When we were in Bonaire last week we saw a lot of signs reading "Nos futuru, ban pe!" While we got not translate it beyond "Our future...," we gathered that it had to do with the upcoming 10 September referendum on the political status of Bonaire.

Looking over the choices on the referendum stated in the 30 July to 6 August edition of the Reporter, this would seem be a rather major referendum.

But we are reading it through the eyes of outsiders. Maybe the very fact that we've seen no mention of it here on BT tells the story that it is without significance.

If a local, or anyone knowledgeable about the issue, could enlighten us: is this a major political event? is the referendum binding? what happens when the choice is made? which way is public sentiment leaning?

Many thanks.

Charles Poteet
Dallas

You seem to be reading the articles in BR as I have, so you've seen the options: stay a part of the Netherlands Antilles, become separate like Aruba, become separate but still tied to Holland, or become a separate country entirely.

I think the optimal choice from my point of view as a frequent visitor, landowner and future housebuilder is to separate from the NA but still be tied to Holland. Got to get away from Curacao.

Also important is keeping the guilder/dollar tie. If Holland/Bonaire switches to Euros, with the present value of the dollar vs the Euro, prices will increase. One of the attractions is the relative low cost of a vacation there, and therefore costs of construction will be based in dollars/guilders. We've stayed away from Europe for a while due to the almost 1.25:1 Dollar/Euro ratio, when it used to be 1:1.

Not to say a vacation to Bonaire is as cheap as, say, Nicaragua, but it won't require a second mortgage on the house.

My two cents.

Carl

Carl -

Interesting input.

It would appear that the referendum is not binding and/or that no matter what the outcome, people expect little change. That is the only explanation I can find for the lack of response on BT to the topic.

And I guess that answers at least one of my questions: the referendum is not a major political event.

Charles Poteet
Dallas

I also get the BR. I've read the articles on the referendum and, far from being an expert, I would tend to agree with Carl - getting away from the central gov't in Curacao would seem to be a step in the right direction; from what I've read, they appear to be corrupt and don't seem to really care about what happens on Bonaire.

The first results have been on TV (- +/- %
A (stay in the Netherlands Antilles)14%
B (direct link to the Netherlands) 59%
C (status aparte ... something simalair to Aruba) 24 %
D (independance) 0.5%

Looks a little like a lot of the NL and US on Bonaire voted for C, the Bonaireans a lot for B and the Curacao for A

Wow, Brigette, NL and US citizens can vote on Bonaire? Bonaire residents, I assume.... still, that surprises me.

So, if the rest of the votes follow those already counted, and B is chosen, what's next?

Thanks for any info,
Cheryl

NL citizens for at least one year written in as residents of Bonaire always have the right to vote, as have Antilleans in the Netherlands .. they all have a Dutch passport. For the referendum there have been some special rules... all residents written in for at least 5 years could vote (US, Dominican Republic, Columbia etc) and all citizens 16 years and older. For normal votes it is 18 years.
What is next ... big discussions with the Dutch government I guess... there are already discussions going on (a report should be published in October), as Sint Maarten had a referendum last year and they want a status aparte as Aruba (very clear vote also against staying within the Netherlands Antilles) and one of the small SSS islands, I can not remember if it was Saba or St.Eutstatius has decided already for the direct link to the Netherlands, the other one is planning the referendum I think for beginning next year.
History: There was a referendum on all islands about 12 (?? or was it 11) years ago and all islands decided with a big majority to stay within the Netherlands Antilles. So you can imagine how much trust has been lost that a Central Government dominated by Curacao is capable of making good decisions for all islands.
I have been than already on Bonaire, and I voted for the Netherlands Antilles ... the only change since than: I is worse than it was.....
Curacao is planning a referendum also for beginning next year ... but without the option B ! There are some small comments on Curacao but I have not heard yet a major protest ... but as it looks like, they can eliminate also the option A .... the other islands don't want it anymore
Aruba demanded for all the same reasons independance in the '80s which the Netherlands and the Netherlands Antilles accepted in the end '80s.. there was a contract, that for 10 years there would be an status aparte and than complete independance ... already beginning '90s Aruba asked for eleminating this part, as they were happy with the status aparte and they prefered to stay within the Kingdom of the Netherlands .... the Queen is souverain for The Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba ...

Brigitte-

There was quite a strong case made, and they claim to be objective, in B-Reporter against C and D. Particular examples were made of how poorly Aruba is fairing out on its own for the most part, and I know independence would not be an option with Bonaire's fragile economy.

From my point of view, the way the US dollar is matched against the Euro, if Holland and Bonaire
are directly linked and switch to a Euro based currency, it would ironically increase the value of my land yet make it significantly more expense to build a house there.

However, in light of the recent crime wave and the relationship with Curacao over obtaining assistance for money and resources to fight it, I think a break from Curacao is necessary.

Anything that would increase availability of funds and resources from Holland, yet keep the same guilder/dollar relationship would be a positive.

Your thoughts?

-Carl

I am afraid that the value of land or increase in construction costs are not really a concern to the Bonaireans. Much more important for them is social security (pension fund, health insurance etc) and the education of the children, and important is decent work of police, immigration, customs but also the tax office p.ex.
Most of the tax payments go to the Central Government, which is supposed to finance the police etc .... and how that is done a lot of us know by experience ....
What exactly the future will bring concerning $ or Euro, nobody knows ... but French St.Maarten, Martinique etc live quite nicely with the Euro.. Dutch St.Maarten is working more and more with the Euro .... and don't forget, the island is in many ways already orientated in the direction of Europe and Europeans are a big part of the tourists on Bonaire. In the past often enough for them the island was rather expensive because of the high value of the US $.... one can not have everything perfectly confirm to ones wishes ....

Currency swings...what is up today WILL be down tomorrow.

Right. I think right now, the 1.78 Nafl/$ ratio works well for Americans, it is not considered by most of us to be a very expensive vacation spot vs. US Virgin Islands, Grand Cayman, etc.

The $/Euro was 1:1 a little while ago, now 1.20 to $1. I don't think we'll see it come back to 1:1 soon, meaning the dream of a home on Bonaire would cost 20% more than it would now, putting it off goodness knows how long. :-(

Carl

I think you are running a little bit too fast....
even if all these changes take place (lots of discussions will be needed) it will take some time, I guess years, to be done and the date will be known well in advance .... you have time to start your constructions ... questions is, how much time does Bonaire has ...

Thanks to all for the good background information.

In the long run this may be one of the more important issues posted on BT.

And, I did not realize there were two threads for this topic, so I hope I properly thanked everyone who has enlightened us.

Charles Poteet
Dallas

question: what`s gonna change after the referendum, everything will remain the same or there`s something better waiting for us. bonaire is unique and the (Politics) are working for themselves not for the people .....everybody knows that. more taxes, more broken streets,crime.etc.....I`m working everyday for bonaire Question : what are you doing for bonaire ? bluefish

Juan: What is who doing for Bonaire?

Two more articles about the future of the Netherlands Antilles ... in English ...
http://www.thedailyherald.com/

Brigitte, What would it mean to have Bonaire tied more closely with the Hague? It looks like Curacao is not in favor of this. Thanks for the information and keep us posted.

For Bonaire, Saba and St.Eustatius the idea is to become Kingdom Islands ... no exact plans and programs yet, but it could be close to be a province of The Netherlands. St.Maarten had a referendum and they opted for the status aparte, like Aruba. Curacao will have a referendum March 05 ... the politicians there are against about everything (behalf getting money from Holland, but Holland should not ask how they spend it) and that is the main reason the other islands don't want the Netherlands Antilles anymore. The Central Government acts not for the best of the NA but mostly only for the best of Curacao, without any concideration for the 4 other islands .... which was also the reason that Aruba asked and got the status aparte in the '80

An editorial from the Daily Herald - one part in it is not true, the small islands are willing to give up autonomy, its Curacao and St.Maarten who are unwilling

http://www.thedailyherald.com/news/daily/h185/edit185.html

Three articles from the Daily Herald Jan 23 concerning the referendum and the future relations with the Netherlands

http://www.thedailyherald.com/news/daily/h211/edit211.html

http://www.thedailyherald.com/news/daily/h211/summit211.html

http://www.thedailyherald.com/news/daily/h211/bonai211.html

Brigitte,

thank you very much for your update on that issue, it truly reads like a political thriller, unfortunately, I haven't read nor heard about this important subject in the dutch media....yet.
Are there any dutch reports you can refer me to?

no idea about the dutch media, not very often that I open one of their web sites ...

St.Maarten Daily Herald reports and comments on the result of the conference - without Curacao it looks like it went rather smoothe .....

http://www.thedailyherald.com/news/daily/h213/summit213.html

http://www.thedailyherald.com/news/daily/h213/edit213.html

http://www.thedailyherald.com/news/daily/h213/gibson213.html

From the St.Maarten Daily Herald

http://www.thedailyherald.com/news/daily/h220/edit220.html

I can understand why the politicians and government officials of Curacao don't want any 'oversight": they have good thing going now.

Hopefully there is a way to 'liberate' the islands that want liberation from the Antilles government, leaving Curacao and Aruba for separate dealing.