Since there really is NOT a lot to do on the island, election time is a really big deal.  And I mean really!

 

Saba is presently part of the Netherlands-Antilles.  The island of Curacao is the 'head island', meaning all money stems from Curacao.  Most locals believe that Curacao is corrupt (a corrupt government: go figure!) and doesn't distribute the wealth evenly.  In defense of this argument: Saba's infrastructure is truly in disrepair and underfunded.

 

In 2008, the Netherlands-Antilles as a country is being dismantled, as all of the other islands have had enough of Curacao.  Saba is going to become a Dutch island.  This basically means that our flow of Heineken and Gouda cheese will be uninterrupted (thank heavens, we would have mass rioting otherwise), but probably won't have legalized prostitution or marijuana use (and just when it sounded oh so promising).

 

Back to my point, the elections this year were truly important, as they are the leaders heading into this huge transition.

 

What I find more amusing, is the rules involved with voting.  Basically, the whole island shuts down after 12 noon on Friday and everyone votes and gets wasted.  You cannot buy alcohol at any store, bar, shanty.  BUT, most if not all of the candidates running have open houses at their homes: filled to the rim with what else.....copious amounts of booze.

So on this small island (with 1200 local population) every citizen votes, unwind, drink......and then get in their cars, driving around and blasting their horns: non-stop.

 

Needless to say, Saturday morning was perhaps the quietest I have ever heard, even the roosters must have partaked as they were quiet.

 

I finally got around to posting some new pics...We still don't have any great pictures of both the boys together, but alas they are 4 and 2, so whatcha see is what ya get.

 

That's about it for now...

 

C