Question about Holland and NA

[MYMD]

Hi, I go to St. James on Bonaire and Our President just met with us and Holland has sent a welcome letter to them. It seems there will be no big change except that the Netherland Antilles will be gone so the WHO will have to be updated Right? Our President seemed liked it was no big deal but some of us wonder if it is anything to worry about? It will affect Saba and Sint Estacous as well. Any thoughts? ANything new?:confused:

[KingMo]

For those of us who don't know what's going on with the Netherlands Antilles...what's going on with the Netherlands Antillies? More autonomy for the islands?

[MYMD]

No SABA, Bonaire and St. Est are being made "Kingdom Island states" they will be free from Curacao but deal with Holland directly and Holland will directly control somethings that Curacao does now. But the WHO will have to change cause of the NA no longer will exsit, bu it seems like no problem? This will mean The Islands and Holland will have to contact the WHO about our charters? I'm asking?

[Nate-MD]

I obtained a copy of "memorandum of understand on the future constitutional status of Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba agreed during the mini-conference helod on 10& 11 october 2006 in the Hague" from some contacts..... and if you think the title is long... you should see this gloriously vague document. I like reading up on island news and whatnot, and this has been coming for some time now. Holland has 6 islands in el caribe, the ABC and SSS islands; Aruba, Bonaire, Curascao, Statia, Saba, and St Maarten. The larger island have for some time wanted more autonomy, wilst the smaller islands (saba) have wanted a closer tie to the netherlands, mainly because of social programs, welfare benefits, education, and health services. The larger islands have determined that they can pretty much self rule and can have a viable economy, but islands like Saba could in no way support themselves. What I have a copy of is in no way a new constitutional agreement, but more like minutes on what needs to be done before Jan 2007, at which point final approval will be granted. I'll just give a short list of some of the problems that are addressed: Constitutional status and constitutional structure (what country are we and who rules us), Police and judiciary, financial and economics,currency to be used, relationship with the EU, transitional process. It's all a very wordy document and it gives an instant headache to anyone that's not a lawyer to read it. Thankfully it seems everyone in my family has a law degree, so I carry a gene that allows me to see through this bullcrap. If anyone has any specific questions, I'd be happy to find out the answer for them.

Dang, this is like the most helpfull I've ever been on valuemd.....

[MYMD]

I obtained a copy of "memorandum of understand on the future constitutional status of Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba agreed during the mini-conference helod on 10& 11 october 2006 in the Hague" from some contacts..... and if you think the title is long... you should see this gloriously vague document. I like reading up on island news and whatnot, and this has been coming for some time now. Holland has 6 islands in el caribe, the ABC and SSS islands; Aruba, Bonaire, Curascao, Statia, Saba, and St Maarten. The larger island have for some time wanted more autonomy, wilst the smaller islands (saba) have wanted a closer tie to the netherlands, mainly because of social programs, welfare benefits, education, and health services. The larger islands have determined that they can pretty much self rule and can have a viable economy, but islands like Saba could in no way support themselves. What I have a copy of is in no way a new constitutional agreement, but more like minutes on what needs to be done before Jan 2007, at which point final approval will be granted. I'll just give a short list of some of the problems that are addressed: Constitutional status and constitutional structure (what country are we and who rules us), Police and judiciary, financial and economics,currency to be used, relationship with the EU, transitional process. It's all a very wordy document and it gives an instant headache to anyone that's not a lawyer to read it. Thankfully it seems everyone in my family has a law degree, so I carry a gene that allows me to see through this bullcrap. If anyone has any specific questions, I'd be happy to find out the answer for them.

Dang, this is like the most helpfull I've ever been on valuemd.....

So with all the Medical schools already here does it seem ( Like I believe) that we have little to worry about? Lord knows these small islands can use all the industry they can get tourist help but are not enough. I know my school now hosts 150 students here all spending money and living here. It seems like based on my research, nothing like "Kicking any of the exsisting out" is going to happen but no new schools now either without Holland as far as these Islands. ( this can be a really good thing) Then a weaker school, if they die out thats it they are gone and unless approved for a new one thats it. At least thats the way I think this will play out in the end, of all the Schools affected SABA is deffinitly the strongest. I think since the enrollment is up and the school has a good relationship with Bonaire local Government and others My school will be ok too ( I hope).

SO tell me what do you think?:confused:

[Nate-MD]

The school and the island are going to be absolutely fine. If anything, they'll benefit from dutch social programs and will have more money put into health care. What I'm really interested in is the possible conversion of the carribean guilder into euros, dollars, ECD, or god knows what. I'm fascinated by money, markets, and these sort of thing, so I'll be following the change pretty closely and maybe invest in currency a bit. If you're confused about investing in currency, it's kinda like how when the Euro came out it was crap vs. the dollar, and now it's stronger every day. So buy cheap, sell later. You can make a surpising ammount of money doing that, but it involves a big investment and you have to be sure that it will go up. I did this when I had money a long time ago, but it's hard to do when you're grossly in debt.

[KingMo]

So we are still the Netherlands Antilles. When would the NA dissolve and what would our new "country" be termed? Kingdom Island States, and it would contain Statia, Saba, and Bonaire?

[MYMD]

This is the only concern I have is how does it work? There will be no new contry after the NA is gone, the Kingdom Island states will be territories of the Netherlands like PR is to the USA. SO that is where my question is, what does it mean to WHO and do the schools now have to be accepted by Holland under this new arrangment?

[Experienced]

Dang, this is like the most helpfull I've ever been on valuemd.....

NFS, dawg. Might jeopardise your rep as a reckless, Brandoesque bit of eye candy.

I have a question: my understanding is that Saba will become a 'special municipality' or 'overseas municipality' or somesuch directly a part of Holland. As such, Sabans will carry Dutch/EU passports and vote in Dutch elections, pay Dutch taxes, etc. Kind of like (if I've picked up the proper bit of sociology whilst in the Caribbean) the French system, where French SXM and St. Barths and such are actually parts of France, with MPs and all. The question, I guess, is 'Am I on the right track vis-a-vis our dear Saba?'

E.

[MYMD]

Yes I think that is the deal, the deal is the same for all three islands, now our residency permits to stay on the island during school is approved by Holland standards. SO as far as that goes they have been Gov by Holland already.