Joint Press Statement WolBES & FinBES

The Island councils express their surprise and disappointment that they have once again not been adequately involved in this change to the constitutional basis and structure of the islands. After all, Article 209 of the WolBes guarantees the right of public entities to participate in the preparation of legislation and important policy proposals concerning their tasks, powers, or circumstances, taking into account their practical knowledge. It follows from the island right of disposition self-determination of the three islands that changes to the constitutional basis and organisation of the islands must be based on the free will and consent of the islands. Such changes cannot be decided unilaterally by the Dutch legislature but must be based on agreements resulting from mutual consultation and consent.

Earlier, in October 2023, there was a similar internet consultation on WolBes and FinBes. Because there was no adequate platform to exercise the participation of the public entities of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba in accordance with Article 209, a conference was therefore held in De Bilt from 4–6 March 2024 with the Island Councils, Executive Councils and Island Governors of the three islands, together with the State Secretary and advisors, resulting in the publicly known list of agreements D056033 (4 June 2024). This list forms the basis of the consensus between the public entities and the Netherlands on the development of the island governments and was to be the guiding principle for the revisions.

However, at the beginning of 2025, the executive councils were unilaterally informed that the WolBes amendment would go into consultation, with partial revision of the agreements made, without consultation or communication. Attempts by the Island Councils to enter into talks with the then State Secretary Szabo met with a rejection by the State Secretary.

The current bill reflects this one-sided approach and is again in violation of Article 209 of the WolBes right of self-determination of the three islands, without adequate participation of the Island Councils.

The Island Councils of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba consider this unacceptable. All changes made to the  WolBes and FinBes must take place in accordance with De Bilt agreement list and be in line with Article 209 of the WolBes and the islands right of self-determination. Deviations from this are contrary to the spirit of the WolBes and the conditions under which the three islands joined the Dutch state system in 2010 and can only be decided with the consent of the three islands based on free will. The internet consultation that has just started therefore lacks legitimacy. The only option is for the parties involved to sit down with each other again, as far as Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba are concerned, as soon as possible.