Unconfirmed reports indicate that the proposed new right-wing Dutch government favours making the Dutch Caribbean an extraordinary province of the Netherlands (see related story). It is supposedly based on documents from the current formation talks in The Hague.
If true, this should not be a major surprise, as leader of the biggest prospective coalition party PVV Geert Wilders had earlier suggested selling the islands on e-bay. He now appears willing to keep them in the kingdom, but under his terms.
People should not read too much into all this. For starters, even his intended governing partners have their own ideas.
Farmer’s party BBB favours “incorporation” to breed livestock on the islands. VVD seemingly has reservations about the province model, while NSC queried whether the term “extraordinary” is the most suitable in a legal sense.
Other than meaning “distinct rights and obligations” than in the European Netherlands, no explanation was given. To call the plans vague at this point would therefore be an understatement.
Any change to their current constitutional status chosen in referenda on all six islands except St. Eustatius could only take place with approval of not just local elected representatives but the people themselves. It also requires involvement from the United Nations (UN) and may possibly include reparations.
The bottom line is that neither the Dutch Government nor Parliament can impose such a relationship on the former colonies. Meaningful consultation would be needed to arrive at new agreements.
So, this certainly won’t occur from one day to the next and proper procedure must certainly be followed by the Kingdom Council of Ministers, with appeal options at the Council of State, etcetera.
Nevertheless, it is good to know in what direction the probable next Dutch government it thinking, proving once again that preserving historic ties between the islands and the Netherlands doesn’t happen automatically. It takes work.
