Construction work in progress! – November 2009

In September we gave you an update on the situation of our forced relocation. With this we like to inform you again about the progress.

Besides the daily care for our donkeys, welcoming visitors to our park and all other daily activities, there is hardly any time left. Especially not now the cruise season started again. For during this period of the year, we also spend several days a week in our little market stall on the market in Kralendijk, to sell souvenirs to the passengers of the cruise ships. This way we try to earn extra money to care for our donkeys.

In the little hours left, we are working with might and main to build a new Donkey Sanctuary Bonaire. Ed and Genaro do almost everything with their own hands. That takes a lot of time and a lot of sweat! Besides it takes time to plan and lay schemes for all work that has to be done. And for trying to find sponsors and generous supporters that want to provide us the necessary supplies and money.

What at first seemed to be a mission impossible, now slowly takes shape. Thanks to contributions of several loyal donors, sponsors and the excessive efforts of our (voluntary) employees, more and more is getting done.

The construction of the new stables for ill and injures donkeys is far advanced. These stables are paid and built by KI Developments. The floors and walls are finished. The roof layers are now on their way to Bonaire by sea container. We built exactly the same size as the old stables are, so we can re-use the old doors and barred windows. Of course we will first give it a fresh layer of paint!

We picked a good spot for our new reptile garden, that is sponsored by Aorta Productions. At this moment we are laying bricks for the surrounding wall. In a short while, our turtles and iguanas can move to their new home.

Besides we are digging a hole on the site where will be placed a very big stock guard. Obviously our donkeys need to stay in the sanctuary and not out on the streets in danger again!

The new wind mill, that will provide us all necessary electricity in an eco-friendly and independent way, is being manufactured. We expect to receive it on Bonaire in December by sea container. It is superb that we got this wind mill donated by the Dutch Society for the Donkey Studbook, as we would have never been able to pay for this ourselves.

In the same sea container also a donation of Plieger, a Dutch supplier of sanitary products, will arrive. The gave us three toilets, flush tanks and wash hand basins for free. So we can soon start to build our new lavatories.

We are also working hard on our new visitor centre. In the near future visitors to our park can here enjoy a refreshing drink in the shade. The visitor centre is being built as a palapa: a typical Caribbean hut with open-sided structure. The roof is made of dried and woven palm-tree leaves. This authentic hand work is done by a Columbian brother and sister.

Satelliet, a Dutch furniture supplier, gave us beautiful new outside furniture for in this palapa. We are very thankful to them, as our old tables and chairs really needed to be replaced after multiple restorations.

The palapa gives a wonderful view on the lake in our park. With a ground water pump we will be able to keep water in this lake also in the dry season, so it will be possible to see flamingos up close all year round. We hope this will lure extra visitors to our sanctuary.

By the way, officially we had to leave our current location by the 1st of October this year. Clearly that was not possible. So, already this spring, we kindly asked for a delay to the authorities of Bonaire. Strangely enough we never received an answer to this request. Therefore we do not know what will happen. We just trust that we and our hundreds of donkeys will not be kicked out on the streets.

Well, a lot of construction work in progress! Unfortunately the battle is not won yet. We still did not find financial means for some vital part of our relocation. For example for our intensive care unit and the badly needed new fences we are still looking for sponsors or funds. And of course our ‘normal’ daily bills have to be paid as well.

But we take courage in the fact that, thanks to all generous supporters, step by step a beautiful new Donkey Sanctuary Bonaire is being made!