Dear Editor,
Pueblo Progresivo Uni led by James Finies, and Bonaire Human Rights Organization (BHRO), represented by its president Davika Bissessar-Shaw, recently concluded two weeks of successful advocacy in the United States. Their efforts included lobbying at the United Nations and engaging in working seminars to advance human rights, decolonization and justice for Bonaire and other colonized territories.
A central focus of their work was advocating for Bonaire’s inclusion on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories. This recognition is essential for enabling Bonaireans to exercise their right to self-determination. Finies highlighted the alarming decrease in the native Bonerian population, which has fallen from 80% to less than 30% since the breakup of the Netherlands Antilles in 2010. Calling October 10, 2010, “a nightmare” for the island, he attributed much of the blame to local politicians who failed to safeguard the rights and identity of Bonaire’s people. BHRO emphasized that listing Bonaire as a Non-Self-Governing Territory is critical to preserving its unique culture and identity.
The delegation also participated in the 35th Session of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent (WGEPAD), contributing to discussions on systemic inequalities and injustices faced by African descendants worldwide. They co-hosted a side event titled “Reparative Justice and Decolonization: Advancing Human Rights for African Descendants in Colonized Territories”, which brought together global activists and policymakers to address the lingering effects of colonialism.
In commemoration of International Human Rights Day on December 10, BHRO underscored the importance of advancing dignity, freedom and justice for marginalized communities, particularly those in vulnerable territories like Bonaire.
On the same day, the BHRO Foundation, represented by James Finies, formalized a partnership with United for Human Rights, represented by Emma Sims, through a Memorandum of Understanding. This partnership aims to develop education and training programs focused on human rights across Bonaire, Curaçao, and Aruba (the ABC Islands). This initiative marks a significant step toward fostering awareness and empowering communities in the region to protect and promote fundamental human rights.
Bissessar-Shaw also addressed the Dutch government’s apology for its role in slavery and the 200 million reparations payout. She criticized the distribution of funds, noting that 100 million went back to Holland for a museum, while only 33 million was allocated to Suriname and the former Netherlands Antilles, leaving each Antillian island with just 5 million. She called this an inadequate response to centuries of exploitation and injustice.
The BHRO urges locals and long-term residents to recognize that rising sea levels and the bleaching of coral reefs is exaggerated and not the immediate threat. The real crisis and threat to Bonaireans is the decline of the local population from 80% to less than 30% now, which the Dutch government ignores despite the 2015 referendum rejecting the illegal integration. False narratives, as GreenPeace Holland, Special Envoy to UN ex-governor Rijna and now the Climate Table all using locals for false propaganda to divert attention from this issue.
Through their advocacy, BHRO shone a spotlight on Bonaire’s struggles and called for global support to secure the island’s rights and self-determination. The organization reaffirmed its commitment to fighting for justice, equality, and the survival of Bonaire’s people in the face of systemic marginalization and the legacy of colonialism.
Bonaire Human Rights Organization
