The Caribbean, a.k.a the Antilles, has been colonized for centuries by old European powers. Despite their anti-colonial struggles, most Caribbean nations have remained colonized since the arrival of the conquistador Christopher Columbus in 1492. This is the case for the islands of Aruba, Curaçao, St. Maarten, Saba, St. Eustatius, and Bonaire, which still suffer from the colonial presence of the Netherlands (Holland).
We spoke with Andrew Seraus, one of the leading anti-colonialist/Pan-Africanist active members of ARAAC (Articulacion Regional Afrodescendientes de America Latina y el Caribe/Regional Afrodescendant Coordination for Latin America and the Caribbean). The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.
AmNews: Under Dutch colonialism, what were the Caribbean Antilles?
Andrew Seraus: In 2010, the five islands — I say five because Aruba now has a separate status — were Curaçao, Bonaire, St. Maarten, Saba, and St. Eustatius. We conducted referendums and national elections, which resulted in Curaçao and St. Maarten maintaining their autonomy within the Kingdom of the Netherlands until independence. At the same time, the other three territories opted to become municipalities of the Netherlands.
AmNews: What are the historical origins of Curaçao’s population?
AS: The population of Curaçao is mostly descended from West Africa and, in some cases, from Congo and Angola. It is not possible to determine which countries due to the extent of the forced colonization process, but all self-identify as Curaçaoan. In 2018, 75.4% said they were of Afro-Curaçao/mixed descent; 9% were of Afro-Curaçao descent.
In other words, 85% trace their origin and ancestral roots to Africa.
AmNews: How have you made people realize they need to stand up for their independence?
AS: The spirited anti-colonial struggle took on diverse forms fueled by its own consciousness, compelling even those integrated into the Dutch system to justify their participation. That is why these struggles first of all require a very strong will and an evaluative and self-critical consciousness, because despite appearances, the socio-economic processes that serve as a sustainable heritage are not naturalized, i.e. they cannot be passed on from one generation to another and they certainly still need to be improved.
The anti-colonial struggle has taken various forms based on its evolving consciousness, and even those assimilated into the Dutch system have had to fight to validate their position, underscoring the need for a strong will and critical self-reflection, as the socio-economic processes that shape a lasting legacy are not inherently sustainable and require ongoing improvement.
AmNews: Have you presented your independence proposals to the United Nations Decolonization Committee?
AS: Yes, the proposals have been sent to the decolonization committee, but what has limited us in the past is the overseas status, such as Martinique or Guadeloupe. As long as there are no structural changes within this agreement, the U.N. will do nothing. This year, Curaçao has signed with CARICOM to become an observer-member and has indeed held interesting meetings with social leaders to prepare a decolonization process to facilitate the processes of self-governance and independence.
AmNews: What is Curaçao’s anti-colonialist agenda?
AS: At the governmental level, it is necessary to respect international law, and the Special Committee on Decolonization and the United Nations Charter oblige the administering powers to recognize that the interests of the inhabitants of the dependent territories are paramount, which will allow them to advance and promote social, economic, political and educational progress in the territories, helping to develop appropriate forms of self-government.
The alternative is to follow the example of other islands that achieved their independence, beginning with Haiti in the early 19th century, then the other Caribbean islands, at the cost of human lives, blockades, and other crimes.
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Publish date : 2025-01-08 16:00:00
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Author : theamericannews
Publish date : 2025-01-09 06:01:33
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