Netherlands Antilles
A possession of the Netherlands in the Caribbean Sea, between North and South America, north of Venezuela. It includes the islands: Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and the southern part of Saint Martin, which belong to the archipelago of the Antilles. The total area is 961,000 km². The administrative center is Willemstad (115,000, including suburbs) on the island of Curaçao. The population is 220,000 (as of 2005), primarily consisting of blacks and mulattos. The official language is Dutch, with a local creole language, Papiamento (based on Spanish and Portuguese), as well as English and Spanish being widely spoken. Religion: the majority of believers are Catholics (85%), the rest are Protestants. The currency is the Netherlands Antillean guilder (florin).
National holiday - April 30 - Queen's Day.
According to the Statute of the Kingdom of the Netherlands from 1954, the Antilles are part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, enjoying autonomy in internal affairs. The governor (since July 2004 - F. Gutgedrag) is the personal representative of the Queen of the Netherlands, appointed by her for a term of 6 years. Issues of foreign policy and defense fall under the competence of the metropolitan government. Legislative power in matters of internal governance belongs to the unicameral Legislative Assembly (States), which is elected by universal suffrage for a term of 4 years (the last elections were held in January 2002) and consists of 22 members (14 from Curaçao, 3 from Bonaire, and 5 from the islands of Saint Martin, Saba, and Sint Eustatius).
The executive power is exercised by the governor with the assistance of an Advisory Council and a coalition of the Council of Ministers, headed by the Prime Minister (since June 2004 - E. Eys, leader of the Antillean Transformation Party). Each island territory has local authorities - a vice-governor, a council, and a government.
Several political parties operate on Curaçao: the Antillean Transformation Party (ATP) - a social Christian party, founded in 1993, leader - E. Eys. The National People's Party (NPP) - founded in 1948; a social Christian party advocating close ties with the Netherlands and a systematic preparation of the islands for independence, leader - Camelia Romer. The New Antillean Movement (NAM) - founded in 1979; advocates for the democratization of the political system of the islands and a gradual transition to independence, part of the Socialist International (since 1980), leader - K. Gijsbertha. The Democratic Party of Curaçao (DPC) - established in 1945 (in 1973, as a result of a split, the Social Democratic Party was formed).
The Workers' Front for Liberation (WFL) - founded in 1969; advocates for the independence of the islands. Parties from other islands: the Patriotic Union of Bonaire (PUB) - the leading party on the island, advocating for the autonomy of Bonaire within a federation of islands, leader - R. Booy. The Democratic Party of Saint Martin.
Trade union organizations: the National Confederation of Trade Unions of Curaçao - founded in 1968; has 6,000 members; part of the ICFTU. The Federation of Workers of Curaçao - founded in 1964; has 2,000 members. The Christian Confederation of Trade Unions of Curaçao - founded in 1950; unites 9 trade unions with 4,000 members; part of the WFTU.
The Spanish arrived on the islands in the late 15th century. In the 1630s and 40s, they were occupied by the Dutch, then repeatedly occupied by the Spanish, English, and French. They finally passed to the Netherlands in 1816. Slavery was abolished on the islands in 1863. Since 1954, they have been a self-governing part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Previously, the territory included the island of Aruba (since January 1, 1986, a separate territory within the Kingdom of the Netherlands).
The GDP of the islands is $2.45 billion (2003), with a per capita income of $11,400. The economically active population is about 89,000 people. One of the most important sectors of the economy is tourism (86% of the self-employed population is engaged in this sector). The islands are visited annually by over 1 million foreign tourists (mainly from North America and Western Europe). About 75% of tourists stay on Saint Martin. The processing of imported oil at the oil refinery on Curaçao plays an important role in the economy. There are 3 transit oil terminals (on the islands of Curaçao, Sint Eustatius, and Bonaire). Curaçao has a dry dock - one of the largest in the Americas, capable of accommodating ships with a displacement of up to 155,000 tons. There are enterprises in the textile, food, pulp and paper, tobacco, and liquor industries. Assembly of electronic components is carried out. The manufacturing industry employs 13% of the self-employed population of the islands. Salt mining is conducted.
In an effort to change the structure of the economy, the government creates favorable conditions for foreign capital.
Foreign enterprises are exempt from taxes for a period of 10 years.
About 1% of the self-employed population is engaged in agriculture. Due to a lack of fresh water, less than 5% of the country's area is cultivated. The main crops are aloe (on Bonaire), sorghum, nuts, vegetables, and tropical fruits.
Marine fishing is conducted. A large portion of food is imported.
Main trading partners: the USA, the Netherlands, Venezuela.
There are no railways. The main port is Willemstad. There are 5 airports, including 3 international (on the islands of Curaçao, Bonaire, and Saint Martin). The length of the roads is 300 km.
The University of the Netherlands Antilles operates (on Curaçao). Four daily and weekly publications in Dutch, English, and Papiamento are published on the islands. There are 27 commercial radio stations and 3 television services.
