The Saba Gay Community News

Saba's First Married Resident Gay Couple
Carl and Rudolf to Wed!

SABA—Carl Buncamper (38) and Rudolf Hassell (40) of Windwardside have announced that their nuptials will take place June 23 in Toronto, Canada.

The couple met on Saba more than 12 years ago, when they were introduced by “match maker” Wilma Hassell, a relative of Rudolf. Within a short time, Buncamper, who was living on St. Maarten, was spending a great deal of his time on Saba, and moved here permanently only a few months later. The couple now runs YIIK, one of the island’s most successful restaurants and catering services, which they opened in 1999. Their charming old Saban cottage across from the museum meadow is known for its prize-winning garden, a hobby of theirs.

“We had been thinking of an official marriage for some time,” Buncamper said. He explained that when the Canadian province of Ontario opened up the possibility
for the couple to obtain a license and exchange vows, they decided to make this dream come true.

The official engagement took place with an exchange of inscribed rings on February 14, 2004. The traditional June wedding was planned to coincide with the massive Gay Pride week in Toronto, which promises to be the biggest event of this kind with an estimated
attendance of 1.2 million.

Buncamper was able to do most of the wedding organizing over the internet, including ordering 150 unique wedding announcements, which turn into a standup frame for the attached official engagement photo. Web research also located the Delft figurine of two kissing Dutch boys for favors. Engagement and wedding rings of diamonds and sapphires were found on St. Maarten.

Black Tuxedos with matching Delft blue silk cummerbunds will be worn for the civil ceremony, which will take place at the Court House at 11am. Afterwards a friend who is a Priest in the Greek Orthodox Church will give the blessing. The couple is expecting about 30 family members and friends to make the trip to Canada to attend.

The Park Hyatt Hotel will host the reception, configured as a High Tea. The wedding couple will be in more festive dress as they mix with their well-wishers. Both outfits, which were custom fabricated on St. Maarten, have an Indian flare.  Rudolph will be attired in a white Nehru jacket, with Carl in a longer coat in tangerine colored silk with multicolored scarf and drawstring trousers.

Other events around the marriage are a pre-wedding festive dinner for invited guests and a side trip to Niagara Falls. The couple will return to Saba to exchange suitcases and leave immediately for their honeymoon in Bangkok.

Advocate Journalist Visits Saba

SABA--Travel writer Alex Robertson Textor brings a special in-depth interest to his approach to writing about Saba. Alex was recently on the island for four days, and spent much of his time talking to inhabitants about tourism and other serious matters: the social and political situation in the Netherlands Antilles. He said that this context is important to his readers

Textor is here on behalf of the gay magazine “Advocate” which has a special online travel section.  The publication itself appears every other week, and the Saba article should make its appearance sometime in October. The on line version is available at www.advocate.com/travel.

Saba head of tourism Glenn Holm accompanied Textor on his tour of the island’s many fine hotels and eating spots. “When I recommend a destination, I need to make sure that the population segment which reads our publications will feel comfortable,” Textor said. Saba is not a new discovery for the gay market, Textor commented, and he confirmed its reputation for being gay-friendly. “I am mainly interested in the island atmosphere and its reception of the guests, and Saba
is very welcoming,” he commented.

Textor is not a diver, but he did accomplish the summit of Mt. Scenery, an experience about which he joked, “People are not kidding when they say it is mountainous.” He also commented on the many gardens and cleanliness of the island, which make it an attractive destination.

Saba Team Returns from Gay Games      

Saba—The Gay Games team is back with enthusiastic reports of their trip to Sydney, Australia, as the largest team from the Caribbean.

The five-member Saba team was joined by a Bonaire participant to march in the opening ceremony November 9th. The Sabans had taken an extra uniform so that the entire Antillean delegation had matching outfits:Red, white, and blue vests designed with elements from the Saba Flag. The group took their place just in front of the huge Netherlands contingent.

Group spokesperson Carl Buncamper remarked at the incredible organization behind the games, which included a personalized pick up when they arrived. He was also impressed with the sportsmanship of the volleyball teams they competed against. “These teams have much more experience, but they were very generous to us.” They group played seven games, winning the
first one.

The other sport the group signed for was badminton. Players Janine le Sueur and Anita Radix had the pleasure of beating the Netherlands teams before they succumbed to more powerful teams in the rest of their sets. All team members received beautiful, heavy medals with ribbons to commemorate the participation.

Janine le Sueur related that she had particularly enjoyed the many culture aspects, concerts and
manifestations which took place before and during the sport competitions.

The group from Saba was so unique, that they were adopted by many of the larger groups but needed to give a quick lesson in geography. They were delighted to put Saba on the map, and hope that these new friends of Saba will come for a visit.

They all came back with many pins which they exchanged with other athletes. Since returning to Saba, they have all received many phone calls and emails from their new contacts.

The group is already working on plans to go to the next games to be held July 29-August 5, 2006, in
Montreal, with more participants. Buncamper pointed out, “The games are for every one – you just have to be gay-tolerant to be a part of it. It is definitely an unforgettable experience.”

(also see first article written before the team left for Sydney)

Saba Team to Compete @ Sydney Gay Games

SABA—Organizer Carl Buncamper said that a group of five is heading to the games, which take place in Sydney, Australia, November 2-9. He added that the Saba group is the largest group from the Caribbean and the only team from the Netherlands Antilles. The group will participate in volleyball and badminton.

Buncamper said that the support of the government had been an important factor for the group. “They assisted us with the purchase of uniforms, and donated pins and flags for the Opening ceremony,” Buncamper said. “We are well equipped to represent the island in this unique setting,” he added.

The event, which is held every four years, will attract over 12,500 athletes from 72 countries. Both sports and cultural events will be featured. Buncamper said that the team is delight to take with them the new Tourist Bureau brochure and CD-rom. “We are looking forward to representing Saba and the Netherlands Antilles to an expected audience of two million Australians,” Buncamper said. He added that the games, which are carried out under International regulations, would be broadcast on International Sports Channels.

The Gay Community of Saba has been the leaders in HIV awareness and prevention programs.   Click here for related news pieces on this outstanding work.  

Saba Delegation Attends
World HIV Conference in Bangkok, Thailand

Saba was represented at the World HIV/Aids Conference in Bangkok, Thailand.  Spokesperson Carl Buncamper explained that Dutch funding organization, AMFO, provided the means for the 9 Saba residents to attend this important conference.  Although exhausted, Buncamper reiterated the importance of the conference's networking and the island's better understanding of prevention programs and treatment program development.  "The agenda was dynamic with a full schedule from 8 a.m. until often times close to midnight.  Although we didn't see much of Thailand, the conference was a stunning reminder of the still rampant spread of the disease with the Caribbean only second to Africa."  Buncamper and other attendees will soon release a report to the island government on the conference and their recommendations for next steps. 

Large Saba delegation attends HIV/AIDS Caribbean conference

SABA—A group of five will attend the HIV/AIDS Caribbean conference March 5 - 7 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. This conference targets HIV/AIDS researchers, health care and service providers, and persons living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. 

The conference, called “A Multicultural Caribbean United Against HIV/AIDS,” will be conducted in Spanish, French, Dutch, and English. It is sponsored by the University of Puerto Rico, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre, with support from several US, Caribbean, and International HIV/AIDS organizations.  

The conference goal is to enhance regional efforts, to improve regional responses, and to develop regional research capacities in conquering HIV/AIDS. Participants can follow seven different subject tracks, under the guidance of international experts.  

Glenn Holm is the island representative to the International Planning Committee and a coordinator of the Stigma and Discrimination Track. Island Doctor Anita Radix is a coordinator of the Vulnerable Populations and HIV/AIDS Track and has prepared two presentations.  

One presentation regards attitudes of General Practitioners to homosexuals in the Netherlands Antilles and the second highlights health care provider attitudes to people living with HIV/AIDS on Saba. Materials for the two presentations were gathered from a survey of health care professionals in the Windward Islands conducted by Dr. Radix.  

Holm and Radix volunteered many hours of their free time to assist in the coordination of the event and to attend meetings off island. 

Participants Debbie Hassell, Carl Buncamper, and Rudolph Hassell will be attending as  on full scholarships. They each had to fill out a three-page application, including essay questions.

Highschoolers awarded prizes on World Aids Day

SABA—Prizes were awarded to Saba Comprehensive School (SCS) students Monday evening at the Eugenius Center at an event commemorating World Aids Day. 

The Aids Support Group Saba (ASGS) organized a competition around the theme “Live and Let Live.” Working with Brother Clayton’s extra curricular creative writing class and Susan ten Holt’s art students, students wrote essays and designed poster/slogans around the theme.

Grand prize and first prize for art went to Katie Hassell, whose work was based on the well-known poster “God don’t make no junk.” Katie won a laptop computer. The work, reproduced in poster size, will be displayed around the island and at health events in the Netherlands Antilles.

Second prize in art went to Veira Lake. Samantha McHaffe, whose work was completely original, won first prize in writing and a digital camera. Second prize went to Ornesto Richardson, who based his story on a movie plot. All four winners received two return Winair tickets to St. Maarten.

All student submissions were displayed around the walls of the Eugenius Center to be viewed by about 75 attendees. ASGS chair Carl Buncamper said that the HIV/Aids awareness was crucial since the Caribbean has the second highest world growth rate of the disease, especially among heterosexual women. The added economic complication, he added, is the birth of aids-infected babies and eventually the early orphaning of youngsters.

Dr. Kaas in’t Veld recalled working in Uganda years ago, when the rural infection rate in that country was below 5%. Although now stabilized, the urban rate is about 30% and he has lost many Ugandan acquaintances who he worked with at the time.

Dr. Anita Radix said that Saba now cares for its own HIV/Aids patients since medicines are available and blood work is tested by sending it to a lab in Paris.

The event concluded with snacks provided by YIIK. 

Buncamper To Attend BVI Conference

Carl Buncamper is a familiar face on Saba--best known as the co-proprietor of YIIK Grill (and Bakery) located at Lambee's Place, just above Sea Saba.  The Buncamper name is well known in the Antilles with a long line of political and influential individuals in St. Maarten and Saba.  Carl is already involved in many island and community activities.  As chairperson of NGO Platform, Carl is also a  Board Member on both the Saba Business Association as well as SESNA (Small Enterprise Stimulation of the Netherlands Antilles) and the Saba Conservation Foundation, Carl is also President of the Aids Support Group of Saba as well as the island coordinator for HIV/AIDS Sensitization Training Program.  

Carl will join other regional coordinators in Tortolla, British Virgin Islands in May 2003, for  a 7-day training program sponsored by Caribbean Epidemiology Centre ("CAREC"), a Pan American Health Organization centered in Trinidad.  The two-step training invites a doctor, nurse, social worker and person living with HIV/AIDS ("PLWHA) from each country in the region to attend the workshop.  The focus of the workshop will be to train these Health Care Providers so that they can provide better institutional and community care for PLWHA's once they return.  The program will specifically address the handling of hysteria, stigmatization and prejudice so that the PLWHA can gain back their deserved dignity in the community.  Additional attention at the workshop will be in the areas of clinical and psychological management of PLWHA as well as ethics in the health care profession so that the attendees better understand fears and prejudices throughout the region.  

As the Caribbean is unfortunately the fastest growing region for HIV/AIDS worldwide, education is critical.  The AIDS Support Group of Saba continues to increase awareness and educate Saban children and adults with regular activities done in local church groups and even at the primary school level.  Their annual surveys have show a much greater increase in awareness in the Saba populations since the program was initiated in 1999.  

  Sex education workshop at SCS

SABA—The local HIV/Aids support group and the A. M.Edwards Medical Center gave a two and one-half hour workshop to all students at the Saba Comprehensive School Wednesday.  

This is the most complete sex education workshop held to date and included both HIV/Aids and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs.)

Health professionals observe that teenagers often feel that they are exempt from sexual diseases, but
statistics are startling: half of all new HIV infections occur in young people and more than three million teens are infected with STDs annually.

Presenters Island Doctor Anita Radix and HIV/Aids support group Chairman Carl Buncamper spoke to the 70 students, showed presentations with graphic illustrations of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), demonstrated proper condom use, and opened up a dialogue with the young people in a question and answer section. Condoms and information brochures developed by the Saba Aids Foundation were also available.

Radix said that such workshops are necessary to combat the influence of television. The average teenager watches three hours a day, and gains a distorted and incomplete education on responsible sexual behavior.  Three out of four prime-time programs include some kind of sexual content.

Radix said that funding for the videos, brochures and other materials had come from special United Nations groups.

World Aids Day Event 
article courtesy of Suzanne Nielsen, The Daily Herald

SABA—World Aids Day will be commemorated on Saba with an awards ceremony at 6:30 pm at Eugenius Center, Carl Buncamper, Chair of the Aids Support Group Saba (ASGS).

The awards are to be given to schoolchildren who participated in the World Aids Day poster/slogan and creative writing contest sponsored by ASGS. The theme was “Live and Let Live.” 

Buncamper said that the winning poster would be reproduced for distribution to government departments, school, and other public places. It will also be used in information booths, where the Netherlands Antilles is represented.

“We wanted something to increase the awareness of discrimination regarding HIV/Aids victims, so the children were asked to write from the perspective of a child with Aids,” Buncamper explained. Prizes will go for first and second places in creative writing and in visual arts.

Buncamper said that the school program has also included showing popular movies depicting aids in our society, such as “Philadelphia Story,” “And the Band Played On,” and “It’s My Party.” Children were also queried as to their understanding of how sexually transmitted diseases work, and were instructed in preventative techniques, including abstinence. ASGS made use of learning materials from a program called “Life Jacket,” which they purchased last year. ASGS, in conjunction with Saba University School of Medicine and the Health Department, visits the school about three times a year with different informative lectures and demonstrations.

Buncamper said that the group usually times its information sessions around the holidays, when young people are most vulnerable.