Island Governors discuss discrimination report and impact of Dutch policies on BES islands

KRALENDIJK – The Island Governors of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba met with leading human rights representatives on Monday to discuss discrimination, equal treatment and the impact of national legislation and policies on the Caribbean Netherlands.

Governors John Soliano of Bonaire, Alida Francis of Statia and Jocelyn Levenstone of Saba attended the meeting together with Acting Kingdom Representative Jan Helmond. They met with Professor Rick Lawson, Chair of the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights, and Dr Joyce Sylvester, Chair of the former State Commission against Discrimination and Racism.

Sylvester presented the State Commission’s final report, Discriminatie doorbreken (Dismantling Discrimination), published in June. The report examines how discrimination can become embedded in government legislation, regulations, policies and decision-making and includes recommendations aimed at improving equal treatment in both the European and Caribbean Netherlands.

The discussion focused on what the findings mean for Bonaire, Statia and Saba, including the accessibility and quality of public services, the effects of national legislation and the capacity of small island administrations to handle increasing responsibilities.

Statia Governor Alida Francis said equal treatment should also take into account the circumstances in which residents and island administrations operate. National policies, she noted, can have different effects when applied in a small-island context.

The Governors stressed that national legislation and policies should be developed with sufficient understanding of the social, economic and administrative circumstances of each island. They also pointed to limited human and institutional capacity as responsibilities and expectations increase.

Since 2026, equal-treatment legislation also applies to Bonaire, Statia and Saba. Residents consequently have stronger legal protection against discrimination and can bring discrimination complaints before the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights.

The meeting also addressed how the Institute and other national bodies can support the islands in implementing the State Commission’s recommendations. The Governors called for continued involvement of the island administrations, particularly at an early stage when national legislation and policies affecting the Caribbean Netherlands are being developed.