Curacao to hold referendum on future status

Saturday, November 27, 2004

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AFP): Curacao, the largest island of the Dutch Antilles, will hold a referendum next year on its future status with options ranging from the status quo to complete independence from the Netherlands, Dutch media reported Friday.

The referendum, to take place on April 8, 2005, will let voters chose between four options. 

They can choose a status quo, with Curacao remaining a member of the Dutch Antilles. A second option is for the island to become an autonomous country within the kingdom of the Netherlands, so-called status aparte.

Another choice is for Curacao, which has a population of just over 150,000, to become a sort of province of the Netherlands. Finally, the islanders could also vote for independence.

Although not all political parties have revealed their position on the issue it is expected that most will support the option of Curacao becoming an autonomous state within the Netherlands. The neighbouring island, Aruba, already has a status aparte within the Netherlands.

At present the Dutch Antilles are made up of five islands, Curacao, which has the most inhabitants, Bonaire, Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius and Saba.

Although the islands are an integral part of the kingdom of the Netherlands they have their own government.

These last years there is not much political unity in the five islands of the Antilles and nearly all islands are in favour of loosening their ties with The Netherlands.

Curacao is the fourth island to hold a referendum on its political future. In May 2000 a majority of voters in Sint Maarten chose a status aparte. In the last months Bonaire and Saba voted for closer ties to the Netherlands.

On Sint Eustatius a date for a referendum is expected to be set next year.

Curacao, which has an area of 173 square miles, is best known abroad for the orange-based liqueur that bears its name.

  Back...

  Most popular articles: viewed, printed and e-mailed

  Printable version