Carribean Sailing diary

Here's an interesting story about the new airport from page 2

[newspaper type article] ST BARTH WEEKLY No 31 page 2

Saint Barth gets a face lift [architect type drawing] Architect plans for the futur harbour master offices.

[left column] The 2004-2005 season is now underway in Saint Barth, and the island is looking pretty spiffy. After being closed for six weeks, from September 6 through October 15, the airport now boasts an improved runway. More than 3000 cubic meters of concrete were poured over the old runway that dates back to the original construction of the airport. Its length, 650 meters or just over 2100 feet, has not changed. However, its width was increased from 15 meters to 18 meters, or 50 ft to 60 ft. But that's not all: a night lighting system was also installed (...very pretty to see if you get the chance). The lights are used primarily for medical evacuations at night as all air traffic still stops 15 minutes after sunset. The general aviation parking area was paved and made larger in order to accommodate more private planes. The area for commercial airline parking was also enlarged by 2000 square meters. Not only does it have

[middle column] a new allure, but the Gustaf airport of Saint-Barth also registered a 10% increase in air traffic during the second quarter of 2004, compared to the same period in 2003.

And at the port... The airport is not the only spot on the island getting a face lift. The harbor master's office for the Port of Gustavia was completely razed at the beginning of the summer. The new complex (which will include a covered outdoor stage and yacht club facilities) should be open for business by the fall of 2005. Why so long? To guarantee some peace and quiet for the numerous passengers aboard the many yachts that come to Saint-Barth for the holiday season, construction will be put on hold as of December 15, 2004.

Work on the pipelines Another phase of renovation underway on the island is the improvement of the water system. The municipality, reponsible for projects of this

[right column] kind, with major funding from Europe, took advantage of the airport closing to enlarge the pipes that carry water between the Match supermarket and the bridge near the Eden Rock hotel. The advantage? Larger pipes mean a better distribution of water to those located at the far end of the pipelines, and in theory, they should not lack water during periods of high demand. In Gustavia, rue Schoelcher and the street along the waterfront have had a complete face lift: electric and telephone lines have been put underground, water pipes have been enlarged, and a new drainage system was put in. The new drainage system, that replaces individual systems that were less efficient, will be linked to a water treatment plant that will be built where the basketball court is now located in Gustavia. A new basketball court will be built on a piece of land, across from the Catholic Church, that the municipality is in the process of acquiring.

And here's an interesting story about its political position:

ST BARTH WEEKLY No31 - page 3

TOWARD A NEW POLITICAL STATUS

For anyone who may have forgotten, the island of Saint-Barth is living a very significant moment in its history. Modifications made in the French Constitution in 2003 allowed Saint-Barth to request a new governmental status, separating it from the island of Guadeloupe, to which it has been legally attached since 1948, as one of 32 communities. Given more political autonomy, this new Oversea Collectivity will mean (among other things) that residents will not be subject to the payment of French national taxes, but will pay local taxes instead. The process is well underway, as overseas minister Brigitte Giradin reminded us during her visit last July. And it has just been a month since her technical advisor, Stephane Diemert, came to present a draft of the law that will cover the future responsibilities of the new collectivity. The minister expects the project to see the light of day in the first quarter of 2005. After local elections, the mayor and his municipal council will respectively be replaced by a "president" and a "general council" that will include an elected "exe cutive council" that will deliberate important day-to-day matters. Mayor Bruno Magras, the chief author of this political evolution, says that "this autonomy does not mean cutting loose, or independence. This gives us a larger hand in running the island". Last but not least, and for a better understanding of this change, it is important to note that never before has such a dramatic change from a "community" to a "collectivity" with such a degree of self-goverment taken place in France. Saint-Martin, our closest neighbor, has also requested the same change in political status.

7:45 Arrive in Gustavia, and there is no taxi line, but we spot a taxi after a few minutes and it takes us to the hotel. The room is very nice and I unpack with enthusiasm, while Mike showers + relaxes on deck.

9pm We go to dinner at the Hotels' Felini Restaurant, next to the pool. We were the only two there, and the waiter's english was not fluent. The tomato + mozarella salad + sashimi tuna + some bottled water cost 58 Euro or about $80. (We split the food.) Just after dinner I got a message the Meg needs to talk with me urgently. Unfortunately my phone does not work, so I have to have the front desk call Meg, and then call me to connect. Meg tells me that Dad died on Wednesday about 9:20 PM. She + the nurses had decided not to add the feeding tube. Next, I try to get phone fixed, but to no avail, so I have front desk call Emily for me. We talk about a half hour.

12:30 Go to bed. Sleep, but also think about what I'd say if we can have a funeral for Dad.

Saturday, Nov 27, 2004

7:45 Play with Mike. Shower + Breakfast at Felini. Still no phone service. Walk around this complex, which is not that attractive except for the units we're in. Still no phone working, outbound. Write up yesterday.

10:45 Rental car arrives. Move photos from memory cards to PC. Drive around - St. Jean, Lorieat, East End, back to Lorieat, back to Grand Cul de Sac

1pm Lunch at St Barth Beach Resort

1:30 Drive to Gustavia. Walk, but shops are closed until 2:00 PM. Buy frame at Made in St. Barth. Listen to 18 new messages + Call Ben + Joel Ingibritz from phone at Internet Service Place using my ATT calling card.

4:30 Visit Carl Gustav Hotel. Shop in St. Jean. Buy colorful stripe shorts 70 E = $90! Buy Tshirts for me + Ben

6pm Back at room. Regroup. Orient photos. Phone still doesn't work.

During our shopping, Mike + I decided that St. Barth' s main attraction is shopping for women, so this attracts 1) men like Paul Allen who are looking for women, and 2) gay men like Laguna guys who are really into drag. One shopkeeper even asked Mike "Aren't you bored here?" since there's not much else to do besides shopping for women's stuff. Plus: I'm a bit "put off" by not speaking the native tongue: french. And when the French answer my french in English.

Tech guy finally fixes the phone which has sophisticated wall jack, and no standard phone jack, so I can't use computer with it!

7:30 * Show Mike our sailing photos* Drive back to Gustavia + eat at Palace. Good gazpacho + salmon + chocolate torte. Restaurant is busy. Blues music.

10:00 We walk past another busy bar, but music is blues there too. Still nothing really busy in town, and because I drank ~ 150ml of gin from 7-7:30, as well as a rum punch before dinner, I'm tired, so we go back to the room + sleep.