Constitutional reform of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Introduction
At present, the Netherlands Antilles, a group of five Caribbean islands - Sint Maarten, Curaçao, Bonaire, Sint-Eustatius and Saba - make up one country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This political structure is going to change. Sint Maarten and Curaçao are set to become autonomous territories, just like Aruba.

BES-islands
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (the so-called BES-islands ) will be given some sort of municipality status within the Netherlands. They maintain strong ties with the Netherlands, and the islands' residents are given the right to vote and the right to stand for election for the House of Representatives of the Netherlands. This does not apply to Sint Maarten and Curaçao, however, for these islands each have their own parliaments. The realisation of the plan is due on 10 October 2010. The federation of the Netherlands Antilles will be dissolved by then. The Kingdom of the Netherlands will then consist of the following countries: the Netherlands (the BES-islands included), Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten.

Adaptations
Carrying out the constitutional reform requires adaptation of the legal system, the public administration and the financial supervision. Law enforcement (i.e. the investigation and prosecution of criminal offences) for instance becomes an autonomous duty of the future countries. That is why Curaçao and Sint Maarten each will have their own public prosecution office and a minister of Justice, who is accountable to parliament.

Governor
Moreover, in Curaçao and Sint Maarten the post of Governor will be created, who holds the same position as HM the Queen in the Netherlands. In both countries, the Governor represents the Head of State of the Netherlands. The Governor is head of the government of Curaçao /Sint Maarten, but is not a member of the Cabinet. The Governor is inviolable and the ministers are responsible. The Governor is appointed by the Head of State for a six-year term.

Debate
On Friday 9 April and Monday 12 April the standing committee on Kingdom relations held a debate on the constitutional reform.

The subject was dealt with in plenary sittings on Wednesday 14 April and Thursday 15 April (voting).

BBC country pofile

WebsiteMinistry of the Interior and Kingdom (ministerie BZK)
New status for The Netherlands Antilles
http://www.minbzk.nl/english/subjects/aruba-and-the/new-status-for-the

Pressarticles about the reforms in the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Netherlands Antillesto cease to exist as a country - 1 Oktober 2009
http://www.nrc.nl/international/article2375096.ece/Netherlands_Antilles_to_cease_to_exist_as_a_country

Tromp: ‘Importance of supervision increases with new political structure’ - 30 Maart 2010
http://www.amigoe.com/artman/publish/artikel_70616.php

Review of plans for future apparatus of government - 8 Maart 2010
http://www.amigoe.com/artman/publish/artikel_69659.php

‘10-10-’10 only under conditions’ - 26 Oktober 2009
http://www.amigoe.com/cgi-bin/artikel/exec/view.cgi?archive=275&num=64308

BES laws approved - 10 Maart 2010
http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-news/1306-bes-laws-approved.html