BONAIRE SELF-DETERMINATION DENIED - NEW BOOK BY JAMES FINIES

   The book, Self-determination Denied, has as its main objectives: to document and commemorate events that transpired between 2010 and 2020; inform about important decisions, situations and actions that led towards the illegal annexation of Bonaire; and document the consequences of the change of status imposed on Bonaire. It will further shine light, desecrate and encapsulate the persons, politicians, leaders, the players, their actions, and all that led to the betrayal and annexation of the Bonaire people on October 10, 2010 going forward to October 10, 2020.

    The people of Bonaire never chose this change of status termed “public entity” and also referred to as “special municipality”. On the contrary, Bonereans used a referendum to express their overwhelming rejection of the imposed status under unequal rights in the Dutch Constitution.

    The book will reveal the atrocities committed against our people, the social inequality, the oppression of our rights, and the suppression of our culture on Bonaire.  Imposed laws, policies, regulations, and taxes rob our people of their natural food resources and inherited land and leave them destitute. Local Bonerians, now a shrunken and displaced population, have become a minority group on their own island in less than a decade.

    Further the book, Bonaire Self-Determination Denied, will summarize Nos Ke Boneiru Back trajectory to re-list Bonaire back on the Non-Self-Governing-Territories list of the United Nations that started in 2016, when Mr. James Finies spoke as the first Antillean in the Special Committee on Decolonization. History has shown us that only  international exposure can free our people and guarantee the right of self-determination to the whole Dutch colonies in the Caribbean; Sint Eustatius, Saba, Bonaire, Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten.

Click on the following link to watch the trailer-promo: https://youtu.be/dNoiZo_hNbY

INDEPENDENT SELF-GOVERNANCE ASSESSMENT ON BONAIRE

 

BONAIRE FOUNDATION TO CELEBRATE 15 YEARS OF WORK

 

Antony Géros new president of the Superior Council of the FPC

Tahiti, November 16, 2020 - Antony Géros succeeds Benoit Kautai as President of the Higher Council for the Public Service of the Municipalities. The tāvana of Paea is elected against the mayor of Mahina, Damas Teuira, the candidate supported by the mayors in the Council. 

Antony Géros, will be the president of the Superior Council of the Public Service of the Communes (CSFPC) until 2026. He succeeds Benoît Kautai who had been in office since 2014. The mayor of Paea, president of the sovereignist group Tavini Huiraatira at the assembly from French Polynesia, was elected Wednesday, November 4 against the city councilor of Mahina, Damas Teuira and despite the support given to the latter by the elected municipal officials represented within the CSFPC. 

If for this election the candidacy Géros obtained the support of a strong majority of the members representing the trade unions with the exception of the three representatives of A Tia i mua, it above all received five precious votes among the 10 representatives of the municipalities, of open support for Damascus Teuira. Out of the 20 votes cast in this election, the new CSFPC president obtained 12 votes in his favor.

 "Antony Géros is a municipal agent. He is the former secretary general of the town hall of Faa'a. He knows the problem of municipalities ", defends one of the representatives of the trade unions. " Unlike Damas Teuira, who was originally an official of the Country ." 

The Superior Council of the Municipal Public Service is intended to be consulted for an opinion on all draft texts relating to the statute of the municipal public service and to the rules relating to the organization of this branch of the public service. 

The next major project for the CSFPC is the cleaning of the January 2005 ordinance on the general status of civil servants in municipalities and groupings of municipalities in French Polynesia as well as their public administrative establishments. This text has been applicable since 2012. The opinion of the CSFPC on the grooming project submitted to it is expected next January at the latest.

Colonialism and Neo-colonialism in the Caribbean - An Overview

Norman Girvan 

Prepared For IV International Seminar Africa, The Caribbean And Latin America, St. Vincent And The Grenadines, 24th- 26th November, 2012

(FULL TEXT)

Introduction 

The contemporary Caribbean1/ is one of the most politically fragmented regions for its size on earth; and one with the strongest remaining colonial presence. Political divisions and external control are major blocs to the consolidation of a Caribbean identity and the charting of an independent course of development in the interest of Caribbean peoples. They undermine the ‘fragmented nationalism’2/, and the pervasive epistemological dependency 3/ , that is characteristic of the regional consciousness. This situation is a direct consequence of the region’s five-century long history as area of rivalry among, and colonisation by, external powers. 

Political decolonisation of Caribbean countries is incomplete; indeed it has come to a virtual standstill. Initiatives at regional cooperation and regional integration have made some progress; but face continuing challenges. Such progress as has been made result from the efforts of Caribbean people themselves; and are continuing. Rebellion, revolution, cultural affirmation and other forms of resistance are as integral to the Caribbean experience as are exploitation by external forces and internal elites. 

The tradition of struggle serves to inspire, inform and motivate current generations. Slowly but surely, a pan-Caribbean consciousness is emerging, led by the vision of cultural practitioners; and containing the seeds of a future Caribbean nation. 
________________________________________________________________

1/ In this paper we refer to ‘the Caribbean’ as constituting the archipelago which runs from the Bahamas to Trinidad and Tobago; plus Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Belize, and Bermuda. 

2/ See Franklin W. Knight, The Caribbean: Genesis of a Fragmented Nationalism . Oxford University Press, 2011. 

3/ See Brian Meeks and Norman Girvan (eds.) The Thought of New World: The Quest for Decolonisation. Ian Randle Publishers, 2009.

U.N. COMMITTEE SUPPORTS ASSISTANCE TO DEPENDENT TERRITORIES

The United Nations (U.N.) Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) has adopted its annual resolution in support of U.N. assistance to the remaining seventeen non self-governing territories. The resolution was adopted on 6th November by the specific General Assembly committee which deals with decolonization issues and is comprised of all 193 U.N. member States. The resolution is reproduced below: 

_______________________________________________________   

RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY U.N. FOURTH COMMITTEE

Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations 

          The General Assembly,

          Having considered the item entitled “Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations”,

          Having also considered the report of the Secretary-General^[1] and the report of the Economic and Social Council^[2] on the item,

          Having examined the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples for 2020,^[3]

          Recalling its resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 and 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960 and the resolutions of the Special Committee, as well as other relevant resolutions and decisions, including, in particular, Economic and Social Council resolutions 2018/18 of 3 July 2018 and 2019/27 of 23 July 2019,

          Bearing in mind the relevant provisions of the final documents of the successive Conferences of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries and of the resolutions adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, the Pacific Islands Forum and the Caribbean Community,

          Conscious of the need to facilitate the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained in resolution 1514 (XV),

          Noting that the large majority of the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories are small island Territories,

          Welcoming the assistance extended to Non-Self-Governing Territories by certain specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system,

          Welcoming also the participation in the capacity of observers of those Non-Self-Governing Territories that are associate members of regional commissions in the world conferences in the economic and social spheres, subject to the rules of procedure of the General Assembly and in accordance with relevant resolutions and decisions of the United Nations, including resolutions and decisions of the Assembly and the Special Committee on specific Territories,

          Noting that only some specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system have been involved in providing assistance to Non-Self-Governing Territories,

          Stressing that, because the development options of the small island Non-Self-Governing Territories are limited, there are special challenges to planning for and implementing sustainable development and that those Territories will be constrained in meeting those challenges without the continuing cooperation and assistance of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system,

          Stressing also the importance of securing the resources necessary for funding expanded programmes of assistance for the peoples concerned and the need to enlist the support of all major funding institutions within the United Nations system in that regard,

          Reaffirming the mandates of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to take all appropriate measures, within their respective responsibilities, to ensure the full implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions,

          Expressing its appreciation to the African Union, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Caribbean Community and other regional organizations for the continued cooperation and assistance that they have extended to the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in this regard,

          Expressing its conviction that closer contacts and consultations between and among the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and regional organizations help to facilitate the effective formulation of programmes of assistance to the peoples concerned,

          Mindful of the imperative need to keep under continuous review the activities of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in the implementation of the various resolutions and decisions of the United Nations relating to decolonization,

          Bearing in mind the extremely fragile economies of the small island Non-Self-Governing Territories and their vulnerability to natural disasters, such as hurricanes, cyclones and sea level rise, and recalling the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly,

          Recalling its resolution 74/95 of 13 December 2019 on the implementation of the Declaration by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations,

          Recalling also its resolutions 74/270 of 2 April 2020, entitled “Global solidarity to fight the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)”, and 74/274 of 20 April 2020, entitled “International cooperation to ensure global access to medicines, vaccines and medical equipment to face COVID-19”,

          1.       Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;¹

          2.       Recommends that all States intensify their efforts through the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system of which they are members to ensure the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations;

          3.       Reaffirms that the specialized agencies and other organizations and institutions of the United Nations system should continue to be guided by the relevant resolutions of the United Nations in their efforts to contribute to the implementation of the Declaration and all other relevant resolutions of the General Assembly;

          4.       Also reaffirms that the recognition by the General Assembly, the Security Council and other United Nations organs of the legitimacy of the aspirations of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to exercise their right to self-determination entails, as a corollary, the extension of all appropriate assistance to those peoples;

          5.       Expresses its appreciation to those specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system that have continued to cooperate with the United Nations and the regional and subregional organizations in the implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations, and requests all the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to implement the relevant provisions of those resolutions;

          6.       Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to intensify their engagement with the work of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples as an important element for the implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), including participation in the regional seminars on decolonization, upon the invitation of the Special Committee;

          7.       Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and international and regional organizations to examine and review conditions in each Territory so as to take appropriate measures to accelerate progress in the economic and social sectors of the Territories;

          8.       Urges those specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system that have not yet provided assistance to Non-Self-Governing Territories to do so as soon as possible;

          9.       Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations and institutions of the United Nations system and regional organizations to strengthen existing measures of support and formulate appropriate programmes of assistance for the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories, within the framework of their respective mandates, in order to accelerate progress in the economic and social sectors of those Territories;

          10.     Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system concerned to provide information on:

          (a)     Environmental problems facing the Non-Self-Governing Territories;

          (b)     The impact of natural disasters, such as hurricanes and volcanic eruptions, and other environmental problems, such as beach and coastal erosion and droughts, on those Territories;

          (c)     Ways and means to assist the Territories to fight drug trafficking, money-laundering and other illegal and criminal activities;

          (d)     Illegal exploitation of the marine and other natural resources of the Territories and the need to utilize those resources for the benefit of the peoples of the Territories;

          11.     Recommends that the executive heads of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system formulate, with the active cooperation of the regional organizations concerned, concrete proposals for the full implementation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and submit the proposals to their governing and legislative organs;

          12.     Also recommends that the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system continue to review at the regular meetings of their governing bodies the implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations;

          13.     Recalls the adoption by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean of its resolution 574 (XXVII) of 16 May 1998,^[4] calling for the necessary mechanisms for its associate members, including Non-Self-Governing Territories, to participate in the special sessions of the General Assembly, subject to the rules of procedure of the Assembly, to review and assess the implementation of the plans of action of those United Nations world conferences in which the Territories originally participated in the capacity of observer, and in the work of the Economic and Social Council and its subsidiary bodies;

          14.     Requests the Chair of the Special Committee to deepen cooperation with the President of the Economic and Social Council on the identical agenda items of both bodies on assistance to the Non-Self-Governing Territories, through regular consultations, in accordance with relevant resolutions on decolonization;

          15.     Recalls the publication by the Department of Public Information and the Department of Political Affairs of the Secretariat, in consultation with United Nations agencies, funds and programmes and the Special Committee, of an information leaflet on assistance programmes available to the Non-Self-Governing Territories, which was updated for the United Nations website on decolonization, and requests its continued updating and wide dissemination;

          16.     Welcomes the continuing efforts made by the United Nations Development Programme in maintaining close liaison among the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, including the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and in providing assistance to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories;

          17.     Encourages the Non-Self-Governing Territories to take steps to establish and/or strengthen disaster preparedness and management institutions and policies, inter alia, with the assistance of the relevant specialized agencies;

          18.     Requests the administering Powers concerned to facilitate, when appropriate, the participation of appointed and elected representatives of Non-Self-Governing Territories in the relevant meetings and conferences of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in accordance with relevant resolutions and decisions of the United Nations, including resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly and the Special Committee on specific Territories, so that the Territories may benefit from the related activities of those agencies and organizations;

          19.     Recommends that all Governments intensify their efforts through the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system of which they are members to accord priority to the question of providing assistance to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories;

          20.     Requests the Secretary-General to continue to assist the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in working out appropriate measures for implementing the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and to prepare for submission to the relevant bodies, with the assistance of those agencies and organizations, a report on the action taken in implementation of the relevant resolutions, including the present resolution, since the circulation of his previous report;

          21.     Commends the Economic and Social Council for its debate on this question, and requests it to continue to consider and intensify its cooperation with the Special Committee, with the aim of developing appropriate measures for the further coordination of the policies and activities of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in implementing the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly;

          22.     Requests the specialized agencies to report annually to the Secretary-General on the implementation of the present resolution;

          23.     Requests the Secretary-General to transmit the present resolution to the governing bodies of the appropriate specialized agencies and international institutions associated with the United Nations so that those bodies may take the measures necessary to implement it, and also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its seventy-fifth session on the implementation of the present resolution;

          24.     Requests the Special Committee to continue to examine the question and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its seventy-sixth session.

---

      [1]  A/75/73.

      [2]  E/2020/52/Rev.1.

      [3] Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-fifth Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/75/23).

      [4] See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1998, Supplement No. 21 (E/1998/41), sect. III.G.

U.N. Fourth Committee Approves 23 Texts on Decolonization

 

MEETINGS COVERAGE

GA/SPD/725

6 NOVEMBER 2020

• GENERAL ASSEMBLY 
  • FOURTH COMMITTEE

SEVENTY-FIFTH SESSION, 10TH MEETING (PM)

Fourth Committee Approves 23 Texts on Decolonization, as It Concludes Main Part of Seventy-Fifth General Assembly Session

Chair Notes High Output Despite Constraints Imposed by COVID-19 Pandemic, Highlighting ‘Exceptional’ Joint General Debate

The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) approved 22 draft resolutions and one draft decision concerning decolonization today, as it completed its work for the main part of the General Assembly’s seventy-fifth session.

At the outset, the Committee approved the a text titled “Information from Non‑Self‑Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations” by a recorded vote of 163 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 2 abstentions (France, United Kingdom).

By its terms, the General Assembly requests that administering Powers transmit or continue to regularly transmit to the Secretary‑General statistical and other technical information relating to the economic, social and educational conditions in the Territories within a maximum period of six months following the expiration of the administrative year.

The Committee then approved the draft resolution “Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non‑Self‑Governing Territories” by a recorded 162 votes in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 3 abstentions (El Salvador, France, United Kingdom).

By that text, the Assembly reaffirms its deep concern at the number and scale of natural disasters in the course of 2017 and their devastating impact on Caribbean Non‑Self‑Governing Territories.  The Assembly also expresses concern about activities aimed at exploiting the natural and human resources of the Non‑Self‑Governing Territories to the detriment of their inhabitants.

Further by that text, the Assembly calls upon administering Powers to ensure that the exploitation of marine and other natural resources in the Non‑Self‑Governing Territories neither violates relevant United Nations resolutions nor adversely affects the interests of the Territories’ peoples.  It also calls upon those Powers to provide all necessary assistance to those in the Territories affected by hurricanes in order to alleviate humanitarian needs, support recovery and rebuilding efforts, and enhance emergency preparedness and risk reduction capabilities.

The Committee also approved — by a recorded vote of 115 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 52 abstentions — the draft “Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations”.

By that text, the Assembly recommends that all States intensify their efforts to ensure full and effective implementation of the Declaration through specialized agencies and other entities of the United Nations system.  It also urges those that have not yet provided assistance to Non-Self‑Governing Territories to do so as soon as possible.

Taking up the draft “Dissemination of Information on Decolonization draft resolution XVIII” (document A/75/23, chapter V, p.100), the Committee approved it by a recorded vote of 168 in favour, 2 against (Israel, United States) with 1 abstention (France).

By its terms, the General Assembly requests that the Department of Global Communications continue its efforts to update web-based information on the assistance programmes available to the Non-Self-Governing Territories.  It also requests that the Department, and the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, implement the recommendations of the Special Committee on Decolonization.

The Committee then turned to the draft “Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples” (document A/75/23, chapter V, p.102), by which the General Assembly calls upon administering Powers to cooperate fully with the Special Committee to develop and finalize a constructive programme of work for the Non-Self-Governing Territories to facilitate implementation of the Special Committee’s mandate as well as relevant resolutions.

Moreover, the text calls upon administering Powers to ensure that economic and other activities in the Territories do not adversely affect the interests of their peoples but instead promote development.  It also calls upon the administering Powers to terminate military activities and eliminate military bases in the Territories.  The Committee approved the text by a recorded 126 votes in favour to 3 against (Israel, United Kingdom, United States), with 42 abstentions.  

The Committee then turned to the draft resolution “Fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism: draft resolution XX” (document A/75/23, chapter V, p.106), by which the General Assembly declares the period 2021–2030 the Fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism.  As such, the Assembly calls upon Member States to intensify their efforts to implement the plan of action for the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism.  It calls upon the administering Powers to cooperate fully with the Special Committee to develop a constructive programme of work for the Non-Self-Governing Territories to facilitate implementation of its mandate.  The Committee approved the text by a recorded vote of 147 in favour to 3 against (Israel, United States), with 22 abstentions.

It went on to approve several other texts without a vote, including “Offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories” (document A/C.4/75/L.2), by which the General Assembly urges administering Powers to take effective measures to ensure widespread and continuous dissemination of State-offered study and training facilities information in Territories and provide all facilities necessary to enable students to avail themselves of such offers.

Acting again without a vote, the Committee approved drafts on the following individual Non‑Self‑Governing Territories:  American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, Tokelau, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands.

The Committee went on to approve, without a vote, a draft resolution and a draft decision on the questions of Western Sahara and Gibraltar, respectively.

Finally, the Committee a draft decision on its programme of work for the seventy-sixth session without a vote.

In concluding remarks, Committee Chair Collen Vixen Kelapile (Botswana) noted that it approved 34 draft resolutions and three draft decisions despite constraints imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.  On an exceptional basis, the Committee held a joint general debate on all 11 substantive agenda items before it, which heard 135 statements delivered in 10 formal meetings and two virtual informal meetings.

Delivering statements in explanation of position were representatives of the United States, United Kingdom, Argentina, Germany, Australia, Armenia and Spain.

Speaking in exercise of the right of reply was the representative of Azerbaijan.

U.N. FOURTH COMMITTEE APPROVES FOURTH INTERNATIONAL DECADE TO END CONTEMPORARY COLONIALISM

 The United Nations (U.N.) Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) adopted the recommendation of the Special Committee on Decolonization to convene the Fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism (IDEC). The decision was made on 6th November 2020 at a meeting of the Fourth Committee at U.N. Headquarters in New York. Below is the text of the resolution which will be considered for final adoption by the full General Assembly in December.