Within 5 days a country will be abolished.

[Treize]

In talking about the Netherlands Antilles. It will be abolished on 10 october.
Curaçao and St. Maarten will become autonomous countries (not independent) and the other islands will become a sort of slightly autonomous 'muncipalities'.

Not the ideal situation in my opinion but atleast it will be beter than the current situation.

Stay tuned.

[removeduser_487563287433]

The people their supportive of it?

[Jagdpanzer]

The people their supportive of it?

Yes, the Netherlands has held referendums on each island.

EDIT: Only on St. Eustatius did a majority vote to stay within the Netherlands Antilles but that wasn't an option since everybody else was in favor of closer ties with the Netherlands or status aparte.

[Treize]

A referendum was held on all 5 islands. Curaçao and St. Maarten voted for a status aparte just like Aruba. Saba and Bonaire voted for direct constitutional ties, and St. Eustatius voted for retaining the status quo but eventually it was decided that they will have the direct ties as well. I believe that is the best option for an island with a population of 3100 though.

[NotYetRegistered]

Good for them.

[Jom]

It's always nice to see popular sovereignty prevailing.

[Treize]

The downside is that we still have to pay for all those corrupt politicians and civil servants in those three 'countries'. And as part of their autonomy, they will have to give more insight in their expenditure (or something, I don't really remember). And then all the people protest against us 'the coloniser'...

[motiv-8]

The downside is that we still have to pay for all those corrupt politicians and civil servants in those three 'countries'. And as part of their autonomy, they will have to give more insight in their expenditure (or something, I don't really remember). And then all the people protest against us 'the coloniser'...

Ah, the glories of an overseas empire. I'm fairly certain this wasn't on the brochure.

[Burnum]

Ah, the glories of an overseas empire. I'm fairly certain this wasn't on the brochure.

America sucked at Colonialism, it only got colonies none of the European powers wanted.

edit:

Take the Philippines for example, it took years for Americato do what the British could of done in three months.

[motiv-8]

America sucked at Colonialism, it only got colonies none of the European powers wanted.

I am quite proud of this, in fact.

[Syriana]

I am quite proud of this, in fact.

The USA claiming the moral high ground on the imperialist front is a bit of a Berserk Button for me, so let's just agree to disagree.

[Dr. Croccer]

I am quite proud of this, in fact.

I don't see why. At least European countries have accountability towards their actions, the US has basically been ing Latin America through the backdoor for the last 200 years and has done jack to account for that.

How much population are we talking about?

Nearly 250.000 of the Antilles total IIRC.

[Burnum]

I am quite proud of this, in fact.

It wasn't a good thing, America's conduct was brutally incompetent.

America enthusiastically pursued colonialism, only to realize that it was far too late in the game, the world was already divided up by the European powers. They absorbed what was left of the Spanish colonies and expanded their influence into the Caribbean nations not already owned by Britain.

[Simon Cashmere]

Ah, the glories of an overseas empire. I'm fairly certain this wasn't on the brochure.

At least the Dutch never did nuclear tests in parts of their overseas empire which irradiated the locals, so don't be too smug.

And I doubt the US put that in any brochures either.

The problem often with smaller colonial possessions is that you give them their independence, and then the place completely falls apart. Look at the basket case Papua New Guinea has become after we gave them their independence. It used to be a well run peaceful place, now Port Moresby is a war zone, and the judges live in permanent protected custody in secret locations. And we still have to pay for everything in foreign aid.

[Phier]

At least the Dutch never did nuclear tests in parts of their overseas empire which irradiated the locals, so don't be too smug.

And I doubt the US put that in any brochures either.

The problem often with smaller colonial possessions is that you give them their independence, and then the place completely falls apart. Look at the basket case Papua New Guinea has become after we gave them their independence. It used to be a well run peaceful place, now Port Moresby is a war zone, and the judges live in permanent protected custody in secret locations. And we still have to pay for everything in foreign aid.

We made posters out of it, had this one on my wall in college.

[Simon Cashmere]

We made posters out of it, had this one on my wall in college.

Cool. What's done is done, I'm not too hung up about it, but when motiv-8 get's on the holier than thou high horse about colonial possesions, it's too tempting not to him push him off.

[Dr. Croccer]

Good. I would prefer them all being municipal, as that way corruption can be dealt with better.

[Treize]

Good. I would prefer them all being municipal, as that way corruption can be dealt with better.

Now we should integrate Bonaire, Saba and Statia step by step but the final goals should be total integration.

[alhoon]

How much population are we talking about?

[Jagdpanzer]

How much population are we talking about?

Curacao - 141,766
Bonaire - 15,414
Saint Martin -38,919
Saba -2,000
Saint Eustatius - 3,300