Lawyers and banks as indicators

May 19, 2009 6:27 AM

"With the establishment of the law firm VanEps Kunneman VanDoorne on Bonaire, we have an indicator as to what is happening in both the general development and the economic development of the island. Usually, the government or one of its agencies or the business community says how the economy is doing. There is a chance that others will then react and say that it is not true. But there are indicators showing what is happening with the development and these are independent organizations. These are the banks and the law firms.”

Deputy of Economic Affairs Jeffrey Levenstone considers it important that a delegation of the law firm of VanEps Kunneman VanDoorne visited the Executive Council in connection with the establishment of their office in Bonaire. “We already wanted more law firms on Bonaire some time ago, but no-one showed interest in a complete office. Consequently, we only had a few firms on the island. With the establishment of this large firm in Bonaire with a regular staff, there is a possibility that more firms will come. For us this is an indicator that the island is doing well. Another indicator is the establishment of the Girobank and Orco Bank on the island, without the government making a request to this effect. This clearly proves that Bonaire is doing well. For we have to be honest: if our economy is in trouble, no bank will come here.”

During the visit of the delegation of the firm of VanEps Kunneman VanDoorne to the Executive Council, a guide for investors on Bonaire, prepared by the firm, was presented. “It is very interesting and good for Bonaire that such a guide is published by the law firm”, the Deputy of Economic Affairs says.

Guide to Doing Business

With the establishment of the law firm of VanEps Kunneman VanDoorne on Bonaire, the firm also presents a new version in its series of “Doing Business Guides”. This publication deals with Bonaire, the largest of the three BES islands (Bonaire, Statia, and Saba). The firm provides intra-insular and international services at the highest level in the Netherlands Antilles and the Caribbean. “We believe in this region and consequently recently opened the first full-service commercial law firm on Bonaire”, says the guide.

The guide contains a lot of information on doing business on Bonaire. The information concerns investment incentives, intellectual property, labor law, taxes, immigration requirements, bankruptcy and moratorium on payments, and property.

The series also consists of publications on the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. Hard copies and updates can be requested through the e-mail addresss This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . The publications and updates of the series can be found on the website http://www.ekvandoorne.com/newsimages/DoingBusinessBonaireEN.pdf.

(Source: National Newspaper "Antilliaans Dagblad")

May 18, 2009