Puerto Rico voters scarce amid U.S. takeover of territory's economy

CARIBBEAN NEWS NOW ! Under a fiscal control board, Puerto Rico voter abstention is at an all-time high SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- As the world anxiously observed the US elections, Puerto Rico, a US territory, also held its general election on Tuesday, November 8. And in a place that prides itself for historically having very high voting participation, turnout in these elections reached a new low. Image by Kike Estrada and taken from  planetakike.com. Used with permission The illustration reads: “Don't forget to vote,” but uses a play on words. Normally, “to vote” would be written with a “v,” but in this case the artist wrote it using a “b,” which changes the meaning to “to throw out [the garbage].” The red and blue represent the colors of the two largest political parties in Puerto Rico, red for the Popular Democratic Party (PDP) and blue for the New Progressive Party (NPP). While the pro-statehood New Progressive Party (PNP in Spanish) is celebrating that its candidate, Ricardo Rosselló Nevares, was elected governor and that they achieved a majority in the Legislature, the fact remains that voter participation for these elections reached only 55.09%, according to the official numbers of the State Electoral Commission (Comisión Estatal de Elecciones, or CEE, in Spanish). This number is extremely low, considering that Puerto Rico traditionally has had a turnout of well over 75%. This year's numbers represent a huge drop from 78.19% in the 2012 election. Another point of interest is the fact that Ricardo Rosselló won the election with only 655,626 votes, or 41.76%. This is the number that is usually used when discussing by how much a candidate won an election. Bear in mind that Puerto Rico has a population of roughly 3.5 million, of which approximately 2.9 million were registered to vote. This means that the governor was elected only by a little over 22% of registered voters, or roughly 19% of the population. This is the first time that a candidate for governor has been elected to office with such low numbers. READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Okinawa Governor Seeks talks with US President-elect Trump

“In the case of Clinton, she supported the same politics that have been practiced up until now. In a sense, I expected that the current deadlock would simply persist.” - Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga

Governor Onaga sends congratulations to U.S. President-elect Trump, hopes to break deadlock

Governor Takeshi Onaga

 Ryukyu Shimpo

Reporters have learned that on November 9, Governor Takeshi Onaga sent a message of congratulations to U.S. president-elect Donald Trump. It is the first time a governor has sent a message of congratulations to a winning candidate in a U.S. presidential election.

Regarding the outcome of the U.S. presidential election, the Okinawa prefectural government was of the perspective that had Hillary Clinton, who promoted the Henoko relocation as Secretary of State, been elected, no significant change could be expected. Regarding the impact of Trump’s inauguration as president, a prefectural official expressed caution, saying that there are many unknowns, but added that “there is expectation that something will happen,” expressing an intention to reach out to Trump and those around him to try to find a resolution through direct dialogue.

Regarding the impact that the outcome of the U.S. presidential election will have on the Henoko relocation, Governor Onaga explained, “In the case of Clinton, she supported the same politics that have been practiced up until now. In a sense, I expected that the current deadlock would simply persist.” He added, “In the case of Trump, his win is unprecedented. I don’t know how the base issue will be impacted, but I doubt Trump will practice a politics of deadlock. I will express my perspective [to Trump] as soon as possible.”

According to prefectural officials, the congratulatory message was not a suggestion from administrators but an order from the governor himself. The message congratulated Trump on his victory, conveyed wishes for progress in the United States, and expressed a desire for an opportunity to talk about the relationship between the United States and Okinawa after Trump’s inauguration. An initial draft of the message referred to the Henoko new base construction and other base issues, but from the perspective of beginning with dialogue, specific issues were not touched on in the final version.

(English translation by T&CT and Sandi Aritza)

UN COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION REPEATS ANNUAL CALL TO UN DECOLONIZATION COMMITTEE FOR INFORMATION ON RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN COLONIAL TERRITORIES

Report of the Committee  on the Elimination 

of  Racial Discrimination

Eighty-seventh session
(3-28 August 2015)
Eighty-eighth session
(23 November-11 December 2015)
Eighty-ninth session
(25 April-13 May 2016)

General Assembly
Official Records
Seventy-first SessionSupplement No. 18

EXCERPT

*****

VIII. Consideration of copies of petitions, copies of reports and other information relating to Trust and Non-Self-Governing Territories to which General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) applies, in conformity with article 15 of the Convention

44. Under article 15 of the Convention, the Committee is empowered to consider copies of petitions, reports and other information relating to Trust and Non-Self-Governing Territories and to all other territories to which General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) applies, as transmitted to it by the competent bodies of the United Nations, and to submit to the General Assembly its expressions of opinion and recommendations in this regard. 

45. Accordingly, and at the request of the Committee, Mr. Bossuyt 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 covering its work during 2014[1] and copies of the working papers on the 16 Territories prepared by the secretariat for the Special Committee and the Trusteeship Council (see CERD/C/89/3) and presented his report to the Committee at its eighty-ninth session, on 13 May 2016.

  The Committee noted, as it had done in the past, that it was difficult to fulfil its functions comprehensively under article 15 of the Convention owing to the fact that the copies of the reports received pursuant to paragraph 2 (b) contained only scant information directly relating to the principles and objectives of the Convention. (EMPHASIS ADDED)

46. The Committee further noted that there was significant ethnic diversity in a number of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, warranting a close watch on incidents or trends that reflected racial discrimination and violation of rights guaranteed in the Convention. 

The Committee therefore stressed that greater efforts should be made to raise awareness concerning the principles and objectives of the Convention in Non-Self-Governing Territories. 

The Committee also stressed the need for States parties administering Non-Self-Governing Territories to include details on the implementation of the Convention in those territories in their periodic reports to the Committee. 

---

                    [1]   Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/69/23). 

Dutch Political Leaders support independence for autonomous countries of Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten

Call For Completion Of Independence Trajectory

DAILY HERALD

THE HAGUE -The trajectory to achieve full independence for Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten should be completed. The Dutch Government should approach the United Nations (UN) to discuss this.

The liberal democratic VVD party and the Socialist Party (SP) made this call during the second day of the handling of the 2017 Kingdom Relations budget in the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament on Thursday.

Members of Parliament (MP) André Bosman (VVD) and Ronald van Raak (SP) submitted a joint motion at the end of a lengthy debate in which they requested the Dutch Government to consult the UN, together with Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten, to arrive at a “definite fulfilment of the right of self-determination of all countries in the Kingdom.”

In the motion, Bosman and Van Raak made mention of the UN decolonisation process that started after 1945, and the fact that the Kingdom Charter of 1954 was “the first step in the decolonisation process.” According to the motion, the Charter was never the end goal to do justice to the full right of self-determination of all countries within the Kingdom.

Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk tried to convince Bosman that it was a “futile exercise” to go to the UN without the consent of the Dutch Caribbean countries on this matter, especially if the countries voiced their objections to the UN.

The Minister said that he would first have to discuss this important step in the history of the Kingdom with the three countries before going to the UN. Bosman subsequently agreed to shelve the motion for now in order to give the Minister the chance to enter into discussions with the overseas countries. Plasterk promised a reply before December 31 this year.

The issue of independence sparked a debate between Plasterk and Bosman who had opposing views on the matter. “We don’t agree on the end goal,” said Plasterk, who made clear that he did not think independence of Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten was such a great idea.

Product of history

The Minister pointed out that it was up to the countries to take the decision if, and so when, they wanted to step out of the Kingdom. “Whether that is a wise decision is another matter. Letting go entirely would not be a good thing for the people there. The Kingdom is a product of history including the black page of slavery and colonialism. In my opinion, together we should try to make the best of it in the interest of the people.”

Plasterk said the Dutch Government had “no intention” to end the current constellation and that the Dutch Caribbean countries so far had not made a decision either to go independent. MP Sietse Fritsma of the Party for Freedom PVV objected to the Minister’s line of thinking and made a point that the Netherlands should achieve the right to unilaterally get out of the Kingdom. He submitted a motion to this extent.

Bosman urged Plasterk to proceed on giving content to the trajectory of complete independence described in the Kingdom Charter. He said it was the task of the Dutch Government to actively assist in the developing of the self-governance of the islands, as was stated in article 73 of the UN Charter.

“We have to talk about that with the countries,” said Bosman. Plasterk emphasized that the Dutch Caribbean countries had a right to self-determination and that this was not conflicting with article 73 of the UN Charter.

Van Raak said that the Kingdom Charter had a “smothering” effect on the relations within the Kingdom because the relations were not equal, and there was no way for the Netherlands to unilaterally decide to step out of the Kingdom. Van Raak and Bosman are in favour of a commonwealth structure where, in their opinion, the relations would be more equal.

Hybrid system

“We are in a hybrid system. Nobody has the power to see things through. The polder model doesn’t work in the Caribbean. We need to create clarity,” Bosman said about the current Kingdom structure. He said that while the overseas countries have their own autonomous responsibilities down the line it was the Kingdom, meaning the Netherlands, that was held responsible internationally.

Plasterk noted that there were also good things happening in the Kingdom. He said that Curaçao had a stable government for the past few years. A government which had created sound government finances and had achieved a budget that was truly balanced.

The Minister said that in St. Maarten the concerns about the links between the upper world and underworld remained, but that St. Maarten Governor Eugene Holiday, who has just been reappointed for another six years, had performed a “very strict screening” of the last cabinet. “He did that very well.”

Plasterk said that in the Kingdom it always remained a matter of seeking a balance, of giving space to the local governments, while keeping an eye on the responsibility of the Kingdom Government. “Of course we are not there yet. There is still much room for improvement, but many things are moving in the right direction.”

Refineries

The responsibility of the Kingdom also came up during the debate in relation to the extensive pollution caused by the Isla refinery in Curaçao and the deal that Aruba has made with Citgo Petroleum to reopen the refinery in San Nicolas.

MP Roelof van Laar of the Labour Party PvdA remarked that in Curaçao school children were fainting because of the toxic fumes and that the closing of the school in question was not redressing the actual problem. He urged the Minister to accomplish a real solution in short term. Plasterk said that the Isla refinery had the attention of the Curaçao Government and that with the help of Dutch expertise a solution was being sought.

MP Alexander Pechtold of the Democratic Party D66 criticised the lack of action of the Dutch Government to tackle the pollution caused by the Isla refinery. He said the Dutch Government did not truly see the urgency of the matter. “If the Dutch tourists were affected at their hotel, we would all cry out that this was unacceptable.”

Van Raak was highly critical of the Citgo agreement with Aruba. “Everyone can see that this is a bad deal that will create large debts. The promises of Venezuela are soft as butter,” he said. Plasterk said it was not up to him to judge the Citgo deal. He emphasized that Aruba carried the full financial responsibility for this agreement.

G-77 wants obstacles to self-determination removed, points to illegal British occupation of Chagos under international law

"Ministers noted with great concern that, notwithstanding the strong opposition of Mauritius, the United Kingdom purported to establish a “marine protected area” around the Chagos Archipelago, which would contravene international law and further impede the exercise by Mauritius of its sovereign rights over the archipelago and the right of return of Mauritius citizens who had been forcibly removed from the archipelago by the United Kingdom."

ZIANET.COM

________________________

Ministerial Declaration adopted at the fortieth annual meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the States members of the Group of 77 New York

 23 September 2016

EXCERPTS

Self-Determination

136. The Ministers reaffirmed that the right to self-determination is a primordial right that anchors the United Nations. For developing countries, it has been and continues to be a beacon of hope for all those who struggle under the weight of occupation. In that context, in the implementation, follow-up to and review of the 2030 Agenda, the international community must not forget the severe difficulties faced by peoples living under colonial and foreign occupation and strive to remove the obstacles to their full realization of the right to self-determination, which adversely affect their economic and social development and their ability to achieve and implement the Sustainable Development Goals and to ensure that they will not be left behind.

Chagos Archipelago

149. The Ministers reaffirmed the need to find a peaceful solution to the sovereignty issues facing developing countries, including the dispute over the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia, that had been unlawfully excised by the United Kingdom from the territory of Mauritius prior to independence, in violation of international law and General Assembly resolutions 1514 (XV) and 2066 (XX). Failure to resolve those decolonization and sovereignty issues would seriously damage and undermine the development and economic capacities and prospects of developing countries. 

Ministers noted with great concern that, notwithstanding the strong opposition of Mauritius, the United Kingdom purported to establish a “marine protected area” around the Chagos Archipelago, which would contravene international law and further impede the exercise by Mauritius of its sovereign rights over the archipelago and the right of return of Mauritius citizens who had been forcibly removed from the archipelago by the United Kingdom. 

In that regard, they noted the ruling of the arbitral tribunal in the case brought by Mauritius against the United Kingdom under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea that the “marine protected area” had been unlawfully established under international law. 

The Ministers resolved to support Mauritius in its endeavour to affirm its territorial integrity and sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago. 

150. The Ministers also took note of the concern expressed by Maldives regarding the legal and technical issues arising from the illegal decision of the United Kingdom in 2010 to declare a “marine protected area” in the Chagos Archipelago that overlapped with the exclusive economic zone of Maldives, as declared in its Constitution, without prejudice to the future resolution of maritime delimitations.

_________________________________________________

It is to be noted that the General Committee of the United Nations General Assembly made the following recommendation in its 14th September 2016 Report (para. 73) concerning matters related to Chagos, effectively delaying consideration of the issue until after June 2017.

G-77 wants obstacles to self-determination removed, points to illegal British occupation of Chagos under international law

"Ministers noted with great concern that, notwithstanding the strong opposition of Mauritius, the United Kingdom purported to establish a “marine protected area” around the Chagos Archipelago, which would contravene international law and further impede the exercise by Mauritius of its sovereign rights over the archipelago and the right of return of Mauritius citizens who had been forcibly removed from the archipelago by the United Kingdom."

ZIANET.COM

________________________

Ministerial Declaration adopted at the fortieth annual meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the States members of the Group of 77 New York

 23 September 2016

EXCERPTS

Self-Determination

136. The Ministers reaffirmed that the right to self-determination is a primordial right that anchors the United Nations. For developing countries, it has been and continues to be a beacon of hope for all those who struggle under the weight of occupation. In that context, in the implementation, follow-up to and review of the 2030 Agenda, the international community must not forget the severe difficulties faced by peoples living under colonial and foreign occupation and strive to remove the obstacles to their full realization of the right to self-determination, which adversely affect their economic and social development and their ability to achieve and implement the Sustainable Development Goals and to ensure that they will not be left behind.

Chagos Archipelago

149. The Ministers reaffirmed the need to find a peaceful solution to the sovereignty issues facing developing countries, including the dispute over the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia, that had been unlawfully excised by the United Kingdom from the territory of Mauritius prior to independence, in violation of international law and General Assembly resolutions 1514 (XV) and 2066 (XX). Failure to resolve those decolonization and sovereignty issues would seriously damage and undermine the development and economic capacities and prospects of developing countries. 

Ministers noted with great concern that, notwithstanding the strong opposition of Mauritius, the United Kingdom purported to establish a “marine protected area” around the Chagos Archipelago, which would contravene international law and further impede the exercise by Mauritius of its sovereign rights over the archipelago and the right of return of Mauritius citizens who had been forcibly removed from the archipelago by the United Kingdom. 

In that regard, they noted the ruling of the arbitral tribunal in the case brought by Mauritius against the United Kingdom under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea that the “marine protected area” had been unlawfully established under international law. 

The Ministers resolved to support Mauritius in its endeavour to affirm its territorial integrity and sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago. 

150. The Ministers also took note of the concern expressed by Maldives regarding the legal and technical issues arising from the illegal decision of the United Kingdom in 2010 to declare a “marine protected area” in the Chagos Archipelago that overlapped with the exclusive economic zone of Maldives, as declared in its Constitution, without prejudice to the future resolution of maritime delimitations.

_________________________________________________

It is to be noted that the General Committee of the United Nations General Assembly made the following recommendation in its 14th September 2016 Report (para. 73) concerning matters related to Chagos, effectively delaying consideration of the issue until after June 2017.

Curacao and Martinique clinch 2017 Gold Cup berths

SB NATION

Curacao and Martinique have won through to the 2017 Gold Cup after winning their respective groups in the qualifying tournament for next year's Caribbean Cup.

The current stage of Caribbean Cup qualifying is set up to generate the final four of the CFU's showpiece tournament, and four of the five Caribbean representatives at the 2017 Gold Cup. Four groups of three are reduced to four group winners, and the three best-ranked second-placed teams contest a playoff round that will send a fifth team to Gold Cup.

Hurricane Matthew has disrupted Groups 1 and 2, meaning Suriname, Jamaica, French Guiana, Haiti, and St. Kitts and Nevis will have to wait a little longer to find out which of them will be advancing to Gold Cup. Guyana has been eliminated from Group 1 after losing both its games (both after extra time) to Suriname and Jamaica, respectively.

But Groups 3 and 4 are decided.

READ THE FULL REPORT IN SB NATION.

ARGENTINA INFORMS U.N. OF UNLAWFUL BRITISH MILITARY ACTIVITIES IN FALKLAND ISLANDS (MALVINAS) WATERS

Seventy-first session
Agenda item 43
Question of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas)

Letter dated 14 October 2016 from the Permanent Representative of Argentina to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General 

On instructions from my Government, I have the honour to transmit to you a note from the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Argentine Republic concerning the military exercises to be conducted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the area of the Malvinas Islands between 19 and 28 October 2016 (see annex).

I should be grateful if you would have this letter and its annex circulated as a document of the General Assembly under agenda item 43, concerning the question of the Malvinas Islands. 

(Signed) Martín García Moritán
Ambassador
Permanent Representative

________________________________

Annex to the letter dated 14 October 2016 from the Permanent Representative of Argentina to the United Nations 

addressed to the Secretary-General

I have the honour to refer to the unlawful military exercises to be conducted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the area of the Malvinas Islands between 19 and 28 October 2016, which will include the launch of Rapier missiles.

As you are aware, the Argentine Republic has repeatedly expressed to the international community its concern regarding British military deployments in the Malvinas Islands. This situation is creating unnecessary and unjustified tension in the South Atlantic, which has been declared a zone of peace by the legitimate littoral States of this ocean.

The conduct of these military exercises in Argentine territory unlawfully occupied by the United Kingdom is contrary to numerous United Nations resolutions that urge the two countries to resume negotiations, in order to find a peaceful and definitive solution to this protracted sovereignty dispute.

The persistence of the United Kingdom in carrying out military manoeuvres in the South Atlantic is in violation, especially, of General Assembly resolution 31/49, which calls upon the two parties to refrain from introducing unilateral modifications in the situation while the negotiating process recommended by that Assembly proceeds, and runs counter to the principle of the peaceful settlement of disputes, unanimously supported by the countries of the region and reflected in the rejection of such military activity, as highlighted in the declarations of the States members of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) and the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR).

This new unilateral action on the part of the United Kingdom not only contrasts with the permanent willingness of the Argentine Republic to settle the sovereignty dispute by peaceful means, in accordance with international law and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations, but also jeopardizes the development of a constructive dialogue to improve cooperation on all South Atlantic issues of mutual interest, as expressed in the joint communiqué issued by both Governments on 13 September 2016.

The Argentine Republic reaffirms its sovereignty rights over the Malvinas Islands, South Georgia Islands and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas, which form an integral part of its national territory. It once again reiterates its permanent and constant willingness to negotiate, in accordance with United Nations resolutions, and requests that the present note be circulated among the States Members of the Organization.

(Signed) Carlos M. Foradori
Ambassador
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs

Pro-statehooder elected as Puerto Rico Commissioner to Washington

Jennifer Gonzalez, First Woman to Represent Puerto Rico in Washington

SAN JUAN – The New Progressive Party’s candidate for Puerto Rico’s resident commissioner in Washington, Jennifer Gonzalez, having won the election on Tuesday, will be the first woman to represent the island as a non-voting member in the U.S. Congress.

According to figures from the Puerto Rico elections commission, Gonzalez, who belongs to the party of Governor-elect Ricardo Rossello, received 660,870 votes or 48.82 percent.

She is the president of the island’s Republican Party and former head of the local House of Representatives.

Meanwhile, the candidate of the governing Popular Democratic Party, Hector Ferrer, received 639,464 votes, or 47.24 percent.

Gonzalez told reporters, with Rossello standing nearby, that she has been a consensus leader and will continue to be.

Rossello is the son of former Puerto Rican Gov. Pedro Rossello.

Almost 2.9 million Puerto Ricans were eligible to vote in the election on Tuesday, also selecting members of the U.S. commonwealth’s lower house.

The island has been going through a serious economic crisis and has an outstanding government debt of some $72 billion.

NETHERLANDS KINGDOM VIOLATING HUMAN RIGHTS OF BONAIRE, SINT EUSTATIUS BY UNILATERAL ANNNEXATION - BONAIRE ACTIVIST

 

 

UNITED NATIONS CHARTER

ARTICLE 73

 

 

"Members of the United Nations which have or assume responsibilities for the administration of territories whose peoples have not yet attained a full measure of self-government recognize the principle that the interests of the inhabitants of these territories are paramount, and accept as a sacred trust the obligation to promote to the utmost, within the system of international peace and security established by the present Charter, the well-being of the inhabitants of these territories, and, to this end:

.....

 

b. to develop self-government, to take due account of the political aspirations of the peoples, and to assist them in the progressive development of their free political institutions, according to the particular circumstances of each territory and its peoples and their varying stages of advancement"

 

********* 

 

 

The United Nations General Assembly has continuously reaffirmed by its annual resolutions that "in the process of decolonization, there is no alternative to the principle of self-determination, which is also a fundamental human right, as recognized under the relevant human rights conventions."

 

 

*****************************************************************

 

 

 

 

Letter to the First Chamber of the Kingdom
of the Netherlands

 

President of the 1st Chamber, Mrs. Broekers- Knol and MPs,

The Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, R.H.A. Plasterk,
The Hague, Netherlands.

 Bonaire,  October 24, 2016

 Subject: Objection to the first reading and process for embedding, annexation and incorporation of Bonaire and the BES islands in the Constitution

 Dear Minister Plasterk, Mr President Broekrs-Knol and members of the 1st Chamber,
 
Through this I draw your attention to note my previous letter dated October 18, 2016 addressed to your Chamber and the Minister on the bills 33131, 34341 Public Entities Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba.
 
Here we warn you that you are planning to; violating the self-determination rights, violating human rights, violating principles of rule of law and democracy of the peoples of Bonaire and St. Eustatius, who have rejected the current state structure in various referendums in 2014 and 2015.

U wordt geacht de internationale erkenning van het zelfbeschikkingsrecht van het Boneriaans volk te erkennen en dat dit recht niet toebehoor aan Nederlandse politici en bestuurders en niettemin aan Boneriaanse politici en bestuurders, maar expliciet aan de bevolking van Bonaire (en Sint Eustatius) toebehoor.
 
You are expected to recognize the international recognition of the self-determination of the Bonerian peoples, that this right is not accessory to Dutch politicians and administrators and nevertheless to Bonairean politicians and administrators, but belong specifically to the people of Bonaire (and St. Eustatius).
 
Nevertheless, it is your previous alibi that our people themselves have chosen in 2004 this illegal status and trajectory. However, the content of integration into your constitution since 18 December 2015 is outdated, so our people did not themselves have chosen this as they clearly and convincingly rejected the illegal status in a referendum with 50-40 No-vote, representing 65% of 62% of valid votes.
 
All previously (i) legal attempts to legalize this state structure have so far defaulted and had no democratic or legal basis:
 

-       Misleading referendum information campaign of 2004, with voters of minors (16years) and immigrants with work permits mainly guest-workers without Dutch nationality and without historical bond and against the advice of the United Nations Mission.

-       Single-handed destruction of the legitimate referendum-law of the people's representatives of Bonaire, the Island Council in 2010 by your undemocratic appointed Lt. Governor Thode and Governor Goedgedrag against the advice of the United Nations and on unfounded reason because for self determination-referendum voters-eligibility may be deviated from the local island council election, and that there is international jurisprudence consists of 20 years of residency to guarantee histocrical ties.

-       The rejection of the Bonerians people in December 2010 referendum on the question: "I agree that Bonaire has become a public entity within the meaning of Article 134 of the Dutch Constitution" and conspiration and withholding or non-report of United Nations supervision mission.

-       The complete rejection and non-participation (80%) of the Bonerian people (and St. Eustatius) to the 2nd Chamber elections in 2012, which objective was to legalize this illegal status by voluntarily participation in your democratic process (without any democratic perspective : 16million Dutch vs. 16thousand Bonerians)

-       December 18, 2015 referendum rejection by 50-40, 65% of the votes entitled to 62%, no-votes on the question: Do you agree with the interpretation given to the direct link with the Netherlands?

Therefore, there is no legal and democratic constitutional basis to annexing the people of Bonaire and St. Eustatius and integrating them in your Dutch Constitution, and violating their self-determination right (U.N. Res.2625, 1514, 1541) and human rights, and I will not respect nor recognize your decision and hereby I, Serrio James Finies born July 13, 1964 on Bonaire, and the other 5039 no-voters and democratic decision and rejection of the population of St. Eustatius, formally objects to this decision of disrespecting and violating my and the peoples of Bonaire and St. Eustatius fundamental rights.

Sincerely,

James Finies  

____________________________________________

Original Papiamentu

 

Presidente di 1ste Kamer Sra Broekrs-Knol,

Minister di Asuntonan Interior I Relashonan di Reino, R .H.A. Plasterk,
Den Haag, Hulanda

Bonaire,  24 oktober 2016

Topiko: obheshon kontra proseso pa ankra, aneksa I integrashon di Boneiru I islanan BES den konstitushon Hulandes

 Destinguido minister Plasterk, destinguido presidente Broekrs-Knol di 1ste kamer I demas miembronan,

Pa medio di esaki mi ta pidi bo atenshon pa tuma nota di mi karta anterior fecha 18 oktober 2016 dirigi na bo senado I e minister konserniendo e proposishonan di ley 33131, 34341 Entidatnan Publiko Boneiru, Sint Eustatius I Saba. Den esaki nos ta atverti ku bo senado ta di plan pa: violashon di derechonan di outodeterminashon, violashon di derechonan humano, violashon di prinsipio di estado di derecho I demokrasia di e pueblonan di Boneiru I Sint Eustatius ku den diferente referendum na 2014 I 2015 a rechasa e aktual struktura estatal.

Ta wordu spera di bo pa rekonose e rekonesemientu internashonal di derecho di outodeterminashon di e pueblo Boneriano I ku e derecho aki no ta pertenese na politikonan I gobernantenan Hulandes I ni tampoko na politikonan I gobernantenan Boneriano, pero ta pertenese explícito na e pueblo Boneriano (I Sint Eustatius).

Tampoko bo alibi anterior ku ta e pueblo mes a skohe pa esaki na 2004, e status I trajekto illegal aki, e kontenido e integrashon den bo struktura estatal, no ta e kaso mas desde 18 desember 2015, ku e pueblo mes no a skohe pa e stuktura aki, I kla I konbisiente a rechasa ku 5040 voto-NO, representando 65% di 62% di votonan balido.

Tur bo intentonan (i)legal pa legalisa e status aki te ku awor a faya I no tabatin ni base demokratiko ni legal:

-       e kampanja di informashon enganjoso di 2004, ku derecho di votashon na menornan di edat (16anja) I immigrantenan, mayoria trahadornan-huesped sin nashonalidat Hulandes I sin lasonan historiko I kontra konseho di Nashonan Uni su mishon

-       destrukshon di e ley legitimo di referendum di e representashon di pueblo, konseho insular na 2010 dor di gezaghebber Thode I gobernador Goedgedrag nombra dor di bo, I kontra konseho di Nashonan Uni I basa riba rasonan infunda pasobra den kaso di referendum di outodeterminashon por wordu desvia for di votashon pa konseho insular I ta pasobra tin jurisprudensia internashonal di 20 anja di residensia pa garantisa e laso historiko

-       e rechaso di e pueblo Boneriano den referendum di desember 2010 riba e pregunta: “Mi ta di akuerdo ku Boneiru a bira un entidat publiko komo artikulo 134 di konstitushon Hulandes” I konspirashon I skondimentu o non-raport di Nashonan Uni su mishon di supervishon

-       e rechaso kompletu I no-partisipashon (80%) di e pueblo Boneriano (I Sint Eustatius) na e elekshon di 2de kamer na 2012, ku tabatin komo meta pa legalisa e struktura I status illegal aki dor di partispashon boluntario den boso proseso demokratiko (I sin perspektiva demokratiko: 16 miyon Hulandes vs 16 mil Boneriano)

-       18 desember 2015 referendum, rechaso dor di 5040, 65% di e 62% esnan ku derecho di voto, votonan- No riba e pregunta: Bo ta di akuerdo ku e kontenido ku a wordu duna na e laso direkto ku Hulanda?

Pa es motibunan aki no tin base legal ni demokratiko pa aneksa I integra e pueblonan di Boneiru I Sint Eustatius den bo konstitushon I viola nan derechonan di outodeterminashon(art. 2625, 1514,1541) I derechonan humano I ami lo no respeta ni rekonose e desishon aki I ami , Serrio James Finies, nase 13 juli 1964 na Boneiru  I pa e otro 5039 votadornan- No, I e rechaso di e pueblo di Sint Eustatius, ta disputa I duna obheshon ofisialmente kontra di no respeta I violashon di derechonan fundamental di ami I e pueblonan di Boneiru I Sint Eustatius. 

Atentamente,

James Finies  

PUERTO RICO GOVERNOR-ELECT CALLS FOR END TO COLONIALISM

Rosselló Says He Will Be “Last Governor of the Colony”

By Cindy Burgos Alvarado 

SAN JUAN – “I will have the privilege of being sworn in as the last governor of the colony of Puerto Rico and as the first governor of the state of Puerto Rico.”

With these words, governor-elect Ricardo Rosselló Nevares committed himself to fight for Puerto Rico’s annexation as a state of the United States, as well as taking the island out of the economic crisis it is currently going through, after a decade in recession.

In his first public message as governor-elect, Rosselló Nevares was joined by his family, his wife Beatriz Areizaga, and leaders of the New Progressive Party (NPP) outside the party’s central committee in Hato Rey. Rossello, an university professor will be Puerto Rico’s twelfth governor and will be sworn in 24 years after his father, Pedro Rosselló, was elected governor for his first term.

“The moment of change for Puerto Rico has arrived, of facing the crisis and moving forward. […]. There isn’t any challenge that our virtuous, capable people cannot overcome,” said Rosselló Nevares after thanking those who voted as well as those who did not vote for him. He also thanked his team and the other five candidates for governor.

According to Rosselló Nevares, his election is an “unequivocal mandate to tell the world that the transition to statehood has started,” which he will promote through the Tennessee Plan, as he has mentioned before.

He promised to initiate a “transparent” government transition and to dialogue with the Fiscal Control Board to begin the renegotiation of the island’s public debt, estimated at $70,000 million.

Focused on renegotiating the debt

Meanwhile, during a press conference after delivering his victory speech, the governor-elect reiterated his willingness to work with PROMESA’s fiscal board and said he would soon reveal who his representative in the body will be.

As for Puerto Rico’s debt, Rosselló said he will negotiate transparently with the island’s creditors, adding that he will meet them at a conference on the island during his administration’s first 100 days.

“In the renegotiation, everything is on the table…. Let’s sit with [creditors] under Puerto Rico’s real situation and present them with a plan that will benefit the people of Puerto Rico and, of course, guarantee them some return on their investment. Yes, we have said there is a potential of deferring [debt] payments, of cuts to principal; these are things that are going to be renegotiated, but only with transparency and clarity,” Rosselló stressed when asked by Caribbean Business.

Regarding the support achieved by independent gubernatorial candidates Alexandra Lúgaro and Manuel Cidre, the NPP leader ruled out that this represents an attack on his party and stated that since he began to develop his plan for Puerto Rico, he thought of “a new way of governing.”

Rosselló added that he will analyze what happened at the municipal level to determine how they will act upon that. While the NPP dominated the gubernatorial and legislative elections, the Popular Democratic Party retained a majority of the island’s municipalities.

DUTCH SURVEY FINDS MAJORITY SUPPORT FOR INDEPENDENCE FOR DUTCH 'AUTONOMOUS COUNTRIES'

Meanwhile, annexation of the more manageable Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius continues in earnest.

******

PVV: “Majority Of Dutch People Wants To Get Rid 

Of The Antilles”

THE HAGUE - Most Dutch people want to get rid of the former Netherlands Antilles (Curaçao, Aruba and St. Maarten). This is according to a conclusion from the Dutch political party PVV after a survey by Maurice de Hond among more than 2000 Dutch people.

61 percent of respondents indicated that the main reason to completely sever ties with the islands is the regular financial problems, corruption, and mismanagement. For the PVV voters, it is about 88 percent, the VVD, 76 percent and D66, 45 percent.

A slight majority of 55 percent believe that the Netherlands does not have a duty to care anymore for the West Indies, resulting from the colonial past. Again, the PVV supporters with 86 percent, are the most pronounced.

47 percent of respondents finds it wrongly that the Netherlands may not unilaterally sever ties with the three countries within the Kingdom. 39 percent do agree with this.

PVV MP Sietse Fritsma finds it untenable and undemocratic that the government and parliament say that Dutch "have nothing to say" about whether to sever ties with the islands. “Citizens here must have a voice in this as quickly as possible, and we can finally say goodbye to the former West Indies.”

Fritsma wants the Minister of Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk to appear before parliament this coming Wednesday to talk about the outcome of the survey.

Denying they are colonial powers, the United Kingdom and the United States vote against decolonization at the United Nations

The two colonial powers which administer the majority of the non self-governing territories worldwide rejected their role in ending colonialism while the third colonial power (France) abstained from voting. Meanwhile, Côte d’Ivoire, a beneficiary of the United Nations decolonization Declaration of 1960, curiously voted against the resolution while Columbia inexplicably joined France in abstaining on the measure.

______________________________________________

UNITED NATIONS PRESS RELEASE

(Excerpts)

Fourth Committee Approves Text on Implementing DecolonizationDeclaration by 130 Recorded Votes in Favour, 2 against, 2 Abstentions

Before it began its general debate on outer space issues today, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) concluded its consideration of decolonization questions by approving a draft resolution on implementing the Declaration on Granting Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.

The Committee approved the draft by a recorded vote of 130 in favour to 5 against (Côte d’Ivoire, Israel, Morocco, United Kingdom, United States), with 2 abstentions (Colombia, France).  

By its terms, the General Assembly would call upon administering Powers of Non-Self-Governing Territories to continue to cooperate with the Special Committee on Decolonization in the discharge of its mandate. The text would also have the Assembly call upon administering Powers to facilitate the Special Committee’s visiting missions to the Territories on a case-by-case basis, and ensure that economic and other activities in the Territories would not adversely affect their peoples’ interests but instead promote development.

.....

Before the Committee was the draft resolution “Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples”, contained in document A/71/23, chapter XIII, p. 56).

.....

Action on Draft Resolution

The representative of the United Kingdom, speaking in explanation of position, said his delegation still found some elements of the text unacceptable and had voted against it, adding that the United Kingdom remained committed to modernizing its relationship with its Overseas Territories.

The representative of Argentina pointed out that visiting missions were only conducted in Territories over which there was no sovereignty dispute recognized by the United Nations. The Committee’s doctrine on that matter was clear, he said, emphasizing that each case should be considered individually and in accordance with the relevant resolutions.

The representative of the United States, while voicing her country’s full support for the right to self-determination, reiterated her concern that the Special Committee on Decolonization continued to call for independence in certain Territories, irrespective of the will of their peoples. The United States had joined the consensus on Territory-specific resolutions, as in previous years, but would call upon the Special Committee to respect the right of the Territories’ peoples to choose freely their political status in relation to their administering Power, including when a Territory chose to be in free association or to integrate with its administering Power.

The representative of Spain said he had voted in favour of the text because it supported the principle of self-determination. However, that was not the only principle in issues of decolonization, he said, adding that questions like Gibraltar involved the principle of territorial integrity. He said that his delegation had also indicated that visiting missions could only be undertaken in Territories where the right to self-determination applied, and not where a sovereignty dispute existed, emphasizing that the General Assembly must approve all visiting missions.

Puerto Rico economic crisis dominates race for non-voting resident commissioner to the US House of Representatives

As Economy Crumbles, Race for D.C. Resident Commissioner Heats Up

WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT

By Larry Luxner 

SAN JUAN — It’s another 85-degree afternoon in Old San Juan, and dozens of cruise ship passengers stroll along the waterfront, casually making their way toward Pier 4, where the 110,000-ton Carnival Glory awaits them. An elderly man walks by, selling coco, piña and parcha-flavored ice cream to tourists, while a local entertainer wrapped in the red, white and blue Puerto Rican flag sings “Stand By Me” in front of a kiosk selling Puerto Rico-themed baseball caps, license plates and necklaces.

Residents of San Juan joyously wave Puerto Rican flags in celebration of tennis champion Monica Puig, winner of the island's first-ever gold medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The musician, known only as “El Gallo de San Juan,” has been here for 20 years, arriving every morning at 8 a.m. and walking up and down the entire waterfront with his songs and trinkets.

“The people are buying,” he says. “They don’t spend a lot. They buy cheap things, but they’re buying.”

Directly across the street is the Hacienda, Puerto Rico’s Treasury Department, which chafes under the weight of the island’s $68 billion budget deficit. But the tourists — clad mostly in shorts, T-shirts and flip-flops — don’t seem to care, any more than they care about the Zika epidemic that’s frightened so many islanders or the staggering brain drain that has seen hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans flee for the U.S. mainland in the wake of economic stagnancy.

READ THE FULL STORY IN THE "WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT"