Government

Bonaire is one of five islands of the Netherlands Antilles with a Central Government in Curacao made up of a parliament including representatives from the five islands:  Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Martin, Curacao and Bonaire.  A Queen appointed Governor handles relations between Netherlands and the islands.  

Locally, Bonaire has a queen appointed Lt. Governor and Island Council of various commissioners seeing to Bonaire’s welfare.  Bonaire handles day to day island operations, while the Netherlands takes care of defense, foreign affairs and most judicial issues including the courts, with Dutch law taking precedence. Major departments such as customs, immigration and post fall under the central government in Curacao.

Presently, Bonaire is in the process of redefining its relationship with the Netherlands and moving toward a structure akin to a municipality.