World Cup Dreams, Political Realities, and the Ties That Unite Bonaire and Curaçao

As Curaçao celebrates its success on the international football stage, many Bonaireans are proudly supporting our sister island. The excitement seen across Bonaire reminds us of something politics has never been able to erase: the deep historical, cultural, family, and sporting ties, as well as the sense of brotherhood, that bind the people of Bonaire and Curaçao together.

That reality brings back the sporting history of the Netherlands Antilles national team and one of many Bonaire's own icons. James Finies, many people today know James primarily as a banker and political activist, but long before that, he represented the Netherlands Antilles in football.

At just 15 years old, James began playing for Bonaire’s national team. In these younger years he played football with Sithoc in Curaçao before returning to Bonaire. He then played briefly with Vitesse and went on to play with Real Rincon for three decades, including participation in the Antillean Championship finals.

Over his football career, he represented the Netherlands Antilles in regional and international competitions throughout the Caribbean and Central America, competing in and against countries including Venezuela, Antigua and Barbuda, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, French Guyana, Suriname, Barbados, and Honduras.

As a member of the Netherlands Antilles national team, his international career included participation in the 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, the Central American and Caribbean Games in the Dominican Republic during the 1980s, and the 1998 Shell Caribbean Cup qualifying campaign reaching the final round under CONCACAF in Jamaica.

His participation in international tournaments produced remarkable results. His football career formed part of an important era in Netherlands Antilles football, when players from Bonaire, Curaçao, and the other islands proudly represented one national team.

The Netherlands Antilles football team symbolized the unity of our islands. On the field, Bonaireans and Curaçaoans played side by side, sharing victories, challenges, and a common identity.

By the early 2000s, political debates over constitutional reform began to challenge that unity.

The dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles was the result of constitutional developments spanning several decades. Gilberto 'Betico' Croes and others, who campaigned for Aruba's independence and whose efforts led to Aruba obtaining Status Aparte in 1986, reshaping political discussions throughout the Dutch Caribbean.

Leaders including Ramonsito Booi in Bonaire, Etienne Ys and Emily de Jongh-El Hage, Gerrit Schotte, Helmien Wiels and others in Curaçao and Claudius "Claude" Wathey, Sarah Wescot-Williams, William Marlin in St. Maarten supported constitutional reforms that ultimately led to the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles on 10 October 2010.

As leader of the Bonaire Patriotic Union (UPB) party, Ramonsito "Monchi" Booi was the principal architects of the campaign to dismantle the Netherlands Antilles. His vision is to be free from Curaçao's control. Together with Burney El Hage and others, Mr. Booi played the leading role in a political campaign that portrayed Curaçao as the principal obstacle to Bonaire's future. This polarizing narrative contributed to divisions within the centuries-old bonds of family, culture, and shared history between the peoples of Bonaire and Curaçao. This shaped public opinion ahead of the 2004 referendum which led to the breakup of the Netherlands Antilles in 2010.

The people were convinced that Booi's plan would improve their lives, bring greater prosperity, and give Bonaireans greater control over their own future. That is why they voted for a direct relationship with the Netherlands. Instead, without their consent, Bonaire became integrated into the Netherlands. As a result, many believe that leaders such as Booi failed to fulfill the promises made to the people.

On 9 September 2010, Jopie Abraham, island Commissioner signed the last agreements that paved the way for Bonaire's new constitutional relationship with the Netherlands. What cannot be disrupted is that Jopie Abraham’s signature was one of the final most consequential acts in the constitutional transition process. The agreement he signed fundamentally changed Bonaire’s status and continues to shape the island’s governance today.

Bonaire transitioned from participation in the former Netherlands Antilles structure to direct administration under Dutch law and oversight from The Hague.

The dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles on October 10, 2010 also brought an end to the national football team that had united players from Bonaire, Curaçao, St. Maarten, Saba, St. Eustatius, and Curaçao under one flag.

Sixteen years later, Curaçao has successfully qualified for the World Cup, while Bonaire remains without representation and can no longer dream of participating in the world cup as a Country. Yet the reaction of the Bonairean people has been telling. Across the island, many Bonaireans are celebrating Curaçao's achievement as if it were their own.

Looking back from 2026, it is my opinion that the leaders who advocated for these constitutional changes were guided more by their political vision of division rather than by a full understanding of the long-term consequences that would follow. Those decisions ultimately did not benefited Bonaire that are now confronting a demographic and cultural erasure. It is also clear that the Netherlands had its own objectives and interests regarding the constitutional restructuring that took place.

What cannot be debated, however, is the enduring brotherly connection between Bonaire and Curaçao people.

The sight of Bonaireans celebrating Curaçao's achievements on the world stage demonstrates that, despite political divisions and constitutional changes, the bonds between our peoples remain strong. Politics may change institutions, constitutions, and governments, but it cannot easily erase history, culture, family ties, shared memories, or the pride that continues to unite brothers and sisters across our islands.

The cheers heard in Bonaire in this last week for Curaçao's World Cup success are perhaps the strongest reminder of all: the political map may have changed, but the people never stopped being connected.

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