Bonaire Commissioner Dortalina Offers His Views for the Future of Bonaire under the Netherlands
During a referendum by the residents of Bonaire in 2004, a majority of the population voted that as part of the anticipated change of the nature of the country of the Netherlands Antilles, Bonaire should establish a direct link with the Netherlands. As a result of that referendum and others on the other four islands in the Netherlands Antilles, Curacao and Sint Maarten will be heading to some sort of more independent status, while Saba, Sint Eustasius, and Bonaire will be gaining closer ties with Holland. The devil is in the details, however, and all the islands and Holland are busy at work trying to come to a solution.
Today, Bonaire Commissions Reginald R. Dortalina issued a statement reemphasizing the results of the results of the Bonaire referendum, but also stating that any such direct link must take into account Bonaire’s individual character, culture, and identity, as that is best for Bonaire.
He said in his statement that he feels it is imperative in any future change in status that Bonaire is able to “keep it tailored and made for Bonaire.” This means that any such future change in status be adaptable in its own form to the requirements of a small island such as Bonaire.
Acknowledging that the people of Bonaire have already voted for a direct link with the Netherlands in its past referendum, and that the choice of the people has been ratified unanimously by the Island Council, he stated that Bonaire now has several possibilities from which to choose, such as forming a province, municipality, public body, or the structure of an ultra-peripheral territory.
Becoming a province does not seem viable when one takes into account the small size of Bonaire. In regard to a municipality, Commissioner Dortalina believes the distance between Bonaire and the Netherlands makes this difficult, especially when the differences in character, culture, and identity are also taken into consideration. It is for reasons such as these that Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius have jointly chosen a structure of integration, but with the possibility of deviating from the current structures in the Netherlands.
No matter which structure is chosen, it is imperative that Bonaire keep its own identity, with its own modern port, airport, and fire department, which must meet all international requirements. In considering that Bonaire is dependent, to a high level, upon tourism, Commissioner Dortalina feels that Bonaire must have these infrastructures in place so that tourists are assured of such services. Additionally, the island must ensure that it has ample training from primary education all the way to specialized education, along with proper road care, rain water drainage, social housing, and social care-especially for the island’s youth and elderly.
Therefore, the Council of State will give its recommendation by the end of September in regard to the new possible structure for the smaller islands of the Netherlands Antilles (Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius). After all recommendations have been submitted, these will be presented for comment to the Island Council of Bonaire. After both the Island Council and the oversight committee have given their comments, members of parliament will make the final decision at a public Council meeting. (Source: Bonaire Government Press Release)
