US Travel Writer & Dutch Journalist Visit St.Eustatius

ST.EUSTATIUS- Dutch travel photographer and writer, Mr Jochem Wijnands, for the Dutch National Geographic magazine, and travel writer, Ms Brooke Morton of Sport Diver Magazine, visited Statia. Mr. Wijnands is spending about six months covering all the Dutch islands in preparation for approximately, a 32 page article to appear in the travel magazine edition of Dutch National Geographic. He arrived on Wednesday Feb. 20th and leaves on Feb. 29th 2008. Mr Wijnands who lives in the Netherlands, has brought his family along because, he says, otherwise he would never get to see them. He says he likes small communities, and is very impressed with the friendly atmosphere and the cheerful but unhurried attitude of the people he has met. MS Morton arrived on Feb. 19th and will be leaving on Feb. 24th 2008. The purpose of her visit is, Ms Morton is preparing a feature story for the July issue of Sport Diver magazine. According to Ms Morton Statia has made quite an impression on me, and I have never heard about the island before. The diving is excellent, it is world class and I'm also impressed with its diversity and quality, it was more than I expected. She says Statia has the biggest wrecks for wreck diving she has seen. Ms Morton says she also enjoyed the Old Gin House hotel, the food and the nice friendly staff. They both expressed that they are enjoying their stay on the island and looking forward in exploring more of the island.

Lions District Governor Visits St.Eustatius

Left to right, Mr. Charles Lindo, Deputy Director, Mr. Roland Lopes, Public Relations, District Governor, Mr. John E. Ebanks, and Lions President, Ms. Bernadine Pandt.

ORANJESTAD - Governor of the Lions District 60B, Mr John E. Ebanks arrived on St.Eustatius Wednesday Feb. 6th 2008 at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Airport. The District Governor, Mr. Ebanks was welcomed by Statia Lions President, Ms Bernadine Pandt and Lion Leonora Sneek-Gibbs. Shortly after his arrival, Mr Ebanks and the Lions President Bernadine Pandt visited the tourist office, met with Deputy Director, Mr Charles Lindo, and Public Relations, Mr. Roland Lopes. After his visit at the tourist office the District Governor was given a historic tour of Fort Oranje, a short history of the island by Mr. Roland Lopes, and in the interest of time concluded his tour at the St.Eustatius Historical Museum. Later in the morning, the Lions District Governor also paid a courtesy call at the Government Administration Building, where he met with Commissioner of Tourism, Mr. Julian Woodley, Comissioner of Finance, Mr. Roy Hooker, and the Lt. Governor Mr. Hyden Gittens. The District Governor met with members of the Lions Club during a meeting held on Wednesday evening at the Lions Den. Mr Ebanks said the District Governor is in charge of Lions Clubs from Barbados in the southeast to the Cayman islands in the west. These are 26 islands, with a total club membership of 1,941, according to the last count that was held December 30th 2007. The District Governor began his tour of the 26 Caribbean islands in August 2007, and will complete his visits in March 2008. After leaving the island of St.Eustatius, the District Governor will visit the islands of Anguilla and St.Maarten.
Mr Ebanks was very impressed with the island.

Linda Whitwam of Eyewitness Travel Guide

Freelance Writer Linda Whitwam, left, and Mr Roland Lopes, Public Relations, St.Eustatius Tourism Development Foundation.


Photographer records cultural, historical Statia

ST. EUSTATIUS— Linda Whitwam, a freelance photographer from Yorkshire, England, in the United Kingdom, visited St. Eustatius Feb. 4th to 6th 2008. Ms Whitwam photographed a number of sites on the island. Whitwam is working on an “Eyewitness Travel Guide” for DK Publications.
Whitwam says that the Eyewitness guides try to focus on the cultural and historical aspects of the places they cover, and include many photos. The Caribbean book, which will be ready in the summer of 2009, will cover 17 islands. She has visited, or will visit, most of the islands between Martinique and Puerto Rico.
Whitwam says she has found the Statia people to be very hospitable, and also photogenic, friendly, and helpful. She climbed the Quill with Park Ranger Nadio Spanner, and visited Fort Oranje, the Miriam Schmidt Botanical Garden, the Historical Foundation Museum, Zeelandia Beach, and Fort de Windt. She was able, with a boat from King’s Well Resort, to photograph the Quill from the sea. Whitwam feels that her book will boost Statia’s tourism by providing information to special interest groups who will want to experience what Statia has to offer.


Freelance Writer Linda Whitwam, left, with Roland Lopes, Public Relations, St.Eustatius Tourism Development Foundation.

Travel Writer of Lonely Planet Visits Statia

Travel Writer Brandon Presser, right, and Mr Roland Lopes, Public Relations, St.Eustatius Tourism Development Foundation.


ST. EUSTATIUS— Brandon Presser, a writer with Lonely Planet, visited St. Eustatius Feb. 2nd to 5th 2008, to gather information of St.Eustatius for a travel guide being prepared by his company. The guide he is working on will cover all of the Caribbean islands, but he is concentrating on this trip on just five: Statia, Saba, St. Maarten, Anguilla, and St. Barths.
Hosted by the St. Eustatius Tourism Development Foundation, Presser climbed to the top of the Quill and went scuba diving. He especially liked some of the wreck dive sites.
He says his organization tries to find tourism destinations that are a little different from those that are better known. He especially liked Statia, because, he said, “the island has not sold out to tourism.” In addition, the friendly Statia custom of saying hello to everyone you meet, whether you know him or her or not, impressed him.

Reggae Artist Mega D does solo tour in Africa

Dancehall/reggae artist Mega D does solo tour in Africa

The dancehall/reggae artist Mega D also known as D. Humphreys, originally born in Sint Maarten but grew up Statia will be doing a three week tour through Senegal and Gambia

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Mega D has 14 shows scheduled that is powered by Nescafe Senegal, which will begin the second week of February until the first week of March, and will be accompanied by his Dj, road manager, Edvin‘Donga’ Redan (hype man) and Bq a.k.a Lion man,a popular dancehall artist from Senegal

Mega D is part of the highly successful, well known and respected European group called the RMXCRW (remix crew) who is rated as one of the best live acts throughout Europe, South America, and Asia.

Mega D is currently focusing on his solo career as he plans to re-locate to Miami, Florida later this year, He feels its time to let his real self be heard, and bring back his raw side and go back to his roots as the Island kid with the Yardcore rugged street sounds

However he is still very active with his group RMXCRW as they are planning the international release of their sophmore album and a tour this april in the Caribbean, Asia and South America

At the moment he is now working in Miami fl recording for his first debut album that will be released late this year.

He recently hooked up with a very well know Antiguan producer that goes under the name of Jus Bus, who produces for many international artists like Vybez kartel, Delly Ranks, alozade Kenyatta, Sizzla and many more.

He will be featured on the new riddim that’s call: war head riddim that will be release early this year worldwide.

Mega D has shared stages with multi platinum artists such as: Elephant Man, Capleton, Wayne Wonder, Sean Paul Akon, T.O.K and many more, and collaborate with many international artist like DMX, Mr Vegas, Dj kool & Red Rat who will also appear on his album.