Dutch colonialism in Bonaire

Revision of Bonaire's WOLBES and FINBES – another Dutch colonial reform supported by Bonaire island council?

Because of Bonaire Human Rights Organization’s (BHRO), Bonaire Life Matters International awareness campaign, spanning from February 2022 to October 2023, has yielded significant impacts and results. These efforts have compelled the Netherlands to such actions to camouflage the illegal construction of the BES-islands to prevent UN sanctioning their non-compliance and violation of UN Charter treaties. This is aided and abetted by the Bonaire island council. This includes the coalition DP and M21, opposition UPB and MPB and the griffier.

The voluntary participation and collaboration of the Bonaire government with the Dutch authorities in revising Dutch-imposed laws and addressing the illegal annexation objectives signify an attempt to further legitimize the current status, rejected by the Bonaire people.

This maneuver aligns with the Dutch strategy thru their agents that infiltrated Bonairean politics and influence it. Notably, the leaders driving this Dutch cover-up action today were also instrumental in the 2017 decision to anchor Bonaire to the Netherlands. Whereas Daisy Coffie of M21, leader of the current Bonaire delegation, in 2017 was the faction leader of MPB, along with Cyril Vrolijk. Vrolijk, having recently dissolved his own government, formed a new coalition with Coffie and Clark Abraham of Demokrat that in 2017 throw down his own Demokrat government and joined with Coffie and Vrolijk of MPB to anchor Bonaire in the Dutch Constitution.

These leaders, complicit in betraying the will of the Bonairean people in the 2015 referendum, are now facilitating the Dutch agenda, perpetuating unequal rights for Bonaireans as second and third-class citizens.

The recent attempt by Bonaire leaders to influence the position of Saba and Statia, orchestrated by the Dutch government through a massive delegation sent to St. Maarten, failed to materialize. Saba's leader, Will Johnson, publicly denounced this endeavor, demonstrating the steadfast commitment of Saba and Statia to their peoples’ rights and dignity. Despite seemingly promises from Holland, Bonaire's aspirations to lead the BES islands akin to the old Curacao in the Antilles were rebuffed by the principled leaders of Saba and Statia.

We urge the Bonaire Parliament to provide transparent and comprehensive explanations regarding the nature and specifics of the proposed reform or revision before any action is taken on our behalf in Holland. It is imperative that the contents of this reform are made clear to the public.

Furthermore, we express deep concern regarding the leading role of the Interim Griffier Mr De Wolff has taken over the last year in Bonaire’s internal affairs, a position that has to be independent and impartial, as there exists a glaring conflict of interest in his role. Given the significance of decisions pertaining to the future of our self-determination, it is crucial that any individual in such a position maintains impartiality and integrity. Therefore, we call on the interim Griffier to step back from this role to avoid compromising the integrity of the process and to ensure fair and unbiased proceedings moving forward. The future of our self-determination must be safeguarded with the utmost transparency and accountability.

We urgently call upon the current leaders of Bonaire, who are involved in the Dutch-planned "operation WOLBES revision" to not succumb to the Dutch trap and strategy once again. The objective of this revision is to obstruct Bonaire's trajectory towards listing as a Non-Self-Governing Territory (NSGT) by the United Nations (UN). Only through such recognition on the UN list can the people of Bonaire establish an official, equitable relationship with the Dutch government. This would entail Dutch accountability, guided by Article 73, requiring annual reporting to the UN General Assembly on the cultural, economic, social, political, and educational progress and development of all Bonaireans—a historic step towards dignity and equality for the people of Bonaire.