Three Antillean islands to receive status

Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius are to have a direct relationship with the Netherlands. In the future the islands will enjoy a similar status to Dutch municipalities. For example, the population will be able to vote in elections.

Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius are to have a direct relationship with the Netherlands. In the future the islands will enjoy a similar status to Dutch municipalities. For example, the population will be able to vote in elections to the House of Representatives.

Atzo Nicolaï, Minister for Government Reform and Kingdom Relations, and heads of delegations from the three islands have signed an agreement to this effect.

Legislation
Under the terms of the agreement, Antillean legislation will gradually be replaced by Dutch legislation. Not all Dutch laws will apply. Special provision will be made for the size of the population, the Caribbean location and the specific character of the islands.

Right to vote
As a result of the change, inhabitants of Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius will have the right to vote in elections to the House of Representatives and the European Parliament.

Netherlands Antilles
At present, the Kingdom of the Netherlands consists of three separate countries: the Netherlands, Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles. Work on the Kingdom’s new constitutional structure is currently under way.

The Netherlands Antilles consists of five island territories: Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius.

Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius will all now have a direct relationship with the Netherlands.

Inhabitants of Curaçao and Sint Maarten wish to have the same separate status as Aruba. The Netherlands is still in negotiations with these two islands.

The Netherlands is working with all five islands towards achieving their new status. In the opinion of the Netherlands, a number of problems must be tackled at the same time. For example, economic policy needs reform in the interests of creating more employment.

Source: Government.nl press release, 12 October 2006