Press Release 18 December
2024
James Finies, leader of
Pueblo Progresivo Uni, and Davika Bissessar-Shaw, president of the Bonaire
Human Rights Organization (BHRO), 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 10th, 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 Bonaire
Human Rights Organization 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 Antilian 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
Bonerians 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
Kaya Libertador Simon Bolivar 26
Kralendijk, Bonaire
Tel: +599 786 4576 / +599 782 5664
Email: organizationbonairehumanrights@gmail.com
Website: www.bonairehumanrights.org
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