The opening of the racetrack was beautiful and welcoming not only to our Bonaire people but also to many visitors from our sister islands and even to tourists from other countries. It was beautiful to see how the guild that practices and visits this sport of drifting was enjoying a bowl. Greetings from Bonaire. Once again, we have shown that working together can make a difference!
For years, all political parties have used the theme of a drift and drag track to run their campaigns. In 2015 MPB also promised to come with a drag strip. Finally, the first stage has been realized where we now have a drift track. The second phase will be a drag strip for which a bridge has already been unveiled. For years, different people pushed the project here. I was also approached to help push this drift and drag project. In 2021, when I joined the Island Council, the whole thing came crashing down.
Some have even gone as far as to speak to the Island Council so that the drift track and drag can be completed. We took this project seriously and together with Gerald Silberie who was also a member of the Island Council at the time, held several meetings and talked to the then deputy mayor, Mr Hennyson Thielman, to make funds available for the drift and drag track. This fund has been approved by the UPB and MPB parties in the Island Council. Opposition parties voted against and to this day they are against this drift and drag project!
Once the dinner was on the table, Deputy Kroon, Indebon and several other people and institutions that have always been charged with this sport put that today Boneiro has its drifting track and within a few supports of drag. I’m glad that the athletes of drift and drag now have their own track to practice their sport and don’t have to run on the road of Sorobon with all the security consequences and that the police are looking after them. I’m also happy for the audience that likes to watch this sport. Now it is important for all of us to guard against this drift. The government in turn should put in place a good maintenance plan to guarantee that the runway can be used day after day.
Once again congratulations to all who helped push this project forward and also congratulations to all who practice the sport of drift and drag. Let’s all continue to support this sport. We have shown that when we work together positively we succeed!
