Netherlands Antilles Split Date Formalized

by Phillip Morton, Investors Offshore.com

03 November 2009

The Islands forming the Netherlands Antilles will be split, as planned, by October 10 2010, the government has confirmed.

Following a constitutional crisis in 2004, due to irreconcilable differences between the constituent islands, it was agreed that the islands of Curacao and St Maarten will become autonomous countries, while the remaining three islands - Saba, Bonaire and St. Eustatius – will become ‘special municipalities’ of the Netherlands.

According to the government, the islands of Curaçao and St Maarten will be allowed to become autonomous countries "under certain conditions". In a statement, the authorities explained that in order to become countries Curaçao and St Maarten must have a proper legislative framework in place, and public authorities appropriately positioned to deal with their respective sectors. To ensure that this is the case, a progress committee will monitor developments.

Whilst the two islands - Curaçao and St Maarten – will be split, the two new countries will continue to cooperate closely in several areas through the establishment of a central government. Most recently, the two parties are negotiating the framework for a Joint Criminal Investigation Team.

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