After yet another coalition collapse, Bonaire’s governor warns again of administrative instability

KRALENDIJK – Island Governor John Soliano has summoned the faction leaders of the parties in the Island Council to discuss the current political situation on Bonaire. In a letter to the Island Council, he warns once again that the ongoing political instability is jeopardising the continuity of governance and calls on the political parties to reach a solution as quickly as possible.

The immediate cause of the letter is the recent breakdown within the coalition, after the UPB faction withdrew its confidence in the cooperation with MPB at the end of July. According to Soliano, it is not yet clear what consequences this will have for the composition of the Executive Council, but the many political shifts since August last year are creating a growing risk to the stability and quality of day-to-day governance.

The governor points out that Bonaire is currently in a crucial phase. Several urgent societal issues are ongoing that require continuous administrative action, administrative agreements have been made with the Dutch central government regarding important projects, and work on the 2027 budget is simultaneously underway. According to him, delays or the absence of decisions on these matters could have major societal consequences for Bonaire.

In the letter, Soliano also expresses concern about signals of possible political interference in the civil service. Although he cites no specific examples, he emphasises that political influence on day-to-day governance or the administrative organisation can undermine the quality of decision-making and public trust in government.

He notes that Bonaire operates under a dualist governance model, in which the Island Council is responsible for setting frameworks and overseeing the Executive Council, while day-to-day governance rests with the Executive Council. When those responsibilities become blurred, he considers this an undesirable situation. He therefore calls on the Island Council to respect the distinct roles and responsibilities within the system.

Soliano sounding the alarm is not new. In his letter, he refers to an earlier letter dated 21 January 2026, in which he likewise warned of the consequences of political instability for the progress of important issues on the island.

Seeking a solution to safeguard continuity of governance

Given the current situation, the lieutenant governor calls on the political parties to reach a solution, if necessary with mediation, that guarantees administrative stability and continuity through to the Island Council elections. Due to the seriousness of the situation, he has invited the faction leaders to a meeting to discuss the current impasse.

With this letter, Soliano once again underlines his concerns about the governability of Bonaire. At the same time, he is taking an active role by bringing the political leaders together in the hope that the administrative deadlock can be broken.