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• Lesser Antilles Iguana in Danger
• Figaro Transat AG2R
• Important Meeting for the Local Fishermen
• Casino Rumors
• The Littoral Conservancy Acquires Fort Karl
• The Bucket Donates $175,000 to FEMUR
• Pre-Stamped Envelopes with the Winning Painting
• 13th Annual St Barths Bucket Regatta Results
• Decorative Signs to Mark Access to Beaches
• Jack Nicholson on St. Barts
• High Seas on St Barth
• La Chorale de Bon Choeurs Heads to New York
• Weekend in St. Barts
• First Electric Cars, Now Solar Garages
• The Rapid Explorer Is Back in Operation!
• May 2008
• April 2008
• March 2008
• February 2008
• January 2008
• December 2007
• November 2007
• October 2007
• September 2007
• August 2007
• July 2007
• June 2007
• May 2007
• April 2007
• March 2007
• February 2007
• January 2007
• December 2006
• November 2006
• October 2006
• September 2006
• August 2006
• July 2006
• June 2006
• May 2006
• April 2006
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 The Lesser Antilles Iguana has disappeared on many other islands and is an endangered species in St Barth. Part of the problem on St Barth is that they are breeding with the more dominant green iguana, and several hybrid iguanas have been spotted. The green iguana is not native to St Barth and was brought there via St Maarten. They are larger and more territorial than the Lesser Antilles iguana. The problem with the hybrids is that they are thought to be sterile. In addition, the iguana faces many other menaces. The island has many cats and dogs who love to chase and kill the iguanas, although they don't eat them. Rats eat the iguana eggs, and the goats eat everything in sight, leaving nothing for the iguanas to feed on. Mankind is also contributing to their declining numbers. The increase in construction results in fewer and fewer isolated places for the females to lay their eggs. They have also been killed by cars when crossing the road or resting in the road to enjoy the sun. So, be on the outlook for an iguana in the road and give it time enough to move.
 The Figaro Transat AG2R is a trans-Atlantic boat race from France to St. Barts. Phil Sharp of England is competing this year and there is an excellent website with a "Race Tracker" that shows the positions of the boats and lots of other information in real time.
The president of the regional committee of fishermen of Guadeloupe, Jean-Claude Yoyotte, was recently on the island to meet with Gilles Brin, the president of St Barth’s association of professional fishermen, and representatives of the Collectivity. Several months ago, the St Barth’s fishermen blocked access to the harbor in Gustavia to protest the high price of gas. The agenda of this meeting was to discuss the price of gasoline and the question of fishing in the natural reserves. The latter subject was not touched upon due to lack of time.
According to Yoyotte, the professional fishermen in Martinique and Guadeloupe do not pay the tax on gasoline, making their prices 0.78 euros and 0.82 euros per liter, respectively. Why is it then that the fishermen on St Barth are paying 1.28 euros per liter? Yoyotte agrees that the price of gasoline for the fishermen of St Barth should be lowered. However, even if the tax were removed, the fishermen would still be paying 1.20 euros per liter. The representatives of the Collectivity were earnest in their discussions and agreed to research the details of the gasoline and its price when leaving the refineries of Martinique and arriving at the pumps in St Barth. They will also investigate other distributors in the hope of finding one who can deliver gasoline that meets the European standards at a better price. Their hope is to revisit this issue in two to three weeks.
But with the continuing increase in the price of oil, they fear that removing the tax may not be enough to allow the fishermen to make a decent profit. Yoyotte mentioned that a large conference on this subject will take place in September with the national committee for fishing to request government assistance.
In mid-January, Michel Barnier, French Minister for Agriculture and Fishing, announced that the government will earmark 310 million euros to be distributed over a three-year period to assist the fishermen. Of this amount, 10 million euros were allotted to the French overseas territories, including 4 million to Guadeloupe, which will include St Barth. With perhaps up to 50% of this money, they hope to purchase more efficient engines that will burn less gasoline. Yoyotte also hoped that the St Barth fishermen can come up with a more efficient was to fish, suggesting that two or three fishermen go out in the same boat to conserve gasoline. These men work hard and face danger everyday to bring us fresh mahi-mahi, tuna and langoustes. Let’s hope that some relief is in sight for them.
There has been some local rumor of the possibility of a casino opening on St Barth. Here's the latest, but remember, this is just hearsay at the moment. It was proposed that St Barth open a "Cercle de Jeux." This would allow people to play poker in a controlled environment. The "house" would take a percentage of each pot and split the profits with the Collectivity. Apparently, these are not uncommon in France and are strictly controlled by the Federation Français de Jeux. It's rumored that the organizers want to buy an old building between the restaurant Le Repaire and the shop Bulgari in Gustavia for 6 million euros! This would house the facility plus a restaurant. Stay tuned for updates.
The Littoral Conservancy is a French public institution that was created in 1975 with a mission is to protect natural areas and landscapes along the coasts of French oceans and lakes. The Littoral Conservancy actually acquired Fort Karl in Gustavia five months ago.
This past week, Bernard Gérard, the associate director, and Magali Cerles, the associate overseas director, visited St Barth to determine the future of Fort Karl. They plan to renovate the fort, which was built during the Swedish era, so that it can be appreciated as an historic monument. To start with, the access to the fort will be improved and the underbrush will be removed. This work will be done in collaboration with a botanist to ensure that no important plants are removed. Clearing the underbrush will reveal the small walls and granite that add to the fort's allure. Once the fort is renovated, the Littoral Conservancy will work with the Academy of Sweden and the Historic Service of the Defense of Vincennes to trace the history of Fort Karl. The history will be made available at the site although they have not yet decided how that will be done. When all of the work is finished, the management of the fort will be under the jurisdiction of the Collectivity of St Barth.
As far as future plans on St Barth, the Littoral Conservancy can only acquire areas that the Collectivity asks them to acquire. Under consideration are the salt flats in Saline. It is possible that one day these salt flats may be rehabilitated.
The organizers of this year's annual Bucket Regatta raised $175,000, which they donated to FEMUR, St Barth's Foundation for Emergency Medical Equipment. The money will be used to help pay for recently purchased equipment for the new Radiation Center. Jimmy Buffet surprised everyone Saturday night, March 29, with an unannounced appearance with some members of his Coral Reefer band on the quay in Gustavia. He donated his T-shirt to the more generous donator.
 If you weren't able to buy the winning painting at the auction held at the end of the painting competition sponsored by Saint B'Art, you can now buy a pre-stamped envelope with an image of the painting. The painter, Marie-Laure Pichon, is known for her maritime scenes and painted a picture composed like a postcard of a typical beach scene with palm trees, seagulls and traditional fishing boats. A total of 10,000 of the envelopes are for sale at the three post offices on the island: Gustavia, St Jean and Lorient.
Newport, RI (April 4, 2008) The 13th Annual St Barths Bucket was once again blessed with perfect sailing weather which provided some of the most spectacular sailing on the most spectacular yachts in the most spectacular sailing neighborhood. With a consistent 15-22 knot trade wind, the fleet was fully powered up and the racing was startlingly close. Some of the finishes were described by participants as "closer than Farr 40 finishes"! This was previously unheard of in the superyacht world and this year's St Barths Bucket was declared the "best ever".
Continue reading "13th Annual St Barths Bucket Regatta Results" »
The Collectivity recently commissioned Véronique VanderNoot, the owner of the pottery Studio Blue Gecko in St Jean, to design and make signs to mark the access to six beaches in St Barth. Each 24" x 36" sign will consist of 15 ceramic tiles painted to represent the various beaches and will be mounted in a wooden frame. The name of the beach will always be in navy blue. The signs are expected to be in place by the beginning of summer at St Jean (by the airport), Lorient, Saline, Gouverneur, Shell Beach and Flamands.
We try not to do the celebrity spotting stuff here - there are plenty of website that do that - but this picture of Jack Nicholson was just too good to pass up. Courtesy of the Telegraph.
 For the last couple of days, St Barth has been under a “RED” warning because of strong and dangerous seas. Waves were reported to be as high as 18 feet in Flamands. An Easter tradition in St Barth is to camp on the beach – the only time of year when this is allowed. Most people set up their campsites during the week before Easter, and it can be quite an elaborate affair. The high seas have definitely altered the Easter plans of many.
About a month ago, La Chorale de Bon Choeurs performed two evenings at the Anglican Church in Gustavia to help raise money for a trip to New York City to sing with a choir at one of the local churches. Now, that trip has become a reality. On May 4 at 2:00 pm, they will join the Choir of Saint Marks-in-the-Bowery for an afternoon concert of classics, pop and gospel. This program will premiere The Hymne of St. Barthélemy (music by Michael Valenti; poem by Isabelle Deravin). If you’re in the NYC area, don’t miss this event, which will take place in the Parish Hall of St. Marks Church, 2nd Avenue at 10th Street. Congratulations to La Chorale!
Here is a slide show of a "Weekend in St. Barts" from the NT Times - some nice pictures in this.
As reported in the previous issue of News Bytes, electric cars are for sale at Garage Nid’AS et Auto Store in St Jean Carénage. The latest news is the availability of solar garages from Energies Saint-Barth to produce electricity to recharge that car or to use in the house or garden. The company offers one-car, two-car and three-car garages ranging in price from 22,000 € to 36,900 €. Energies Saint-Barth specializes in energy assessments, energy-saving recommendations, feasibility studies, specialized applications for tropical climates, and the sale of solar energy products and wind turbines. St Barth certainly seems an ideal location for the construction of solar-energy homes! You can visit their web site at www.energies-sb.com.
 The Rapid Explorer, a high-speed catamaran with airline-type seats and air-conditioning, resumed service between St Maarten and St Barth on February 11 after a hiatus of 18 months. It will depart from and arrive at Captain Oliver’s Marina at Oyster Pond, which is about 25 minutes from the airport. The marina is home to Captain Oliver’s restaurant as well as a bar and grill, which makes waiting for departure a relaxing experience and a chance to grab a bite. Tickets are for sale at the travel agency Saint Barth Tours and Travel in Gustavia. You can also contact them by phone at 590 590 52 45 06, by fax at 590 590 52 41 38 or by email at sbh.ferry@orange.fr.
Looks like they are raising money for Senator Obama on St. Barts:
The St. Bart's Cocktail Fundraiser (Fundraising)
Pleas join Richard Branson and Lucy Salenger and the Members of St. Barts for Barack Obama for The St. Bart's Cocktail Fundraiser,Wednesday, February 27 from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM at Eddy's Restaurant, Rue du Centaire, Gustavia, St. Barthelemy, French West Indies.
Marvin Zonis, Professor, International Political Economy and Leadership, University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business, will speak on "Leadership and Barack Obama"
American Citizens and Green Card Holders may contribute by check or internet. Suggested Donation Payable to Obama for America: $100, $250, $500
All are Welcome And no, it is not that Richard Branson.
The dollar's demise is affecting travel all over the globe in different ways according to this article, which includes a mention of how the Hotel Carl Gustaf is dealing with it:
"The high-end Hotel Carl Gustaf on St. Barts, for example, is guaranteeing winter rates for travel through April 19 in dollars. While the listed rates begin at 1,100 euros, or $1,672 at $1.52 to the euro, the hotel is offering rates beginning at $1,300 a room a night with a three-night minimum to travelers who ask for the U.S. dollar rate."
John Day, President of Premium IV is proud to announce that Concierge.com the online home of Conde Nast Traveler, featuring hundreds of destinations around the world has recognized and recommends Premium IV as the concierge company for St Barts.
Continue reading "Premium IV Recommended By Conde Nast Traveler As The Concierge Company Of St Barts" »
Didn't the NY Times do one of these last winter too? I guess you can always find a writer willing to spend some time on St. Barts:
"GETTING to St. Barts isn’t easy, not even with your own Gulfstream. On the final leg, trade your million-dollar jet for a tiny puddle jumper, before threading between two jagged peaks and touching down on a teensy runway that, islanders like to joke, is as short as an aircraft carrier’s. That might explain the island’s exclusivity. Although Jay-Z, Beyoncé and a rotating cast of celebrities have kept St. Barts in the tabloids, this tiny French island still exudes a chic, laid-back vibe unspoiled by gawkers and day-trippers. And despite a new wave of wine bars, chichi boutiques and designer restaurants, the island’s main attraction remains its luscious white sand beaches, fringed by the pool-blue waters of the Caribbean."
Lots of good stuff mentioned in the article along with many phone numbers, websites, etc.
 "Accommodations include 3 staterooms for up to 7 guests, with grand outdoor dining space covered by hard top bimini, and enclosed eisenglass. In pristine condition and with remarkable international crew, Jess Sea is sure to please charter clients looking for hospitality hand in hand with pleasurable sailing. This impressive yacht will be attending the St. Barth’s Bucket Regatta in March 2008."
30k a week, plus expenses.
Garage Nid'AS et Auto Store in St Jean Carénage is now selling electric cars. The cars come with aluminum rims, a security alarm, and the capability to program your speed between 40 km and 70 km (a little fast for the roads here!). Options include air-conditioning and an audio system with AM/FM radio and a CD player. The cars contribute nothing to pollution and you can save thousands of euros over the years with the gas going for about 5 €/gallon.
According to the INSEE (the French Institute for Economic Statistics), the population of St Barth as of January 1, 2007 was 8450 residents. This figure represents a 23.28% increase, or 1596 new residents, since the last census of 1999. This is an average increase of 2.7% per year. The official results of the census, which was taken in January and February, will be released by the end of the year. With the new Collectivity status of the island in effect, the census will now be taken every five years; thus, the next census will take place in 2012.
February 9, 2008-June 8, 2008
Archery Competitions: February 9, March 15, April 26, May 24, June 7-8
February 5, 2008
Carnival
February 8-10, 2008
St Barth Official Fashion Weekend at Nikki Beach Hotel
April 16-20, 2008
International Book Day
April 20, 2008
9th Edition of the Transat Ag2r. Arrival in St Barth will be approximately three weeks later.
April 25-30, 2008
13th Annual St Barth Film Festival, A.J.O.E., Lorient
 As part of the new tax structure put in place by the new Collectivity, everyone must pay an annual tax on their vehicles. Proof of payment is the "vignette", or sticker shown in the photo, which must be purchased by March 31 and must be displayed on the windshield. As of January 17, 1077 vignettes had been sold, only 10% of the 10,000 vehicles estimated to be on the island. The vignettes are for sale at the Hôtel de la Collectivité, the territorial treasury or the municipal police station in Gustavia. Have not yet heard what the fine will be for violators.
The Transat Classique Lagassé sets sail from Brittany on August 17, 2007 and is expected to arrive in Gustavia between December 14 and 18, after a stop in Agadir, Morocco. An around-the-island parade is planned for December 22, the day before the awards ceremony. Twenty-nine classic or traditional sailboats are already enrolled and up to 35 may participate in this transatlantic race. The oldest boat is the 46' gaff-rigged Mismosa III, which was christened in 1903. The newest boat is Faiaoahe, a 65' neo-classic sloop that was launched in 2006. The Transat boats will arrive at one of the busiest times of year for the Port of Gustavia, which is always full of mega-yachts that come for Christmas and New Year's. Bruno Gréaux says that a few berths at the dock will be reserved for the Classic Transat, but most of them will have to anchor out in the harbor.
The art gallery Bagdad Porta 34 in Gustavia is holding an exhibition of the work of Neil d'Ourson from February 1 to February 7. D'Ourson is a sculptor and "plastics technician" and is known for his work with metal on all natural materials. He was the winner of the 12th contest of Contemporary Art. This year he is featuring the most symbolic tree of the Caribbean: the flamboyant.
You can charter a catamaran starting at 61 € per person for a sunset cruise or a day at Tintamarre or Pinel Island off of St Maarten with TopLoc Rentals. Ask at the Activities Desk of your hotel or call 05 90 29 02 02.
Kazz n' Blues, which now occupies the space of the previous Cocoloba, has just announced the grand opening on February 2 of their Private Club K n' B, an after-dinner spot with live music from 9:00 pm until 1:00 am serving wine, champagne and cocktails with live music by the sea.
A "garage" sale or flea market will be held in the parking lot of A.D.E. (across from the gas station) in Lorient on Saturday, February 2, and Sunday, February 3. The sale is featuring women's clothing, accessories, shoes, purses and jewelry priced between 5 € and 40 €.
Can't tell if this is really an article or some sophisticated advertorial:
WHICH is the Caribbean's most bijou island? The crème de la crème destination for a piece of paradise is St Bart's, officially Saint Barthélémy. It's a favourite with the jet set and as popular for its lively “scene” as for its idyllic scenery. Jagged hills create an impressive backdrop to sweeping coves and dramatic headlands. The sheltered port, Gustavia, is dotted with Sunseekers and giant motor yachts in the evening.
The St Bart's season is wintertime, starting with a bang at Christmas and New Year as half of Hollywood celebrates in style. The whole island is drenched in glamour, but the action revolves around a few key spots. There are five hotels with serious kudos - Eden Rock, Guanahani, Le Sereno, Taiwana, and the most charming of them all, Isle de France, with its residence club. It is hidden away at one end of a long curve of white sand, Baie des Flamands. The focal point of this ten-acre private resort is the terrace restaurant overlooking the beach and pool, behind which the villas fan inland. The resort is a mere five minutes' drive from the airport, and ten minutes' drive from the harbour. More here, including some tips on what to do and where go out.
Pierre Brouwers and his son Nicolas recently completed filming a 52-minute documentary on the history of aviation on St Barth and its impact on the island. He and his son are again on the island, filming a new documentary on the aspects of everyday life on St Barth. They joined the crew of the yacht Altair to film the annual December 31 regatta around the island. Others subjects in their latest documentary will include fishing, jet skis, night clubs and cultural activities. The film is scheduled for release in April.
On January 1, 2008, the new French smoking laws went into effect on St Barth. It is now forbidden to smoke in any public enclosed place such as restaurants, cafés, hotels, the airport, and nightclubs. If the restaurant has an open-air area (not covered by some type of roof), smoking is allowed. Although I have not seen official documentation to this effect, I have heard that restaurants in violation of the smoking laws will be fined 10,000 €.
WinAir Now Offers Direct Flights to Antigua
Since December 3, WinAir has offered direct flights to Antigua twice a day. These flights are scheduled according to the arrivals and departures of British Airways and Virgin Atlantic on Antigua.
New Shoe Repair Shop
La Godasse has recently opened in Gustavia next to M'bolo (around the corner – to the left – of Le Select). The shop is open Monday-Saturday from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm and from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
Form Fitness
This gym in Lurin, just before the Santa Fe restaurant, has now opened a boutique that sells fitness wear, sports wear and accessories.
"Passport to the Internet", produced by Rony Lainé and Production des Iles, will be a televised mini-series designed for those who would like to learn how to use the Internet. The mini-series will be a combination of fact and fiction. It starts with a story about a grandfather and his granddaughter in the French Antilles who want to get news about family members who live far away. An expert on the Internet will then explain and demonstrate how to use the Internet to do this. The filming for the fictional portion of the mini-series took place December 21-28 at the Météo France weather station in Gustavia. The factual portion was filmed there January 4-8, 2008. St Barth does not play a major role in the mini-series but was chosen for its location and availability of amateur actors who represent the French West Indies. The ten 13-minute episodes are scheduled to air in early 2008 on public and private TV stations in the four overseas departments of Guadeloupe, Guyana, Martinique and Réunion.
 In their December issue, Travel + Leisure magazine voted St Barth among the top ten Caribbean islands on which to unwind. Don't we know it! St Barth was voted as "Best for the Scene."
Other top-ten islands included:
Saba, "Best for Adventure"
Nevis, "Best for Authentic Caribbean Adventure"
Anguilla, "Best for Beaches"
Grenadines, "Best for Sailing"
St John, "Best for Unspoiled Nature"
Bermuda, "Best for Golf."
Starting at 5:00 am on Monday, December 17, about thirty fishermen blocked entry to the port of Gustavia with their boats to protest the high price of gas. The blockade prevented cargo ships, cruise ships and the ferry between St Barth and St Martin from entering or leaving the port. The airport was also shut down for a few hours in the afternoon. President Bruno Magras visited the port at 8:00 am and told the fishermen that he would discuss the issue after they opened the port. After an unsuccessful attempt at negotiation at the port, some of the fisherman went to the airport around 10:30 am and blocked the entrance to the departure lounge and the check-in counters. At 1:30 pm, President Magras agreed to organize a meeting with the Executive Council, which took place at 3:00 pm. The port was reopened a little after 5:00 pm, at the conclusion of the meeting, results of which are not yet known.
Continue reading "Fishermen Block Port of Gustavia to Protest High Gas Prices" »
On January 1, 2008, the postal code of Saint Barth will change. The new postal code will start with "977", but the remaining two numbers are still unknown. This change is a result of the recent vote for Saint Barth to become an Overseas Collectivity, autonomous from the administration of Guadeloupe. Now's the time to buy those T-shirts and other momentos with the original 97133 postal code.
 The earth did indeed move on St Barth yesterday afternoon – for about two minutes. On Thursday afternoon, November 29, the strongest earthquake in the Caribbean in over 200 years struck Martinique (photo at left). The earthquake measured 7.4 on the Richter Scale and was centered at a depth of 90 miles in the Caribbean Sea between Martinique and Dominica. The strongest quake in the Caribbean measured 7.9 in 1766. The tectonic plate responsible for this activity is the Caribbean Plate, which underlies Central America and the Caribbean Sea off the north coast of South America. Fortunately, because of the depth of the quake, no tsunami was predicted. Unofficial measurement of the activity in St Barth was 4.0.
 Beginning on January 1, 2008, all visitors to the island will be charged an accommodation tax of 5% of the net price of the hotel room, villa or other rental property. Beginning on December 3, a form will be available that must be completed by all hotel managers and landlords. This form will be available at the Office of Tourism in Gustavia and at the Hôtel de la Collectivité or may be downloaded from www.comstbarth.fr. Hotel managers and landlords are required to levy the tax on their guests and to pay the Collectivity monthly. Failure to do so will result in a penalty of 0.4% of the amount due.
Eric, of The Concierge, is offering a new service. You can now order from over 500 newspapers in 36 languages. The Concierge will deliver the newspaper(s) to your villa, with or without a croissant. To find out more information and to see a list of the available newspapers, please visit www.theconcierge.fr or contact Eric at eric@theconcierge.fr.
For better or for worse, the long-rumored restricted parking in Gustavia is scheduled to become a reality at the beginning of 2008. The objective is to prevent people from leaving their cars in the same spot all day. In certain restricted zones, the maximum amount of time that you will be able to park is 1 ½ hours. This time limit will apply to parking along the harbor from the pharmacy to the restaurant La Route des Boucaniers. While parking will initially be free, parking meters may be installed in the future; the necessary equipment was ordered on October 29. The Collectivity will conduct an information campaign before initiating the restricted parking to educate the local residents of the change. One hope is that people will start car-pooling and that some system of public transportation will emerge. The 1 ½-hour limit will be in effect during peak hours during weekdays. The restriction will not be enforced from noon to 2:00 pm, after 5:00 pm or on weekends. Exceeding the 1 ½-hour limit will cost you 11 euros. Initially, a parking disk will be given to all residents and will be present in all rental cars. This disk will note the arrival and departure time of all cars that are parked in the restricted areas during the restricted time periods. We'll have to wait a bit to see how this is actually implemented.
Premium IV, a complete destination service provider, has just completed a 36-page booklet the size of a regular passport that is divided into three sections: Villa Experiences, Island Experiences, and Vacation Experiences. Each section describes some of the packaged services provided by Premium IV along with pricing. If you would like to receive a free copy, please send your mailing address to johnday@premiumiv.com. Tour operators and travel agents may request multiple copies.
Wow - I didn't know you could sue someone else after you set yourself on fire:
"Bartnicki's lawsuit against Calypso St. Barth Inc. and Calypso St. Barth NY Inc. was filed Wednesday in Brooklyn Supreme Court.
She was given the $250 skirt, with fringed, horizontal panels of fabric and a slight flare at the bottom, as a birthday present the day before her party.
It was purchased at Calypso, a trendy store on Broome Street that is part of a chain founded 15 years ago in St. Bart's in the West Indies."
As a result of the autonomy recently awarded to St Martin and St Barth, the ISO has added two new country codes for Internet extensions: .bl for St Barth and .mf for St Martin. Up until the addition of these two country codes, all web sites originating from St Barth used the .fr extension. It is not mandatory that the new country codes be used, but are available if one so desires.
New press release from Wimco:
Just 8-square miles small, the Caribbean island of Saint Barthelemy (aka St. Barts or St. Barths) is a bright spot on the map of celebrity fun-seekers as uncrowded white-sand playground alternative to the Cote d'Azur in the winter months. Revered by French and American investors as a chic second-home Mecca and by descendents of Norman, Briton and Swedish settlers, St. Barts residents are seeing tectonic-sized shifts in the political and economic landscape of this beautiful island.
In January 2007, St. Barts officially achieved a milestone nearly four decades in the making by becoming an Overseas Territorial Collectivity of France (OC) and separated from dependence upon French sister islands Guadeloupe and St. Martin. Previously governed as a Commune of Guadeloupe - St. Barts always was a step-child for the attention of motherland France. Not any more. As an OC, St. Barts can determine its own destiny in political, social, and cultural arenas by having a freer hand in managing its own affairs. St. Barts has achieved near-autonomy and its leaders are now creating laws related to taxes, tourism, public transportation, schools, housing, construction zoning, environmental and energy affairs, as well as that all-important residency status. Read the rest here.
"Affordable" and "St. Barts" are not two words that you say in one sentence too often - but the NY Times has some ideas:
St. Barts on the cheap? Easy. Just attach yourself to Jay-Z's entourage, score an invitation aboard a megayacht, and sip Champagne all night in the V.V.I.P. section at Nikki Beach. If that fails, a seven-room villa at the celebrity-filled Carl Gustaf Hotel goes for 48,000 euros a night during the peak season. Luckily, for those who would rather splurge on a lobster dinner, this chic Caribbean Riviera still has a smattering of affordable options — relatively speaking, of course.
The article is full of good tips, and lots of links to check out.
The DailyHerald.com is reporting:
MARIGOT--A leading epidemiologist on Friday described the rate of suspected or confirmed dengue infections on the French side as “just below the threshold for an epidemic,” as a gradual increase of suspected cases has been recorded during the past three weeks.
A total of 42 suspected cases were registered for the third week of October and 20 of these were confirmed as dengue. The epidemic threshold is around 25 confirmed cases per week, it was noted. Figures for St. Barths were significantly higher in October.
St. Barths (and St. Martin) will eventually have it's own country domain extension - .bl
For technical reasons it will take awhile for them to become available - you can read more about it here.
The Hôpital de Bruyn in Gustavia was built in 1933 and has been long overdue for renovations to bring it up to the standards of a modern hospital befitting the island. Work began on Monday, September 24, with the total cost estimated at 3.5 million euros, and is expected to take 18 months. A new section measuring 500 m2 and consisting of two stories will house an area for local procedures and a pharmacy on the first floor. The second floor will have ten beds for medical patients and seven beds for caring for people on a longer term basis. The original part of the hospital will have space for various activities, such as preparation for childbirth, along with rooms for the personal items of the staff, the administrative offices and a room for get-togethers. The section currently used for emergencies and consultations will remain unchanged.
At the beginning of August, the new Collectivity of St Barth made available its web site, www.comstbarth.fr. The site contains a wealth of administrative information and has already had 5000 visitors. Future plans include adding pages dedicated to the associations on the island so that their activities can be better known and understood.
October 4-14, 2007
Tennis tournament at the Hotel Guanahani & Spa, Grand Cul de Sac; registration through October 3. For more information, call 05 90 27 66 60 or 06 90 49 86 94.
April 20, 2008
9th Edition of the Transat Ag2r transatlantic sailing race departs from Concarneau, France. After traveling for 3710 miles, it will arrive in St Barth approximately three weeks later.
As always, when the last of the beach festivals has occurred, when the start of school is just around the corner and when the month of September arrives, St Barth tends to close down for a month. It's the time to work on the roads, restaurants, hotels, and shops to prepare for the high season when the tourists return. It's a sleepy time on the island. This year even some of the local restaurants are closing until mid-October, such as The Wishing Well (Chez Rolande) in Flamands. Ti Zouk K'fé on La Pointe in Gustavia is not only remaining open, but is introducing a new menu: For lunch, the plat du jour or fish of the day with one drink is 10 euros. They're also hosting Happy Hour from 6:00 – 7:00 with a new tapas menu. They'll be open every day, and their evening menu offers creole specialties in addition to their regular menu and pizzas. Or, if you just feel like staying in one evening, Sushi Mania will deliver sushi every day. You can call them at 06 90 65 12 55 or email them .
To commemorate the new Collectivity of St Barth, La Poste designed a pre-stamped envelope with a photo of the Hôtel de la Collectivité and the date of July 15, 2007, which was when St Barth's new political status became a reality. These commemorative envelopes were presented on August 24, the day of the festival of the patron saint of St Barth. Ten thousand of the pre-stamped envelopes are available for sale at La Poste for 0.90 each. As the first philatelic product of the Collectivity of St Barth, the pre-stamped envelopes could become a collector's item.
 Here is a great amateur website with a section devoted to St. Barths from MM Video. Lots of good stuff about their trip - beaches, dining, and hotel information - in English and French. Make sure to check out their video page with a video of the flight from St. Martin to St. Barts.
The MSNBC website had an article out title "Top trips for singles" which mentions the following:
"One such outing is a six-night yoga retreat at the Hotel Isle de France in St. Barth. Solo travelers can take daily group yoga classes on the beach or at the spa's indoor studio. For the solitary, there are meditation classes, and a spa menu that includes outdoor Thai massage and spine treatments. Afternoons are generally free, so singles will have plenty of time to explore the island and its many beaches on their own or with others on the retreat. They can also unwind in one of the hotel’s 34 guest rooms - each one has a spacious marble bath and overlooks lush gardens."
Hurricane Dean looks to be not a huge event for St. Barts - the storm passed well south of the island. The only working webcam we can find is the always reliable airport cam, and it doesn't even look like it is raining on St. Barts at the moment.
If any locals would like to leave a comment or email us some first hand observations, we would appreciate it.
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