Mr. & Mrs. Karl and Roswitha Rabitsch

Wir Finden Eustatius Wunderbar 03/18/08

Marine Biology Students-From aboard the vessel "Alva"-Swedish Highschool

Italian Freelance Travel Writer Visits St.Eustatius

ORANJESTAD - Freelance writer from Italy, Mr Giovanni Brancaccio visited the island of St.Eustatius. This was his first visit to the Caribbean, and he was quite amazed and impressed with the island and its friendly people. Mr Brancaccio said, he took a lot of pictures of the island. It is very attractive and offers a nice package for the type of clientel that the magazine is catering for. He said, he learned about the island through the website. Mr Grancaccio highly commended the website. He also said that he enjoyed the exotic historical sites and buildings. The name of the main magazine he writes for is; "Internationale". The magazine promotes history, culture and travel, and has a strong cicrculation in Italy. Mr Grancaccio spent three days on Statia, and left the island on Thursday March 6th 2008. He will be spending three months in the Caribbean visiting and writing about other islands, just to name a few; St.Barths, Dominica, St.Vincent and expects to be back in Italy in April of this year.

Proclamation by President Bush on Dutch-American Friendship Day , 2007

Press Release Source: White House Press Office A Proclamation By the President of the United States of America Dutch-American Friendship Day, 2007 Our close partnership with the Netherlands dates back to the founding of our Nation, and it remains among our oldest continuous relationships. Many of the Pilgrims first sailed for the New World from a Dutch port, and when a small American warship approached the island of St. Eustatius in 1776, the Dutch port there gave the American flag its first friendly gun salute. A few years later, the Netherlands became one of the first nations to recognize the independence of the United States of America. The United States and the Netherlands are continuing that tradition of close cooperation in the 21st century, working together to bring hope and liberty to places where it has long been denied. Dutch Americans have enriched the American experience and have helped write our history, strengthen our character, and shape our society. Today, we pay tribute to our allies in the Netherlands and recognize the proud citizens of Dutch ancestry who call America home. NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States do hereby proclaim April 19, 2007, as Dutch-American Friendship Day. I encourage all Americans to celebrate our country's Dutch heritage and the many ways Dutch Americans have strengthened our Nation. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this nineteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-first. GEORGE W. BUSH Contact: White House Press Office 1-202-456-2580 Source: White House Press Office

GWENDOLYN VAN PUTTEN SCHOOL EMBARKS ON TOURISM PILOT PROJECT AS PART OF CURRICULUM

Last year the Secondary School and the Elementary Schools embarked upon the Tourism Pilot Project as part of their curriculum. This year, the St.Eustatius Tourism Foundation has launched the project with a new theme entitled; “Week of The Future”. The St.Eustatius Tourism Development Foundation, (STDF), had the privilege to accommodate nine students from the Gwendolyn van Putten School. This was the class of PBL and PKL accompanied by their teacher, Mr Bart van den Anker at the Tourist Office on Monday March 3^th 2008.

The purpose of their visit was; to orient themselves with the tourism product on the island. Mr Bart van den Anker, introduced the students to Deputy Director, Mr Charles Lindo and Public Relations, Mr Roland Lopes of the St.Eustatius Tourism Development Foundation. Mr Lopes then spoke to the students on the rich history of the island, and the connecting history, concerning the ties the island developed with the Unites States of America during the 17^th and 18^th century. Mr Charles Lindo followed with a synopsis of career training, the importance of having a good education, and the impact the tourism industry would have on the island.

The STDF in its effort to inspire and train the tourism and hospitality sectors will continue to keep the tourism awareness programme in the schools and for future generations in maintaining a sustainable tourism product.

Mr Roland Lopes

Public relations