Press Release BES Summit February 2026

Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands - February 27, 2026 — Members of the Island Councils of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba convened in Bonaire for the first BES Summit of 2026. This meeting is the second one in a series of 3 BES Summits in which the Island Council of Bonaire holds the Chairmanship until June 2026. The BES Summit continues to be a platform for the islands to discuss, cooperate and support each other, and is guided by an MOU signed by all 3 islands. The goal of the BES Summit is the improve conditions on the islands and to tackle common challenges in an efficient and productive manner, while taking advantage of joint strength and capacity.

This BES Summit focused on strengthening governance frameworks, aligning legislative approaches, and addressing urgent priorities. 

The Island Councils emphasized the importance of legal footing to ensure that the representatives of the people, are fully included in consultations and decision-making processes and actions that align with the constitutional and administrative frameworks governing the BES islands. The commitment to continue cooperation on asserting clarity and achieving structural inclusivity was strongly affirmed by all islands.

Within the broader WolBES/FinBES discussions, the Islands Councils agreed to continue working jointly on shared priorities while recognizing that certain topics reflect differing local preferences. These matters will be revisited individually, allowing each island to pursue approaches best suited to its specific circumstances while maintaining a cooperative framework.

Progress is ongoing regarding the legal representation of the BES islands in The Hague. During the BES Summit the invited members of the Executive Councils of two of the islands indicated the progress made on the development of various proposals. Agreements were made to share information between the Councils for review and to present a finalized proposal and implementation strategy at a subsequent meeting. This topic remains a high priority for the islands and in line thereof a strict planning and discipline was expressed and agreed upon.

The BES Summit also addressed different ongoing legislative processes and consultations related to BES legislation, including the Wet politieke partijen (WPP) and open consultation process regarding temporary unemployment benefits (UWV) for citizens of the BES islands. Cooperation agreements were made to assess the individual position of each island on these legislative proposals, after which a collective opinion will be formulated to ensure that the final stance reflects both shared interests and local realities.

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Healthcare remains one of the highest priorities for the BES islands. While various initiatives are underway to attempt to improve services, the island representatives agreed on the need to develop a collective strategy for sustainable improvement. A petite committee will present its findings and proposals ahead of the next BES Summit, enabling each island to formulate its position and engage in informed discussion at the following meeting.

The State of Education across the BES islands was discussed with urgency and concern. Although each island faces distinct challenges within its education system, leaders expressed dissatisfaction with current conditions and the difficulty of achieving progress with the responsible departments in The Hague. Participants underscored the troubling decline in educational outcomes and the profound responsibility to safeguard the future of the islands’ youth. Representatives emphasized the need for stronger collaboration, accountability, and targeted action to address these challenges.

The island representatives also reiterated a proposal raised during recent discussions in the Netherlands involving the six islands of the former Netherlands Antilles to explore renewed cooperation. BES island representatives discussed the necessities and the possibilities. Following up with the other islands to further examine this initiative was a point of common interest amongst.

Rounding of the BES Summit the islands representatives paused and discussed the topic of the public service obligation (PSO) to ensure connectivity amongst the islands. It is a point of growing concern that the attention for this PSO is so underscored in the Hague, leaving the responsibility of making clear the necessity and benefits of improved connectivity solely in the hands of the islands and other Caribbean counterparts. Renewed attempts will be made to prioritize and address this topic.

The BES Summit reaffirmed the commitment of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba to work collaboratively while respecting local autonomy. Through legal review, coordinated legislative engagement, and a renewed focus on healthcare and education, representation and other areas of common interest, the islands aim to advance sustainable development and improve the quality of life for all their local communities.