News item | 29-08-2025 | 15:00
On the proposal of State Secretary for Marum of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, the Council of Ministers approved the bill to accelerate the number of island council members and island deputies from Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba.
The bill states that the number of island councilors will step up step by step in the next elections of 17 March 2027. Initially for Bonaire from 9 to 11, for Sint Eustatius from 5 to 7 and for SABA from 5 to 7. According to the proposal, the number of island deputies is therefore going up: on Bonaire from 3 to 4 and on Sint Eustatius and Saba from 2 to 3.
Dates
With this bill, the agreements are implemented during the working conference at the beginning of March 2024 on the revision of the Public Bodies Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (Wolbes) and the Finance BES (Finbes) Act. These laws regulate the administrative and financial relationships between Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba and the central government.
Grow along
One of the considerations for the expansion of the island council councils and executive colleges is that the number of island councilors and deputies has not grown with the population since 2010. Moreover, from the islands came the signal that the number of island deputies is too low while a lot of work has to be done. With this proposal, this signal is picked up to contribute to more administrative power and to strengthen democracy.
State Secretary of Marum: “The islands stand for major tasks. Think of the construction and improvement of roads, good education, realizing sufficient houses, stimulating the economy and improving connectivity between the islands. With the political authorities wearers, we continue to do so with the cooperation to offer Perspective here. With the Sints and reinforcement of the Sintsa, and reinforcement of the Sintsa, and reinforcement of the Sintsa, and reinforcement of the Sintsa, and reinforcement of the Sintsa, and reinforcement of the Sints. contributions.”
Support
The island councils and executive colleges receive support to perform their work properly. The Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations has made resources available for this. In addition, the political authorities of the islands have received support since the beginning of 2025 through the so -called support program.
After approval in the Council of Ministers, the bill for advice goes to the Council of State and then to the Lower House.