The government takes 40-million loan without any trouble
ARUBA – The Central Bank of Aruba (CBA) announced that the national government of Aruba was assigned 40 million florins in bonds.
Last Tuesday, the six-year bond loan was raised to the account of the national government of Aruba with an interest rate of 6.5 percent. The loan is completely subscribed and 40 million florins are assigned in bonds. The Central Bank assigned all the subscriptions for denominations of 1000 florins. A proportional assignment took place for the rest of the denominations. The February report of the CBA states that the money quantity went down with 22.4 million florins or 1.0 percent to 2.300.9 million florins for that month. This was the result of a drop of 43.5 million florins in the net foreign active, which partly was nullified by a net money input from abroad of 21.1 million florins. The net foreign active increased consequently from 700.4 million florins per January 2005 to 721.4 million florins per the end of February 2005. The decrease in the net domestic active was caused by a drop in the public sector net receivables with 25 million florins due to an increase in the government’s deposits of 36.8 million florins that reflects the most recent disbursement of bonds in the amount of 40 million florins. Furthermore, the private sector receivables decreased with 6.9 million florins. Business loans dropped with 10.8 million florins, while consumer credits increased with 3.5 million florins. There are no changes in the mortgages. Balance sheet items not related to credit loans decreased with 11.6 million florins.
Pechtold’s visit will be very short
CURACAO – The new minister of Government Innovation and Kingdom Relations, Alexander Pechtold (D66) will arrive in Curacao on Sunday, April 17th for just a short acquaintance visit to Curacao and Aruba. He will not be able to visit the other islands this time, but expects to do this soon.
On Monday morning, he will start his program with a visit to Governor Frits Goedgedrag, Prime Minister Etienne Ys (PAR), and the other members of the council of ministers. He will also walk through Punda and Otrobanda and give a press conference. In the evening there will be a reception at the Governor’s palace. The next day, he will visit the Naval Commander in the Caribbean, Commander Frank Sijtsma, and the Coast Guard. Before he gets on the plane to Aruba, which is around 17:00, he will get a tour of the island and he will visit a plantation house. In Aruba, Pechtold will only have the evening and part of the Wednesday to look around, because he goes back to the Netherlands on that same day. The plan is for him to visit the Governor and the council of ministers.
He has been on vacation in Aruba once and never before in Curacao. He admits that he knows nothing about the Antilles and Aruba yet, but that he will basically continue the policy of his predecessor Thom de Graaf.
Chamber of Commerce for option A
CURACAO – At this moment, option A is best option for Curacao, is the opinion of the Chamber of Commerce (KvK). It postulates that the choice of an option should lead to improvement of the investment climate, a permanent economic growth, and a higher welfare standard for the population of Curacao. “With option A, Curacao would be able to choose her own way as autonomous country within the Kingdom.â€
With the small-scale of Curacao in the back of our mind, the relatively small amount of inhabitants, the geographical location, and the advancing globalization, according to the KvK, there are three questions when it comes to the political position of Curacao. First, which political entity offers the best possibility for permanent economical and social development? Second, which political entity determined by the result of the referendum would deal with the economic network that will offer long-term increase of the prosperity- and welfare standard for Curacao? Third, which political stability would occupy a main place in the list of factors that can influence the investment climate?
Curacao votes for autonomous status
Curacao voted in a referendum on Friday to become an autonomous state within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Sixty-eight percent voted for the Caribbean island to step out of the Dutch Antilles government in favour of a ‘Status Aparte’. Twenty-three percent voted for closer ties with the Netherlands and only 5 percent backed full independence, news agency AFP reported. The smaller Sint Eustatius chose to uphold the status quo. Dutch Kingdom Relations Minister Alexander Pechtold said the results are “a good basis for further talks” about the future of the kingdom. A conference aimed at overhauling kingdom relations will be held in July, but the Dutch and Antillean parliaments will need to approve the recommendations.
Reyna Gabriella Alvarado-Carrera
NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING & EXPLOITED CHILDREN
REYNA GABRIELLA ALVARADO-CARRERA
Case Type: Non Family Abduction
DOB: Jan 6, 1992
Sex: Female
Missing Date: May 6, 2005
Race: White/Hisp
Age Now: 13
Height: 5’4″ (163 cm)
Missing City: NORCROSS
Weight: 110 lbs (50 kg)
Missing State : GA
Hair Color: Black
Missing Country: United States
Eye Color: Brown
Case Number: NCMC1014174
Circumstances: Reyna was last seen on May 6, 2005 at her home in Norcross, Georgia. She may be in the company of an adult male. They may still be in the local area, or they may have traveled to Phoenix, Arizona; Los Angeles, California; or Mexico. Reyna’s nickname is Gaby.
Hyatt Corporation and Santa Barbara Hospitality Announce Management Agreement for Hyatt Regency Curacao; Hyatt’s Fourth Caribbean Resort Scheduled to Open Late 2007
CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–April 4, 2005–Hyatt Corporation and Santa Barbara Hospitality, N.V. announced today the signing of a long-term management agreement for Hyatt Regency Curacao Resort, Spa & Casino. Construction on the 350-room full-service luxury resort and spa will commence this summer with completion of the resort slated for late 2007. Offering views that are second-to-none, Hyatt Regency Curacao will be a full-service upscale getaway, perfectly situated on two bodies of water: the Caribbean Sea and the large inland bay known as Spanish Waters.
The first phase of the resort community, known as Santa Barbara Plantation, will include a series of facilities and high-end amenities. In addition to Hyatt Regency Curacao, the master plan will offer residential units and may include Hyatt Vacation Ownership units. Located on one of the few remaining natural preserve peninsulas in the Caribbean, the hotel will offer a three meal and fine dining restaurant with indigenous menu creations; 9,700 square foot full-service spa, salon and fitness center; 5,800 square foot casino; multi-level outdoor pool, complete with dramatic water features, poolside grill, lounge and cabana area; tennis courts; an 18-hole Pete Dye designed championship golf course; and 28,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space.