Netherlands Antilles

• Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean hurricane belt, so are rarely threatened;
• Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are subject to hurricanes from July to October

party to:

Whaling (extended from Netherlands)

signed, but not ratified:

NA

0-14 years:

26% (male 27,001; female 26,091)

15-64 years:

67% (male 64,964; female 72,329)

65 years and over:

7% (male 6,393; female 8,915) (July 1998 est.)

at birth:

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.9 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.72 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

noun:

Netherlands Antillean(s)

adjective:

Netherlands Antillean

conventional long form:

none

conventional short form:

Netherlands Antilles

local long form:

none

local short form:

Nederlandse Antillen

chief of state:

Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Jaime SALEH (since NA October 1989)

head of government:

Prime Minister Miguel POURIER (since 25 February 1994)

cabinet:

Council of Ministers elected by the Staten

elections:

• the queen is a constitutional monarch;
• governor general appointed by the queen for a six-year term;
• following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually elected prime minister by the Staten;
• election last held 30 January 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002)

election results:

Miguel POURIER elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA

• Antillean Restructuring Party (PAR), Miguel POURIER;
• National People's Party (PNP), Suzy ROMER;
• New Antilles Movement (MAN), Domenico Felip Don MARTINA;
• Workers' Liberation Front (FOL), Wilson GODETT, Jr.;
• Socialist Independent (SI), George HUECK;
• Democratic Party of Curacao (DP), Frank MAYNARD;
• Nos Patria, Chin BEHILIA;
• Social Action Cause (KAS), Benny DEMEI;
• Labor Party People's Crusade (PLKP), Errol COVA;
• Foundation Energetic Management Anti-Narcotics (FAME), Eric LODEWIJKS;
• Pro Curacao Party (PPK), Winston LOURENS;
• C 93, Stanley BROWN;
• People's Party (PAPU), Richard HODI

• Windward Islands People's Movement (WIPM Saba), Ray HASSELL;
• Saba Democratic Labor Movement, Steve HASSELL;
• Saba Unity Party, Carmen SIMMONDS

• Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius (DP-St. E), Julian WOODLEY;
• Windward Islands People's Movement (WIPM);
• St. Eustatius Alliance (SEA), Ingrid WHITFIELD

• Democratic Party of Sint Maarten (DP-St. M), Sarah WESTCOTT-WILLIAMS;
• Patriotic Movement of Sint Maarten (SPA), William MARLIN;
• Serious Alternative People's Party (SAPP) Julian ROLLOCKS

note: political parties are indigenous to each island

chief of mission:

Consul General James L. WILLIAMS

consulate(s) general:

J.B. Gorsiraweg #1, Curacao

mailing address:

P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao

telephone:

[599] (9) 4613066

• white with a horizontal blue stripe in the center superimposed on a vertical red band also centered;
• five white five-pointed stars are arranged in an oval pattern in the center of the blue band;
• the five stars represent the five main islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten

total:

89,000

by occupation:

government 65%, industry and commerce 28% (1983)

total value:

$NA

commodities:

petroleum products 98% (1993)

partners:

US 39%, Brazil 9%, Colombia 6% (1993)

total value:

$1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.)

commodities:

crude petroleum 64%, food, manufactures (1993)

partners:

Venezuela 26%, US 18%, Colombia 6%, Netherlands 6%, Japan 5% (1993)

total:

600 km

paved:

300 km

unpaved:

300 km (1992 est.)