St. Barts News & Events

Summer Rates on Sailboat Rental

Fun Sea'Stem is offering a summer special on a half-day rental for up to six passengers on its Sun Odyssey 42 DS Sea Flower. This rate includes skipper, fuel and an open bar and is good from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The French captain grew up in St Barth and was manager of the Saint Barth Yacht Club for three years. He has sailed all around the Caribbean and taught windsurfing and sailing. For more details and contact information, visit www.funseastem.com.

Normally, Pitea Day, held in mid-August, was the celebration to commemorate the twinning of St Barth and Pieta, Sweden. However, starting this year, St Barth will dedicate a full week in November to celebrate the ongoing friendship between St Barth and Sweden and the island's Swedish past and to introduce the populace of St Barth to today's Sweden. The event will take place November 16-23 and is being organized by the non-profit associations ASBAS and SkŠllskapet (The Friends of Saint Barth Association of Stockholm). A.S.B.A.S, in partnership with ITEC Services, is sponsoring a photography contest with the theme "the family and the history". This is an opportunity for photographers to show the Swedish history of St Barth and the friendly relations that exist between the two countries. The contest is free and is open to anyone residing or originating on the island, other than professional photographers. First prize will be a CANON EOS Rebel XSL digital camera valued at 799 euros. The photographs will be displayed in the library in Gustavia throughout Swedish Week

About one year ago, the St Barth Beach Hotel in Grand Cul de Sac was sold and razed to make room for the Niilaaia Hotel Resort & Spa. Recent news is that construction will start soon. Niilaaia is a Sanskrit word that means "bearing the color of blue." The hotel will include 46 beachfront rooms, six fully furnished "townhouse style" duplex suites that can be purchased and three villas that can also be purchased. For more information, visit www.niilaaia.com.

The Soualiga Challenge between St Barth and St Martin is scheduled for September 28. The kayaks will depart from the beach in Public, with Captain Oliver's Marina in Oyster Bay, St Martin as their destination Đ a distance of 25 kilometers. The Soualiga Challenge is the first competition of the Caribbean Mini Turn 2008. The second, and final, contest will be the Guadeloupe Challenge held on October 4. The winner of the Soualiga Challenge will receive 4000 euros, with the winner of the Guadeloupe Challenge receiving 8000 euros. For more information, contact Stuart Knaggs at thebrowns@domaccess.com or Oliver Tanton at otanton@gmail.com.

The SB Jam Festival, a four-day event held on the quay in Gustavia, presents different bands from St Barth and other islands in the Caribbean. This year's music festival will be from August 14 until August 17. So, go out for an evening (or four) of good music and dancing under the stars.

Thursday, August 14
6:00 pm Local DJ
8:30 pm Sambla Gil with guests Kali and Rapha‘lle Eva
11:00 pm La Perfecta, a famous group from Martinique
Friday, August 15
6:00 pm Local DJ
7:30 pm Dance with group VIP from St Maarten
8:30 pm MarcŽ and Toum Pack from Martinique
11:00 pm Group Panik with Jeff Joseph, Dominique Panol and Thierry Cham
Saturday, August 16
6:00 pm Local DJ
7:30 pm Zouk Flam with special guests Paola, Luc LŽandry, Franky Vincent, Anthony Gussie, Chiktay, KRAVAN
11:00 pm Tabou Combo
Sunday, August 17
9:00 am Belote tournament
12:30 pm Punch and music with a steel band from St Martin

Michel Magras, who teaches science and biology at the Mireille Choisy junior high school in Gustavia, has recently published Flowers of Saint Barthelemy. His book, which is in French and English, classifies 280 species of the 400 different flowers that are found on St Barth and contains 1000 photos. The book is presented as a practical guidebook, but also contains the Latin names and carefully documented scientific characteristics of the plants. Along with the scientific information, you'll find interesting anecdotes. For example, M. Magras tells us that the acacia tree, locally called "bois lolo" has been banned from gardens around houses "and systematically destroyed, while, in fact, their horizontal roots actively fight against the erosion of the soil." Two thousand copies of the book have been published and are available in the bookstores for 25 euros.

With gas prices rising every week, the airlines are in the news more and more. American Airlines has announced that they are adding two new direct flights out of Miami and New York for the upcoming tourism season. The new twice-weekly New York flight starts in December and will go increase to five flights per week in January. The second direct flight from Miami is scheduled to start in November. It will leave Miami at 5:15 pm and arrive in St. Maarten at 9:10 pm. The aircraft will stay overnight there and leave the next morning at 9:10 am, arriving in Miami at 11:30 am. Air Cara•bes has announced that it will again offer flights between St Barth and St Maarten starting on July 15 in partnership with Tropical Airlines.

One of the most frequent complaints registered with the police in St Barth is the level of the noise from construction, bars and discotheques. However, many complaints go unanswered due to the inability to measure the noise level. Recently, the territorial police and the gendarmes (the French police) have received three sonometers and will be able to quantify the noise level and take appropriate action. Depending on the time of day, the frequency and the level of noise, those responsible can be charged between 68 to 450 euros. If the offense is described as "sound aggression," the perpetrator could go to prison for up to one year and be charged with a fine of 15,000 euros. St Barth already has several restrictions in place. For example, the use of tools or apparatuses that make too much noise cannot be used between 6:00 pm and 7:00 am Monday through Saturday, between noon and 2:00 pm Monday through Friday, and between noon and 6:00 pm on Saturdays and all day on Sundays.

Preliminary Results from the 2007 Census

Complete results from the 2007 census will be published at the beginning of 2009, but some preliminary data has become available. The population of St Barth has increased from 6854 residents in January 1999 to 8450 in January 2007. As in 1999, there are still more men than women on the island, 53.2% and 46.8%, respectively. Most people are in the 40-59 year-old age bracket; a change from the 20-39 year-old age bracket in 1999. Like the U.S., the baby boomers are aging, but less than 10% of the population is older than 60 and nearly 50% of the residents are single. As might be expected with all the construction underway, the unemployment rate is a relatively low 3.2%.

St Barths 1st Wind Turbine

The first wind turbine on St Barth is high in the hills of Lurin. It is hoped that these silent and pollution-free devices will replace noisy generators. This wind turbine can capture the wind from all directions without having to turn on its axis, which is often a source of breakdowns requiring repairs. It starts producing energy with only 5-6 km/hour of wind. For more informaction, visit www.energies-sb.com.

Festival of Mini-Videos of St Barth

This is for all of you "video bugs." St Barth is planning on having a festival of mini-videos that were made in St Barth. If you have an interesting or funny video that you took in St Barth and would like to participate, you can call 590 690 53 26 24 or send an email to sbhvkollektiv@gmail.com.

Defibrillators to be Installed in Public Places

As the result of a partnership between the Rotary Club, the Collectivity of St Barth and the Red Cross, semi-automatic defibrillators will be installed at the stadium in St Jean the Capitanerie in Gustavia, the airport and the surfer's cabin in Lorient. Volunteers of the Red Cross will train the public in their use.

Bits and Pieces

Le Ti Barth reopened July 10 after a short vacation.

Blue Coast, a boutique in St Jean at Pelican Beach, will close on July 31.

La Plage restaurant at the Tom Beach Hotel in St Jean is offering a summer special that includes a drink, a salad and a chaise lounge for the beach for 20 euros between noon and 4:00 pm.

The restaurant O'Corner in Gustavia has announced that it is closing.

Segeco, the exclusive distributor for Dom Perignon in the Caribbean, organized an event on June 3 at the Manapany Hotel in Anse des Cayes to present the vintage Dom Perignon Millesime 2000, marking the first time that a vintage Dom Perignon has been presented in the Caribbean. This vintage was made from grapes picked at the end of the 20th century and aged for seven years in the champagne cellar. Chief champagne maker Richard Geoffroy describes the aroma as having "notes of poached pears and gardenia" and that "on the palate, notes of anise and dry ginger mix with a hint of ripe fruit (pear and mango)."

Wimco Offers 7th Night Free in St Barts Villas

Wimco and Sibarth have banded together with St Barts villa owners to create a "Stay 7 Nights/Pay for 6 Nights" offering for nearly 70 villas on the island of St Barthelemy. The villa rental pioneers are optimistic that by offering a free 7th night, travelers will be more inclined to come experience the beauty of St Barts during the more affordable low season.

The "Stay 7 Nights/Pay for 6 Nights" special applies for travel during the entire month of July 2008 and October 1-November 15, 2008. Participating villas include the new stunner, SIB DOL in Pointe Milou, fabulous SIB JAY in Mont Jean and crowd favorites SIB SAS in St Jean, SIB OUI in Petit Cul de Sac and SIB TOR in Lorient.

For more information, please contact one of Wimco's St Barts destination specialists at 1-800-932-3222 or visit www.wimco.com.

New St Barth License Plates Start to Appear

As a result of St Barth becoming an Overseas Collectivity, all newly registered cars will have the new St Barth license plates, which will include the letters SBH. The standard plate will consist of one to three digits, followed by a space, followed by one to three letters and the letters SBH. Personalized plates are also now allowed and can consist of up to ten letters with no spaces. The standard registration costs 25 euros and personalized plates will cost 50 euros. It will be fun to see the personalized plates that appear on the island!

St Barth Properties Offers Great Savings on Car Rentals

St Barth Properties is offering a "Deals on Wheels" special from June 16 to October 31. If you make a reservation during that time at one of the villas or hotels that they represent, you can rent a car for $175 per week, with a $25 rate for each additional day. A normally good rate for this time of year is 25 euros per day, which at current exchange rates is $39.50 per day! These rates are good for a Suzuki Ignis hardtop sedan or a Jimny soft-top convertible Jeep, both with automatic transmission. For further details and to book your reservation, visit their website at www.stbarth.com.

Has the Francois Plantation Closed Its Doors for Good?

Word has it that the 4-star Hotel Francois Plantation, located on the northwestern tip of the island, high in the hills of Colombier, has decided to close its doors. Whether this is truly a permanent closing or not remains to be seen. They were closed for renovations when this news arrived. Several sources say they will not re-open. However, their website says "closed until further notice." We'll just have to wait and see what happens. Not only would this be a loss of a lovely hotel, but also of an excellent restaurant.

Specials at Le Toiny Hotel

The Hotel Le Toiny, located on the southeastern coast of St Barth, is a member of the Relais & Chateaux chain. The hotel's restaurant, Le Gaiac, overlooks the Caribbean and has a beautiful pool that restaurant guests are welcome to use. The restaurant is now offering a special "Discover St Barth" menu poolside every Friday evening for 58 euros. And, clients of St Barth Properties can enjoy complimentary cocktails. Among other items, the menu includes such temptations as crawfish wrapped in crispy spaghetti with a guacamole of mango and passion fruit, crab raviolis, and rack of lamb coated with crusty coconut and served with an eggplant chutney and spring vegetables.

More Airline News

Air Caraibes Last week, it was reported that Air Caraibes, who provides commercial flights and charters between St. Maarten and St. Barth has ceased all operations of flights and the handling of flights and charters until further notice due to financial losses. Those with confirmed tickets are being accommodated by other airlines, notably Winair. It is expected that in early July the airline will resume operations in conjunction with a third-party, most likely Tropical Airlines, which is also known as Air Antilles Express.

Spirit Airlines Spirit Airlines recently announced it would close its San Juan hub.

Jet Blue JetBlue Airways Corp. plans to add daily flights to Puerto Rico from New York, Orlando and Boston starting this fall. However, in September, they will cease their daily flights to St Maarten and offer flights only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. In early October, daily flights will resume except for Tuesday and Wednesday. They expect to resume daily flights again on October 30.

Specials Abound During Low Season

Le Sereno Seven-Night Special
The beachfront Le Sereno in Grand Cul de Sac is offering a seven-night special from April 14 until December 15. The package includes rental of a Suzuki Jimny or similar, daily Continental breakfast, one dinner for two at the hotel's gourmet Le Restaurant des Pecheurs. Two lunches for two at Le Restaurant des Pecheurs or a deluxe picnic with club sandwiches and a bottle of champagne, one Bouillabaisse cooking class and one Bouillabaisse dinner for two, choice of a sunset cruise with hors d'oeuvres and champagne on a Vietnamese junk or scuba diving on a guided trip with instructor, a bottle of champagne, one welcome beach bag, complimentary use of gym, tennis courts, snorkeling equipment, kayak or pedal boats. Visit www.lesereno.com for more information.

Le Toiny Five Nights Pay For Four
Le Toiny in Grand Fond is offering two special packages from June 1 until November 16. Stay five nights and pay for four or stay 10 nights and pay for eight. The package includes accommodation in a one-bedroom villa suite with private pool, daily Continental breakfast for two, private round-trip transfers to and from the airport, flower welcome and amenity, and a Smart car for four or eight days (excluding gas and insurance). Visit www.letoiny.com for more information.

Hotel Guanahani & Spa five-night special Sponsored by WIMCO
Wimco is sponsoring a five-night special at the Hotel Guanahani & Spa in Grand Cul de Sac from April 15 through October 31. The package includes daily Continental breakfast in room or American breakfast in the hotel's Indigo restaurant, a choice of either lunch or dinner for two daily, car rental, round-trip transfers from the airport or harbor, a welcome gift and your choice of two of the following activities: one hour of jet-skiing for two, two one-hour windsurfing lessons, two one-hour tennis lessons, two Clarins Spa treatments (excluding massage) or a beginning scuba diving lesson. Visit www.wimco.com for all details.

St Barth Phone Directory Now On-Line
Wish you'd written down the phone number for a restaurant, hotel, doctor or a favorite boutique before you left? Now, the St Barth phone book is on-line at www.directory-saintbarth.com. It's easy to use and you can search by profession or name. There's even a tab for an inverse search - you enter the phone number and the business or person's name is returned. This is a real help if you want to make reservations at your favorite restaurants before leaving for the island.

La Palace in Gustavia will be closed from June 7 through the end of July.

La Poste in Gustavia is operating under summer hours until September. They are open from 7:30 am until 12:45 pm every day except for Wednesdays and Saturdays, when they close at noon.

The Strand Supper Club in Gustavia is offering free champagne to ladies every Thursday from 11:00 pm until 1:00 am.

La Pomme ("apple" in French), an authorized reseller of Macintosh computers, has opened on Rue Courbet in Gustavia.

Le Piment Now Serving Tapas
Le Piment in St Jean is now serving tapas starting at 7:00 pm, often accompanied by live music. A few samplings from their menu are:
  Calamari with tartar sauce
  Escargot with Sherry vinegar and parsley
  Quesadillas with peppers, chorizo, guacamole
  Cajun chicken
  Toasted baguette with herbed goat cheese
  Sausage plate

Winair Cuts Schedules Due to Pilot Shortage
As reported in the St Maarten newspaper the Daily Herald on June 4, Winair is facing a shortage of pilots and has been forced to reduce the number of its flights to all destinations. The airline needs five more pilots to supplement its pool of 25 pilots in order to maintain its previous schedules. Because of a shortage of pilots from the Antilles, Winair has been trying to attract foreign pilots. However, the process to acquire the mandatory employment documents is lengthy. Documents from the pilot must be submitted to the Island Labour Office. Once they are verified, Winair must pay the processing fee to the Island Receiver.

This initial process takes about three days if all goes well. Normally, once Winair has provided proof of payment to the Labour Department, it takes a week to process the paperwork and send it to the Executive Council for approval. At the same time, all documents are sent to Police Affairs for a residence permit. After these steps are completed, an appointment must be made to process "the declaration act of guarantee" and the paperwork is sent to the Lt. Governor and the Immigration Department for approval. Winair reports an incident when paperwork for a pilot was begun in January and by the end of April was still not completed. The airline is appealing to the Central and Island Governments to streamline the process so that it takes only two weeks from when the documents are submitted to obtaining the permit. Winair's management requested a meeting in April to discuss these issues. As of today, no meeting has been set.

As quoted by the Daily Herald, "Until the required number of pilots is employed, the airline will be operating on a limited schedule." Be sure to allow extra time to make your connection, even if it requires staying overnight in St Maarten. If you arrive and find your flight to St Barth has been cancelled, you can take a taxi to Marigot for $20 and hop on the Voyager, a ferry that takes 75 minutes but can be rough. If you arrive early enough, you can take a taxi to Bobby's Marina in Philipsburg and catch the 5:00 pm Rapid Explorer. This is a comfortable, air-conditioned high-speed catamaran that will get you to St Barth in 45 minutes.

Swedish Week in St Barth
Normally, Pitea Day, held in mid-August, was the celebration to commemorate the twinning of St Barth and Pieta, Sweden. However, starting this year, St Barth will dedicate a full week in November to celebrate the ongoing friendship between St Barth and Sweden and the island's Swedish past and to introduce the populace of St Barth to today's Sweden. The events will start on the Sunday before the annual running of the Gustavialoppet marathon, which will close the week's activities. According to Yves Greaux, who is vice-president of the territorial council and is responsible for cultural affairs, "2008 marks a triple date: the first Swedish Week in Saint Barth; the 30 years of twin cities Pitea and Saint Barth, and the 130th anniversary of the retrocession of the island to France. It is important to give this first edition a real visibility, to give it a solid base to become an annual event." As such, the vice-president has asked for projects to be submitted to the Tourist Office before August 15. The event will take place November 16-23 and is being organized by the non-profit associations ASBAS and SkŠllskapet (The Friends of Saint Barth Association of Stockholm).

2008 Tour of Caribbean Soccer Stars
Get ready for a big night of soccer! On Wednesday, June 4, the Caribbean Soccer Stars will be in St Barth on their second annual tour to take on some local St Barth soccer players at the Stadium in St Jean. The competition starts at 6:00 pm and admission is free. Among the all-stars is Mamadou Niang, the highest scorer for Marseilles during the 2007/2008 championship season; Souleymane Diawara, a defender for the Bordeaux Girondins; Jeremie Janot, goalie for the "Greens" of Saint-Etienne; and Anthony Le Tallec, attacking midfielder for Le Mans. The all-stars will play in St Martin on Sunday, June 1 and then make their way to St Barth. The tour is organized by Marty Toure of Wavecom. Information on all the players can be found at www.caraibesfoot.com.

La Gloriette Rhum Is Still Available
Although the restaurant La Gloriette in Grand Cul de Sac closed its doors sometime last year, their popular rhum is still available at the boutique behind the original restaurant. The boutique is typically open for several hours in the morning and again later in the afternoon.

Tis the Season of the Sales
If you'll be on St Barth before June 28, be sure to take an empty suitcase with you! Unlike the U.S. where there seems to be a sale every weekend, the French government controls when the shops on St Barth can hold sales. Sales can occur twice a year, and this year's dates are May 17 through June 28 and September 27 through October 25. Savings can be substantial. For example, La Maison des Plantes in Lurin has slashed prices on plants by 50% and on pots by 20%. The Swedish Design Center is selling items 35% to 50% below their original prices. You'll see ads for most of the boutiques advertising a range of discounts from 20% to 75%.

Cheap Eats Despite the Low Dollar
Those of us who love St Barth will always return despite the less-than-favorable current exchange rate with the euro. But be assured, you will always be able to eat well at a reasonable price - especially for lunch. Most of the island's restaurants have a "plat du jour" (special of the day) at very affordable prices. One favorite is La Marine, which is located right on the harbor in Gustavia (on La Pointe - across the harbor from the main part of town). They offer three daily specials for 12€, and you won't leave hungry! Each day at lunchtime, they have a salad of the day (often loaded with shrimp and smoked salmon or prosciutto), a fish of the day, and a meat entree. Others to keep in mind are The Hideaway in St Jean for 10€, The Wall House on La Pointe in Gustavia for 9.50€, Le Repaire in Gustavia for 12€, La Creperie in Gustavia for 10€, Ti Zouk K'fe on La Pointe in Gustavia for 10€, and Le Wok in Lorient for 12.50€. Recent offerings at Ti Zouk K'fe were a ballottine of salmon or the chef's rabbit, whereas Le Wok offered mahi-mahi in a green curry sauce. Not bad eats!

Charter the Lone Fox for a Day of Sailing
The Lone Fox is a beautiful 65-foot classic wooden sailing yacht that was built in 1957 in Scotland for Colonel Whitbread, of Whitbread Breweries, the original sponsor of the Whitbread Round The World Race, as his personal yacht. Set sail in this spectacular yacht with the very capable and amiable Captain Ira Epstein, who has won several regattas and races. He is offering a special summer rate of 900€ for a day of sailing, swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing and exploring the coastline. Maximum number of passengers is 12. For more information, call 06 90 33 27 91 or 06 90 33 26 85.

New Radiology Suites Opens On April 30, the new radiology suite at the De Bruyn Hospital was inaugurated. The new radiology equipment was purchased with a donation of 154,000 euros from FEMUR (Foundation for Emergency Medical Equipment in St Barth) and 50,000 euros from the Kovner Foundation in the U.S. According to Pierre Nuty, the director of the hospital, plans are in place to have a full radiology center by 2010. Additional equipment will include a scanner that costs 400,000 euros. FEMUR will try to raise as much money as possible to help achieve that goal.

Transat Ag2r Sailing Race
Every other year, it's time for the Transat Ag2r! And Saint Barth is already looking forward to the arrival of the identical Figaro Beneteau boats in the fleet of the 9th edition of this transatlantic race. The boats set sail last Sunday at 10am from Con- carneau, a French fishing port in Finisterre known for its medieval walled town.
  - Full Article
  - Live Race Report

Win Five Nights at Le Sereno Hotel
JCrew is sponsoring a Honeymoon-at-the-Beach contest and the grand prize is a five-night stay at a luxurious hotel in either Hawaii, the Turks and Caicos, the Bahamas or the French West Indies. You guessed it; that means St Barth! The hotel chosen for St Barth is the newly renovated beachfront hotel Le Sereno in Grand Cul de Sac. The hotel is located on a cove with turquoise waters that are protected from the ocean waves by a coral reef. The hotel has 37 suites and villas and a gourmet restaurant that claims to serve an authentic bouillabaisse. To enter this contest, go to
jcrew.eprize.net

New Radiology Suites Opens
On April 30, the new radiology suite at the De Bruyn Hospital was inaugurated. The new radiology equipment was purchased with a donation of 154,000 euros from FEMUR (Foundation for Emergency Medical Equipment in St Barth) and 50,000 euros from the Kovner Foundation in the U.S. According to Pierre Nuty, the director of the hospital, plans are in place to have a full radiology center by 2010. Additional equipment will include a scanner that costs 400,000 euros. FEMUR will try to raise as much money as possible to help achieve that goal.

Andrew Racliffe Exhibition at Eden Rock's Art Gallery
Andrew Radcliffe, an American artist who has been living on St Barth with his wife and young son for the past two years, is exhibiting his art at Jane's Gallery at the Eden Rock Hotel in St Jean until May 24. Radcliffe studied at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, received a Master of Fine Arts from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1987 and has exhibited his work throughout the U.S. In addition to hundreds of small pen-and-ink drawings, Radcliffe is also exhibiting several oil paintings that reflect his love of the tropics.

Secondhand Store in Corossol to Close
For several years now, the quaint village of Corossol has been home to a large store (Les Puces, which can be loosely translated to "flea market") that sells a broad variety of used goods - everything from furniture to artwork, dishes, glassware, fans, clothing, you name it. Sadly, they have announced that they will be closing as of April 30.

Bits and Pieces
Winair Announces Fuel Surcharge According to the Daily Herald of St Maarten, Winair will begin adding a fuel surcharge of $12.50 on one-way tickets and $25 on round-trip tickets to all fares beginning May 1. As Winair is the most popular airlines for flights between St Maarten and St Barth, this will affect most people traveling to this little piece of paradise.

Lesser Antilles Iguana in Danger
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.

Francois Plantation
Is closing for renovations. Located on the northwestern tip of the island, high in the hills of Colombier, the four-star Hotel Francois Plantation is housed in typical St. Barth architecture with a wrap-around terrace and a pool surrounded by teak decks overlooking a beautiful bay. The restaurant, one of the most highly regarded on the island, closed on April 1 and the hotel will close on May 7. The renovations here will be to bring the hotel's sanitation system and kitchen up to date. The hotel will re-open in mid-November and has plans for additional improvements in the summer of 2009.

Two Luxury Hotels Close for Renovations
Carl Gustaf, located on a hillside in Gustavia overlooking the picturesque harbor, is a four-star luxury hotel (www.hotelcarlgustaf.com) close to gorgeous Shell Beach, restaurants and shops. Two weeks ago, they closed for major renovations. According to general manager Pierre-Alexander Maillard, "We are going to be enlarging the hotel as well as completely renovating the restaurant, bar, and lounge." The hotel will add a new four-bedroom suite over the restaurant as well as a small spa and boutique. The spa will have three treatment rooms for massage and other services along with a Jacuzzi. The hotel is scheduled to re-open on December 15, 2008.

Jimmy Buffet Sponsors Local Windsurfer
Antoine Questel, who will be 24 in September, has made waves in international windsurfing competitions over the last couple of years. Now, Jimmy Buffet has decided to sponsor him. Questel ranks among the top French windsurfers and has been part of the Funboard team at P™le France for the past three years. During the first round of the French Funboard championships, held April 5-10 in southern France, he came in third. There are two more rounds to go. He is currently competing in the Euro-Cup Mondial du Vent, which attracts the top windsurfers and kite surfers in the world. Questel is also sponsored by the Collectivity of St Barth, Eden Rock Hotel and Sooruz, a surf and skate apparel company. For more information on this talented young man, visit www.centrehautniveaufunboard.com or www.sailingnews.tv.

The Collectivity Collects Almost 3.5 Million Euros in Taxes
Since January 1, 2008, St Barth has collected almost 3.5 million euros between the new business tax, the vehicle tax and the accommodations tax. The business tax has earned the Collectivity 925,120 euros. Each business on the island must pay 300 euros plus 100 euros per employee up to a maximum of 5000 euros. The vehicle tax, called a vignette for the sticker that must be placed on the windshield, varies depending on the size of the vehicle. A total of 7154 owners have already paid, bringing in almost 1 million euros. The newly instituted accommodation tax of 5% per daily rental fee of villas and hotels has brought in almost 1.5 million euros. The Collectivity projected 2.5 million euros for the year for the accommodation tax, so this sounds like a good start, but they are afraid that it may fall short by the end of the year.

Voulez-vous danser?
Looking for something a little different to do on Sunday evenings? Every Sunday, the Association des Retraites de St.Barth (the Association of Retirees) holds an "Afternoon Dancing" at the Hot Spot Cafe in Lurin from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Go spend a few hours dancing the tango, waltzes, the cha cha and the Madison. Admission is free and open to all. For more information, call 05 90 27 52 80.

Big Sale at Le Tamarin
Every year, Le Tamarin restaurant in Salines hosts a large "yard sale" on their grounds. This year's will take place on Sunday, April 27. Go early because everyone else does!

Casino Rumors
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 Francais 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.

New Restaurant Opens in Grand Cul de Sac
The O'Corail Restaurant, a beach snack bar, opened April 14 in Grand Cul de Sac between Le Sereno and the previous La Gloriette in front of Ouanalao Dive. The restaurant is open seven days a week and serves breakfast from 9:00 am to 11:30 am and lunch from noon to 5:00 pm.

An Evening of Opera
On Friday, April 18, Le Tamarin restaurant in Salines is hosting an evening of opera with South African tenor Etienne van der Nest, who trained at the conservatory of Pretoria. Dinner, for 75€, will be accompanied by his powerful voice with selections from his opera repertoire and Neapolitan songs. The dinner includes a cocktail, hors d'oeuvres, an appetizer, the main dish, dessert and petits fours. For reservations, call 05 90 27 72 12.

The Bucket Donates $175,000 to FEMUR
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.

The Littoral Conservancy Acquires Fort Karl
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. But, this past week, Bernard Gerard, 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.

First Edition of the Transact Classique Lagasse
St Barth will be hosting yet another major sailing event this December. The Bucket Regatta has just finished, and the bi-annual Transatlantic Ag2r race will take place in May. At the end of the year will be the first edition of the Transat Classique Lagasse, with the boats arriving in Saint Barth a few days before Christmas. This transatlantic race is open to classic sailing vessels built as one-of-a-kind or limited sailboats. They will set sail on August 17 from the port of Douarnenez in Finistere, France. After a stopover in Agadir, Morocco, they will set sail for St Barth on November 28. This is the only transatlantic race for classic sailboats. As of now, 31 boats are registered and another 64 have expressed interest. (Where, oh, where will all of these boats dock during the already full port of Gustavia around Christmas time?!) The race will have three winners, one in each of the following categories: Vintage, for boats built before 1975; Modern Classics for boats built with more modern materials such as welded steel, molded wood and polyester; and Neo-Classics for boats built after 1975 as replicas of traditional vessels. The largest boat is over 100', the smallest is a mere 32', and the oldest was built in 1913. Most of these boats have an interesting story behind them. For example, the Mistral, an 82' schooner, first set sail in 1938 and served in the German navy as part of submarine surveillance operations during WWII. If you want to be present for this first-time exciting event, be sure to make your reservations early as Christmas and New Year's is always a popular time on St Barth. For additional information: www.transatclassique.com. Below is the schedule of events. In traditional St Barth style, there is sure to be music and dancing on the quay, probably on December 23.

December 15-20, 2008 Boats begin to arrive in Gustavia
December 21, 2008 Official cocktail reception
December 22, 2008 Promotional race around the island
December 23, 2008 Official dinner reception and awarding of the prizes

Pre-Stamped Envelopes with the Winning Painting
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.

Electric Cars Start to Arrive
Electric cars manufactured by Miles are starting to arrive! In 2007, Miles, a company based in Santa Monica, California, was recognized as "the electric car company of the year." Three small models are currently being imported, ranging in price from $19,500 to $24,500: the ZX40, the ZX40S and the ZX40AD. These cars can go about 50 miles at their top speed of 40 mph before it's necessary to recharge the battery, which takes from four to six hours. The six batteries have an expected life span of four years or 30,000 miles and can be replaced for $350. (With the current exchange rate between the euro and the US dollar, this is a bargain!) Currently, because of the lack of an engine rating, these cars are not subject to the tax on vehicles instituted in St Barth at the start of 2008. That will most likely occur, but perhaps the COM will encourage these environmentally friendly cars by charging a lower annual tax.

Hostellerie des 3 Forces - A "Mystic" Spa & Hotel in Vitet
Looking for a beautiful place to stay, yet a little different from the typical hotel? Check out the Hostellerie des 3 Forces in Vitet. The owner and chef, as well as an astrologer who has been practicing for over 20 years, is the very charming Hubert Delamotte. M. Delamotte, a renowned chef, arrived from France in 1979 for a vacation, met his wife and never left. Isn't that so often the story you hear when on St Barth?! The Hostellerie has seven quiet and charming cottages. All rooms face the sea, have air-conditioning and many have kitchenettes. In the morning, you can have breakfast by the pool or in the restaurant's harbored veranda. For more information, go to www.3forces.net or call at 590-590-276-125

Accommodation Tax Brings In 580,000 Euros in January
The year 2008 has already brought many changes to St Barth as it assumes its new political status of an Overseas Collectivity (COM). One of these changes has been the institution of an accommodation tax of 5% on all seasonal rentals: hotels, villas, apartments, etc. The goal of this tax is to raise money to meet the budget of the COM since funding from France has greatly decreased. For the month of January, the COM has collected 580,000€. However, President Bruno Magras is concerned that individuals who rent their villas directly to clients without the assistance of a villa rental agency may not be reporting these rentals, and, hence, not paying the required tax. Members of the COM are currently doing research in an attempt to identify any such cases. As President Magras states, "We need these taxes in order to meet the budget for the COM. It is in the interest of everybody on the island, since the more we can collect, the less risk there is of creating new taxes."

La Chorale de Bon Choeurs Heads to New York
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. Barthelemy (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!

What's Happening at Grand Cul de Sac?
The St Barth Beach Hotel in Grand Cul de Sac has been leveled for some time now, and there has been much speculation about what would be built on that beautiful oceanfront site. There is now a sign on the property that says Niilaais Hotel Resort & Spa Coming Soon! They are offering exclusive 5-bedroom villas and luxurious full-service duplex suites for purchase within the resort. See their web site www.niilaaia.com for more information.

Fundraiser for Barack Obama Held at Eddy's
Eddy's Restaurant in Gustavia hosted a "Barack Obama for President" fundraising event on Wednesday evening, February 27, from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm. The event was organized by Richard Branson and Lucy Salenger along with other Members of St Barts for Barack Obama. Marvin Zonis, professor of International Political Economy and Leadership at the University of Chicago's Graduate School of Business spoke on "Leadership and Barack Obama." American citizens and Green Card holders were invited to make contributions of $100, $250 or $500.

St Barth Bucket Sets Sail March 27
Mark your calendar for March 27-31 for the 13th Annual St Barth Bucket Regatta! This non- commercial event involves three days of racing around the island and attracts the most spectacular and majestic sailing yachts in the world -- all of which must be over 100 feet. The Bucket is an invitation-only event, and they already have a full fleet of 30 yachts, with many more on the waiting list. This year, five of the world's most prestigious super-yacht builders have come together to provide over 60% of the Bucket's annual budget on an ongoing basis: Alloy Yachts, Holland Jachtbouw, Perini Navi, Royal Huisman Shipyard, and Vitter's Shipyard. Good spots to view the races are at the lighthouse in Gustavia, the heights of Lurin and Pointe Milou and the end of the road at Colombier. And, don't forget the parties and music on the quay in Gustavia in the evenings!

Bicycling on St Barth
A few weeks ago, Alexandra HŠrmŠlŠ, a St Barth native, and her husband Markku opened Sun Velo, a bicycle rental company, in collaboration with tour guide Helene Berneir of Easy Time. Although the hills on the island are daunting, bicycles provide an easy way to discover Gustavia. The current fleet consists of a dozen Trek lightweight hybrid bicycles that are suitable for off-road riding as well as in town exploration. They are offering very flexible rental agreements, from hourly to monthly. Alexandra and Markku have also designed several itineraries at all levels - from easy to difficult - if you'd like to follow one of their trips. While waiting to find a site for their business, you can contact them by phone at 06 90 63 46 09 or 05 90 87 18 56 or by email at alexaber@wanadoo.fr or easytime971@yahoo.fr. They will deliver the bikes to your hotel or villa. Best of all? When you're exploring Gustavia, you don't have to worry about finding a parking place!

An Innovative Idea for the 13th Annual St Barth Film Festival
"If you do not go to the cinema, the cinema will come to you". For the 13th edition of the Festival of Caribbean Cinema (the St Barth Film Festival), the organizers have decided to present certain films and videos in the different quarters of the island. Last Thursday, Jean-Marc Cesaire, the founder of the association Cine Woule, visited the island and met with organizers Ellen Lampert-Greaux, Rosemond Greaux and Joshua Harrison. Since 1995, Cine Woule has gone to different districts in Guadeloupe and shown movies on inflatable screens. Cesaire will be in St Barth at the time of the festival, April 25-30, to orchestrate the itinerant projections. A future goal is to establish a place exclusively dedicated to showing movies. To achieve that goal, they would like to have a distribution network in order to share the costs across the islands of the French West Indies. Meanwhile, using the projectors and inflatable, transportable screens of Cine Woule will allow movies to be shown to people who otherwise would never go to the cinema. Great idea!

New License Plates Soon to Come
All new vehicles registered on St Barth as of March 3, 2008 will have newly designed license plates. These license plates are a result of St Barth's evolution to a French Overseas Collectivity and will be specific to St Barth with the letters SBH, rather than the FR on the existing French plates. The Territorial Council also discussed the possibility of allowing personalized license plates, but this is yet to be decided. That would be another way to raise money for the Collectivity, assuming one would have to pay extra. Additional information is available in French on the COM's website: www.comstbarth.fr and a special email has been set up for questions: immatriculation@comstbarth.fr.

First Electric Cars, Now Solar Garages
As reported in the previous issue of News Bytes, electric cars are for sale at Garage Nid'AS et Auto Store in St Jean Carenage. 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.

Hotel Carl Gustaf Offers Special $US Rates
As reported by Michelle Higgins in The New York Times on February 3, the H™tel Carl Gustaf in Gustavia is guaranteeing rates in US dollars. The hotel's listed rates begin at 1100€, which is $1672 at an exchange rate of $1.52 to the euro. However, now through April 19, the hotel is offering rates beginning at $1300 with a minimum stay of three nights. The H™tel Carl Gustaf is a 14-room, 4-star luxury hotel overlooking the harbor of Gustavia. Room amenities include a plunge pool, sun deck, air-conditioning, satellite TV, DVD player, in-room safe, a computer and printer with Internet connection plus a mini-bar and kitchenette. If you book a room, remember to ask for the special US-dollar rate.

The Rapid Explorer Is Back in Operation!
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.
Rapid Explorer New Schedules

Sticker for New Tax on Vehicles
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 H™tel de la Collectivite, the territorial treasury or the municipal police station in Gustavia. Have not yet heard what the fine will be for violators.

Preliminary Census Results Are In
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.

Electric Cars Now Available
Garage Nid'AS et Auto Store in St Jean Carenage 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.

Classic Transat to Arrive in Gustavia December 2008
The Transat Classique Lagasse 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 Greaux 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 Wahoo Fishing Cup
The Wahoo Fishing Cup is scheduled for November 30, December 1 and December 2. This new fishing tournament of wahoo was created to raise money for the stations of rescue at sea of the SNSM of St Martin and St Barth and the Sea Rescue Foundation of St Maarten. These stations operate only with volunteers and gifts. The Cross Antilles Guyana, which answers distress calls of boats in difficulty and organizes help with the various stations of rescue, will also be present for this fishing contest. More than 25 boats are registered for this contest, which was, organized jointly by the Marina at Fort Louis, the SNSM of St Martin and Francois Anton, the underwriter. The price of entry is 500 dollars per boat with a maximum of five fishing rods on board.

New Tennis Courts in St Jean to Open in Mid-December
The stadium complex in St Jean already has facilities for soccer, rugby, archery, judo, tae kwon do and volleyball. Soon, you can add tennis to that already impressive list of activities. The Collectivity has been hard at work building four tennis courts with latticework to stop those stray balls and lighting. In addition, they have provided another court to be used for training purposes. The courts are scheduled to open in mid-December and will be open to everyone. On Friday, the Collectivity signed a five-year renewable contract with the Saint-Barth Tennis Club, an association that was created especially for this event and is chaired by Dany Brin, a founder of A.J.O.E., the tennis association in Lorient. The contract includes the provision of free equipment and maintenance of the courts. Future plans include a club house.

97133 Postal Code to Change
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.

St Barth Music Festival to Present Concerts throughout the Year
As a result of public demand, the St Barth Music Festival has undertaken to offer concerts of classical music throughout the year. The inaugural concert was held on November 21 at the Anglican church in Gustavia where the Festival organizers presented the Enso String Quartet. This quartet was formed in 1999 at Yale University and consists of two violins, a viola and a violoncello. The next concerts will begin in May 2008. On May 2, the jazz group The Monty Alexander Trio will perform, and on May 3, classical music will be performed by a trio on violin, French horn and piano. The pianist, Phillip Bush, will also perform at the 24th annual St Barth Music Festival to be held January 11-23, 2008. Kudos to the St Barth Music Festival in responding to the island's wishes!

Never Been to the Outdoor Theater? Check It Out!
By day, A.J.O.E., in Lorient, offers tennis courts. But several evenings, it turns into an outdoor cinema (this is also the locale of the St Barth Film Festival). A.J.O.E. has been working to improve its capabilities for showing movies. Over the last three years, they have increased the projection area (the back wall) to 75 m2. Last year they added a new Dolby stereo sound system as well as new speakers and have decided to ban smoking as of December 1. For the past two years, they have presented a film every 15 days. The largest remaining obstacle is the selection of films, which the association does not completely control. For the most part, they are subject to the choices of Cinesogar, which is the single distributor of films in the French West Indies. Often, they do not know which film they are getting in advance - sometimes not until the reels actually arrive. Despite their lack of control, many popular films have been presented. So, for a change of pace, how about an outdoor, fresh-air movie on a Friday night?

New Golf Simulator in Grand Cul de Sac
The golf simulator GOLFOTRON has been installed at Grand Cul de Sac. The simulator offers more than 40 different courses, including St. Andrews in Scotland, the oldest golf course in the world. In addition to the 40 courses, the simulator also has five putting greens and several driving ranges. You can play any course yourself or organize golf tournaments and putting and driving competitions. If you want to try it out but don't know how to play golf, they will teach you. The simulator is open every day except Monday from 2:00 pm to 6:30 pm and from 9:00 pm to midnight. For reservations, call 06 90 37 46 45.

New Charter from San Juan
Options for getting to St Barth seem to be increasing daily. Linear Air is offering flights from San Juan to St Barth until April 8, 2008. Their 8-passenger Cessna Grand Caravan holds the highest safety record in its class and their operation maintains an ARG/US Gold safety rating. While on board, you'll enjoy air-conditioning, oversized leather seating, complimentary drinks and snacks and unparalleled luggage capacity. For additional information, contact them at 877-2-LINEAR (outside the U.S., call 1-781-860-9696), visit their web site at www.linearair.com or email them at info@linearair.com. The one-way fare is $475, which includes all fees and taxes. They seem to be offering this service only during the high season, but perhaps it will prove profitable enough to continue longer.

5% Accommodation Tax Begins January 1, 2008
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 H™tel de la Collectivite 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. The Concierge Now Provides Delivery of Over 500 Newspapers 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.

The 10th Annual Gourmet Festival is Underway
The Guanahani Hotel & Spa in Grand Cul de Sac is hosting its annual culinary festival at the restaurant Bar't™ (Le Bartolomeo) until December 21. Each year an outstanding French chef is invited to prepare his own menu in collaboration with Executive Chef Philippe Masseglia of the Guanahani's Bar't™ restaurant. This year's guest chef is Philippe Guerin from the Relais & Ch‰teaux establishment Ch‰teau du domaine Saint Martin, located between Cannes and Monaco. M. Guerin is a disciple of Escoffier and has been the Executive Chef at the Ch‰teau du domaine Saint Martin for six years, overseeing the restaurant Commanderie and the grill L'Oliveraie. For this year's festival, M. Guerin has designed a menu representing the Mediterranean kitchen of the French Riviera. The menu includes four fish dishes, four meat dishes and four desserts. For an evening of unsurpassed culinary delights, be sure to make reservations at the Bar't™, 05 90 27 66 60.

La Course de l'Alliance
Organized by the St Martin Yacht Club Fort Louis in partnership with the St Maarten Yacht Club, the fourth edition of La Course de l'Alliance will be held from November 23 to November 25 in the waters of Saint Martin, St Barth and Anguilla. This sailing event is open to sailboats in the following categories: Spinnaker, non-Spinnaker, Multihull and Open Class. Last year, 23 boats participated in the three-day regatta. Prizes will be awarded in Marigot, St Martin on Sunday, November 25 at 4:00 pm.

Friday, November 23 Regatta leaves Simpson Bay, St Maarten and sails to Gustavia
Saturday, November 24 Regatta sails from St Barth to Anguilla
Sunday, November 25 Regatta sails from Anguilla to Marigot, St Martin

Not Just for Goats Anymore
If you've ever walked the goat path from Flamands to Colombier beach, you know that it can be a bit challenging at times. Improvements have begun. Thus far, they have carved steps into the rock at the cave-like area as well as steps in another rocky area. The path is also quite overgrown at the moment, and men are out there with chain saws to clear the passage.

Monitored Parking in Gustavia Soon to be a Reality
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 1/2 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 1/2-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 1/2-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.

A Few St Barts Video Clips
At the web site www.mmvideo.fr/video/video, you can take a look at clips from four videos of St Barth. Les c™tes de St Barth is particularly good for a view of the scenery around the island.

Le Toiny Update
A well-known magazine on travel and life in the Caribbean published that Le Toiny would be adding a spa and a beach restaurant as part of the new owner's renovations. However, the word straight from Le Toiny is that this is not quite true. They will be adding a massage room rather than a spa, and they will not be adding a beach restaurant.

St Barth Music Festival
The 24th Annual Music Festival will take place from January 11 through January 23, 2008. The schedule is below, but it's early, so to keep up to date with any changes, please visit http://www.stbartsmusicfestival.org as the date approaches. Advance tickets may be purchased, but are not necessary as they are also sold at the door.

Friday, January 11 Chamber music Miro Quartet
Saturday, January 12 Rock n' Roll NYCO with Ted Atkatz
Tuesday, January 15 Chamber music
Wednesday, January 16 Girl of the Golden West Opera Puccini - Maestro Steven Mercurio
Thursday, January 17 Mostly Mozart
Friday, January 18 Orchestra concert Maestro Alexander Klein
Sunday, January 20 Benefit dinner
Monday, January 21 Piano Plus
Wednesday, January 23 Jazz The John Ellis Quartet

New Internet Country Code for St Barth
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.

Taxes on the Agenda

The Territorial Council was scheduled to meet on October 30 to vote on the contents of a 42-page document containing 100 articles of proposed law, which if approved, would become effective January 1, 2008. At the forefront of everyone's concerns is, of course, the future of taxation on St Barth.

Taxes for Businesses It is proposed that businesses be taxed according to the number of employees as follows: 500 euros for businesses with up to four employees, 1000 euros for four to nine employees, 1500 euros for ten to 20 employees and 3000 euros for over 20 employees.

Visitors' Tax A tax of 5% is proposed to be added to all hotel and villa bills. A 5-euro airport and ferry tax is also being proposed.

Taxes on Vehicles Three taxes are being proposed regarding the owning and driving of vehicles. The first will affect everyone who has a driver's license for a vehicle to 125 Cm3 and is yet to be determined. The second is a 25-euro "tax on the certificates of registration" and applies to all registered vehicles, including scooters. The third is a renewal fee whose rate will vary according to the cubic capacity of the vehicle: 50 euros for two-wheeled vehicles lower or equal to 50 CM3, with 3000 euros for large trucks whose capacity exceeds 14 tons. A vehicle with an engine ranging between 7 and 10 horsepower will be taxed 150 euros.

Other Miscellaneous Taxes Also proposed is a tax on the bars, whose rate will be fixed according to the type of their license, and will not exceed 500 euros per year. The fuel tax will remain at 0.23 euros per liter. The tax on electricity would be increased by 2%.

Conde Nast's 2007 Readers' Awards
Conde Nast has just published its Reader's Awards for 2007 in the November issue. With over 28,000 votes cast, Eden Rock (92.7%) was awarded the number one hotel in the Caribbean. H™tel Saint-Barth Isle de France came in at a close second place (91.0%), and the H™tel Carl Gustaf was number five (83.8%). The H™tel Guanahauni & Spa was voted number 11 (87.3%) of Best Resorts in the Caribbean. As for the Best Island in the Caribbean, St Barth (77.0%) was voted number three. Number one was Bermuda (80.2%) and number two was St John (78.9%). The criteria for Best Hotel was food/dining, location, overall design, rooms, and service. The criteria for the Best Resort was activities/facilities, food/dining, location, overall design, rooms and service. The criteria for the Best Island was activities, atmosphere/ambience, beaches, friendliness, lodging, restaurants and scenery. Not bad for such a tiny island!

House Numbers Coming to St Barth
Have you ever wondered how the postal workers can possibly remember where everyone lives in order to deliver their mail?! Letters are addressed with the name of the person and the town where they live. Giving and following directions can be just as confusing. Turn right by the yellow mailbox at the top of the hill just over the little bridge and right past the goats on the left. The Collectivity has adopted a plan to assign numbers to the houses and buildings on St Barth and will begin with the buildings in Gustavia. 1140 numbers have been allocated for all of the houses and commercial buildings in town. To maintain a sense of uniformity, the Collectivity has budgeted between 30,000 and 40,000 euros to fabricate stainless steel signs for the street numbers. The hope is that the numbers will be in place in Gustavia by the end of the year. After having gone through the process to assign house numbers in Gustavia, assigning house numbers throughout the island should go faster. Colombier and Flamands will be the next two areas to be assigned house numbers.

Sixth Annual Painting Contest Gets Underway
The Saint B'Art Association is organizing its sixth annual painting competition. The theme, as always, remains St Barthelemy: landscapes, scenery or people and all media is allowable. The paintings must be available at the beginning of December in order to be exhibited on December 8. Prizes will be announced the end of October. However, as with last year, the winning painting will be used as a stamp on 10,000 pre-stamped envelopes. For more information, please call Veronique Vander Noot at 06 90 39 92 74 or Jean-Pierre Ballagny at 06 90 83 84 00.

What to Do About Disappearing St Jean Beach?
The sand on the beach at St Jean has almost disappeared between the hotel Eden Roc and the restaurant La Plage. A project to add sand to the beach is currently before the Collectivity. The Executive Council was solicited by Eden Roc at the end of July and by the Association of Hotels the beginning of September to determine what could be done to recover the sand. The Council has been working with experts to determine the current state of St Jean Bay, the causes for the disappearance of the sand and the chronic erosion of the beach, and possible solutions. Several beaches on the island are subject to great movement of the sand from September to April due to sea swells that are common during this period. The sand tends to be pushed to the east end of the beaches. From April until September, the opposite occurs, and the sand is redistributed to the west end of the beaches. However, since hurricane Luis in 1995 and those that came in the following years, none of the beaches on the northern side of the island have had the same quantity of sand as before, and St Jean was the only beach where sand was added after hurricanes Luis and Lenny.

The coral barrier in St Jean Bay is covered with sand, and 80% of the coral is dead. Living coral is three to five times more effective than dead coral on wave action. As a result, the waves clear this barrier with all their force. The sea grasses that existed between the coral barrier and the beach have disappeared, thus there is nothing to reduce the force of the waves crashing onto the beach. The waves strike cement walls that have been built to protect property, producing a strong turbulence. The consequence is that the sea is more agitated than in the past, even in calm periods. Also, each time the canal between the lagoon in St Jean and St Jean Bay is opened because the lagoon is too full, a considerable amount of sediment flows into the sea, which is fatal for the coral. St Jean Beach is supported by an ecosystem that includes the coral, sea grasses, beach vegetation, and the current. Today, this ecosystem is destroyed and must be returned to its equilibrium.

After consulting with experts, the following actions have been identified.