George DeSalvo, publisher of the English-language Bonaire Reporter weekly newspaper, has provided some information about the options facing Bonaire citizens in the near future, as they consider whether to alter longstanding relations with Curaçao and also possibly with the Netherlands (Bonaire Reporter, 28 Nov. 2003, p. 17, at http://bonairereporter.com/news/2003issues/current/page17.htm by Internet subscription).

Were it not for the diversion of funds by the Netherlands Antilles Central Government and by off-island investors, the island of Bonaire would run a strongly positive balance of payments based on its eco-tourist business operations. Unlike Curaçao and most other islands of Netherlands Antilles, it could function effectively as either an ultra-peripheral territory of the European Union or as a small, independent country.

Will citizens of Bonaire have enough confidence in their future to choose such a change?

Want to know a little more about EU islands?
Start with history

http://www.regionreunion.com/anglais/zone/main2.html

And here you find the most recent info concerning islands and EU
http://www.eurisles.com
http://www.eurisles.org/strategie/FrameChap.asp?chapitre=11&Langue=EN

It is not only the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba, quite a list of island
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