[UK-CONTEST] More on Netherlands Antilles Carve up 10/10/10

Mon Aug 16 14:12:06 PDT 2010

A new Bulletin has just been issued on OPDX ref Netherlands Antilles.

We know Kelly from last year’s successful M/M effort at PJ2T;  he has a lot
of contacts on Bonaire too; so this summary is from a reliable source. See
you in the pile ups !!!

“NETHERLANDS ANTILLES (More on Bonaire, the 10/10/10 Break-up and a full
Press Release on the Upcoming Operation). Kelly, N0VD, provides more info to
OPDX regarding the postponed referendum, and wanted to clarify a few points
that may be confusing for those not following the political process on
Bonaire. He states, "In short, the referendum has no affect on 10.10.10
transition date. It was simply an attempt by some of the minority political
leaders to gauge the opinion of the Bonaire people as to whether they agree
or disagree with how the whole political process has taken place and the
eventual outcome."

   He quotes the "Bonaire Reporter" dated August 16th: "On Friday, the 13th,
Bonaire's planned referendum was postponed until further notice. The Island
Council adopted an amendment stating a referendum would be held 'on a date
to be determined later per Island Ordinance.'"

   "The action effectively cancelled the Island' Government's attempt to
test the mood of the people prior to the integration of the island with
Holland on October10, 2010. The Referendum's outcome in any case would not
have affected the integration."

   "The amendment was offered by independent councilman Anthony Nicolaas.

Opposition leader Ramonsito Booi asked for a vote but his four-person
faction got up and left without voting, leaving the amendment to be accepted
by the four Democratic party members and Nicolaas."

   "The Referendum Committee had asked to postpone the poll from September

3 to October 1 to have more time to organize it properly. One of the matters
that came up during the meeting was that the cost of conducting the
referendum was estimated to be NAf 500.000. The budget approved earlier was
only NAf 350.000."

   Kelly, states, "So in essence, the referendum (or lack of) has little
affect on our planned DXpedition." He also mentioned that they anticipate to
have their group's Web site to go live this week.

   The following is a full press release on the upcoming Bonaire operation:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Press Release: 10-10-2010, New DXCC activation of PJ4, Bonaire

Date: 11 August, 2010

   The end of a country - The Netherlands Antilles With a 99% certainty,
many things are about to change for the people and all radio amateurs in the
Netherlands Antilles. On October 10, 2010 the Netherlands Antilles will
cease to exist as a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the
islands will emerge with several new statuses:

  * St. Maarten and Curaçao will become an independent country within the

    Kingdom and will be granted the same status that Aruba attained in 1986.

  * Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius (also called BES islands) will be given

    the status of a public body (a kind of special municipality) in the

    Netherlands and will therefore fall directly under Dutch rule.

What does this mean for radio amateurs?

---------------------------------------

   The two current DXCC entities of PJ2/PJ4 (Leeward Islands) and
PJ5/PJ6/PJ7 (Windward Islands) are expected to be deleted. However, several
new entities are likely to emerge on 10-10-2010.

   * Both St. Maarten (PJ7) and Curacao (PJ2) will become a new DXCC entity.

   * Bonaire (PJ4) will become a new DXCC entity.

   * Saba (PJ6) along with St. Eustatius (PJ5) will become a single DXCC

     entity due to their proximity to each other.

   In short, 2 entities will be disappearing, but 4 will come back!

Activities from Bonaire

-----------------------

   Everyone knows what an activation of a new DXCC country means and that's
why a group of hams from Bonaire, Germany, The Netherlands and the United
States have joined forces to successfully activate Bonaire.

   From six locations around the island, a group of between 15 and 20
amateurs will activate Bonaire between October 10-24, 2010. The primary
focus will be all HF bands from 160 to 10 meters including the WARC bands.

Due to the time of year, 6 meters will not likely produce much activity, but
it will be a consideration. The team will focus on all modes including SSB,
CW and various digital modes.

Callsigns

---------

   Callsigns will be announced prior to the activation. However, we expect
the prefix to continue to be PJ4 even after October 10th. Further inform-
ation about the callsigns to be used will be published on our website -

                          http://www.bonaire2010.com

Radio Netherlands

-----------------

   With 6 locations around the island, there should be plenty of opportunity
for a QSO. However, our premiere location is that of the short-wave trans-
mitter site, Radio Netherlands. Bonaire is home to a large relay station and
its impressive aerial park which provides up to 21 dBd gain. We are
extremely pleased to announce that with the co-operation of the World
Service, our group of hams has been granted use of the antennas during their
"dead hours" on the HF bands.

   In addition to our other locations, we anticipate being active on HF
daily between 12:30 and 18:30 UTC from the Radio Netherlands facility.

We expect to utilize this opportunity on 30, 20, 15 and 17 meters. Radio
Netherlands is also expected to air a special program dedicated to the new
status of the radio amateurs on Sunday, October 10th.

   More information will be available on the Radio Netherlands' website
<www.rnw.nl> or on the DXpedition website - <www.bonaire2010.com>.

Contacts with schools

---------------------

   Between October 11th-15th, the World Service's facility will also serve
another purpose. A group of schoolchildren from Bonaire will be contacting
another group of children in the Netherlands who will be the guest of Dutch
ham PD1DX. This will provide an opportunity for the group of new Dutch
country citizens to ask each other questions in order to get to know one
other a little bit better.

QSL cards

---------

   All QSOs will be QSL'd through the services of Global QSL who will be
responsible for printing and distributing cards to all QSL bureaus world-
wide. If you do not use a QSL bureau or would like to send for a direct
confirmation, all QSL information will be published on our website –

                          http://www.bonaire2010.com

Website with online log

-----------------------

   Up to date information will be published on our website -

                              http://www.bonaire2010.com

   Information on Bonaire, sponsors, activation plans and the participants
will be listed. In addition, we expect to have an on-line log.

   Given the expected pile-ups, we kindly ask everyone who works us after

10-10-2010 and who finds themselves in the log not to call again. We want to
give a new country to as many people as possible.

Participating hams

------------------

   At the time of release of this bulletin the following amateurs will join
the activation:

     Bonaire : PJ4GT, PJ4LS, PJ4NX

     Germany : DL9USA, DJ8NK

     Netherlands : PA8A, PA8F, PA3GVI, PE2MC, PE2KY, PG4M

     United States : K6AM, N0VD, W4PA, W0LSD

     Puerto Rico : WP3UX

   This list is subject to change. For the latest news about the
participants, please visit our website.

   See you in the pile-ups on 10-10-2010!”

End of Quote

73

Dave, G3NKC