Commission Recommends Fundamental Constitutional Changes For Netherland Antilles

by Amanda Banks, Tax-News.com, London

12 October 2004

A commission appointed by the Dutch and Antillean governments has recommended the breaking up of the Caribbean jurisdiction of the Netherland Antilles into separate entities within the Dutch Kingdom, recent reports have indicated.

According to the findings of the commission headed by former Antillean governor Edsel Jesurun, the islands of Curacao and St Maarten should be made autonomous countries alongside the Netherlands and the Caribbean island of Aruba, whilst the remaining three islands - Saba, Bonaire and St. Eustatius - should be brought under the direct control of the Dutch government in The Hague, Expatica news services reported.

Whilst the commission’s recommendations, which were leaked by the NRC newspaper last week, are not binding on the political decision makers, it has been said that the findings will “weigh heavily” on the governments of Holland and the Netherland Antilles, and could result in a fundamental change to the Caribbean jurisdiction’s constitutional arrangements.

Fundamental change in the territory’s nation status is also required to address economic and social problems, the commission found.

However, in the event of any fragmentation of power, the islands would continue to cooperate regarding the Central Bank and the pension and social security funds, it was reported.

A political accord leading to any changes is expected to be formalised before the year’s end.

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