Bonaire activist denounces Dutch colonial rule, warns of indigenous decline

“Our island is a colony of the Netherlands. Our people are in a very difficult situation. All the laws on our island are written by the Netherlands because we are their colony. Our people have no democratic rights. I express my gratitude to the Azerbaijani state and people for supporting nations suffering under colonialism and for giving us the platform to voice our concerns.”

These were the words of James Finies, a member of Bonaire Island's delegation and leader of the Bonaire Movement for Human Rights and Change, during an interview with journalists on August 21, Caliber.Az reports via a local media outlet.

Finies highlighted the dire conditions under Dutch rule, emphasizing that the Dutch government has altered laws to allow European Union citizens to move to Bonaire, further marginalizing the island's indigenous population.

“Taxes have also been raised in our country,” Finies added. “It is predicted that by 2030, the indigenous population will comprise less than 30 percent of our country’s inhabitants. We, the native people, are at risk of becoming an ethnic minority in our own land. Our people don't even have the right to complain about this situation.”