goal of STINAPA is to prevent excessive development, and to protect nature.
For me personally, nature has more value than excessive development, as that will ruin the quality of life for everyone. People come to Bonaire for its beautiful seas, the diving and the Bonairean nature and when a place like this becomes overdeveloped; the very people that came to see it will have destroyed it.
The “NOS TA BIBA DI NATURALESA” campaign might be one of the most important projects that STINAPA has ever taken on; if people are not made aware of the necessity of a correctly functioning environment in which the ecosystems both on land and in the sea can flourish, we will see the disastrous results in the future. This has been proven all over the world, and those who are now trying to fix the mistakes of the past, have to pay dearly for it.
Bonaire can still keep things as they should be, but if people don’t realize that soon, it will be too late.

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Mrs. Corine Gerharts

Born: Casablanca, Marocco, 1961
Living on Bonaire since 1994
General Manager van Bonaire Tours
I have been on the board of Bonhata for the last 2 years, where I occupy the seat of BONHATA (Bonaire Hotel & Tourism Association). Because of my work and background I have a good insight into the matters that STINAPA is confronted with. I was president of Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire for 4 years and have also been on the board for Tene Boneiru Limpi for 10 years. So part of my motivation to join the board of STINAPA is that I have a good commercial insight because of my work, but through experience I have also developed a good insight into everything that affects the environment. An ideal candidate for the board of STINAPA is somebody with business sense and experience with the nature and environment sector.
I think Bonaire did very well; they anticipated well with regards to protecting the environment. Still we have to be very careful, because the pressure on the island to develop it has never been greater. Bonaire is very hot!
STINAPA is the watchdog for the island and we are the conscience of the government – you can run, but you can’t hide!
What can I say about the “NOS TA BIBA DI NATURALESA” campaign? I can only say to the people of Bonaire  ‘Tene Boneiru den bo kurason’, (keep Bonaire in your heart), because if you carry something in your heart, you will always take care of it.

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Mr. Jack Chalk

Born: Tennessee, USA, February 8th 1954
Living on Bonaire since 1988
General Manager of Habitat
Since the early nineties I have had a close relationship with STINAPA Bonaire. First as a member of the Begleidingscommissie (Advisory Committee) of the Marine Park which was appointed by the Government at that time with the revitalization of the Marine Park. Then later as a Board Member representing CURO.
The board represents different groups. There are 2 seats for the government, 1 for CURO, 1 for BONHATA, 1 for TCB, 1 for Kriabon, 1 for the fishermen of Bonaire, and the remaining 4 are for independents. In the beginning I represented CURO, but after I became manager of Habitat, I was appointed to the BONHATA seat by the Board of BONHATA. However, when one of the independent members of the board stepped down I asked the board if I could be appointed to that seat, which was approved, so now I am an independent member!
As and independent member you can speak more from your heart instead of for the organization that you represent! I did not force myself into that position. Before being appointed to the independent seat I had also served as president of STINAPA twice and both times I stepped down voluntarily to allow a Bonairean to take the seat as President.
STINAPA is much more important for the island than most people realize. STINAPA has an enormous responsibility in protecting, conserving and maintaining the environment. At the same time it has to strike a balance between the development and economic progress of the island and protecting the environment and the islands natural resources.
The people that visit our island do so primarily for the nature, and the people that live here make a living from these visitors, so they almost all live, either directly or indirectly, from nature; the island economy has survived and progressed, for the most part, because of our natural resources. If our coral reefs perish, our fisheries wiped out, and our nature areas turned into parking lots, buildings and roads, why would anyone still come to Bonaire? They can find the same in Amsterdam, New York or Buenos Aires. People come here to escape from that! So if we allow our nature areas to disappear, how will we live? From what?
By means of the “NOS TA BIBA DI NATURALESA” campaign, STINAPA wants to show the people that they too have a responsibility. It is difficult I know; your family has to eat, you have to pay your bills, and you also want to have nice things – too often we loose sight of what really provides us with the means to make a living for our families and give them nice things. I believe that the Bonairean by nature has strong ties with the land, the sea and nature, but people sometimes take decisions for financial reasons that sacrifice those ties with nature, those things which are close to our hearts, only to reap short term financial gain…yet, by doing so we loose the nature of Bonaire forever.
STINAPA, in one way, has to be the conscience of the people and remind them ‘Yes, you can do that, but this what you will lose forever’. Then if the people decide to say ‘Yes’ anyway, than that’s their decision and we, as STINAPA, must accept the will of the people. However, if we don’t perform the roll of collective conscience of the people and advise them of all possible scenarios, then we have failed in our responsibility to the island.

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Mr. Felix (Papy) Cicilia

Born: Bonaire, May 28th 1950
Until May of 2006 I was acting department head of SKAL, and right now I’m retired.
Two years ago I joined the ranks of the board of STINAPA. STINAPA consists of different special interest groups and independent members, and they all have a representative in STINAPA. I have been appointed by the government to be their representative. I agreed to take the position right away as I found it to be remarkable that most board members of existing foundations on the island are foreigners. As I always advocated, there should be more Bonaireans on the boards of STINAPA and the Marine Park.
STINAPA’s first goal is to manage the national parks, and next to that, to try and protect all other nature areas on the island and under water by adhering to, and exercise control regarding agreements and national and international treaties. Also, STINAPA has the task to make the local population, and especially its children, aware of the value of their heritage.
I have always believed that what one does not know, one cannot love. Also on our island there are a lot of people that do not value their island, and I hope that the “NOS TA BIBA DI NATURALESA”-campaign will change that. Bonaire is one of the cleanest islands in the Caribbean and has enough room for everyone.  One can be happier with more development, which translates to more progress for the island, but the nice thing about Bonaire is that it doesn’t go as fast as on some other islands, which have not only lost their nature, but also their identity.

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