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Netherlands Antilles Government
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| Country name: |
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Netherlands Antilles
local long form:
none
local short form:
Nederlandse Antillen
former:
Curacao and Dependencies
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| Dependency status: |
part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs
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| Government type: |
parliamentary
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| Administrative divisions: |
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
note:
each island has its own government
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| Independence: |
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
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| National holiday: |
Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA in 1909 and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX in 1980), 30 April
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| Constitution: |
29 December 1954, Statute of the Realm of the Netherlands, as amended
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| Legal system: |
based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence
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| Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal
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| Executive branch: |
chief of state:
Queen BEATRIX 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 8 November 1999); Deputy Prime Minister Susanne CAMELIA-ROMER (since NA)
note:
Miguel POURIER assumed prime ministership following the resignation of Susanne CAMELIA-ROMER
cabinet:
Council of Ministers elected by the Staten
elections:
the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch 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)
note:
government coalition - PDB, DP-St. M, FOL, PLKP, PNP
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| Legislative branch: |
unicameral States or Staten (22 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections:
last held 30 January 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002)
election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PAR 4, PNP 3, SPA 1, PDB 2, UPB 1, MAN 2, PLKP 3, WIPM 1, SEA 1, DP-St. M 2, FOL 2; no party won enough seats to form a government
note:
the government of Prime Minister Miguel POURIER is a coalition of several parties; current seats by party - PAR 4, PNP 3, FOL 2, MAN 2, UPB 2, DP-St. M 2, PDB 1, SEA 1, WIPM 1, other 4
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| Judicial branch: |
Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed by the monarch)
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| Political parties and leaders: |
Antillean Restructuring Party or PAR [Miguel POURIER]; C 93 [Stanley BROWN]; Democratic Party of Bonaire or PDB [Jopi ABRAHAM]; Democratic Party of Curacao or DP [Errol HERNANDEZ]; Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E [Julian WOODLEY]; Democratic Party of Sint Maarten or DP-St. M [Sarah WESCOTT-WILLIAMS]; Foundation Energetic Management Anti-Narcotics or FAME [Eric LODEWIJKS]; Labor Party People's Crusade or PLKP [Errol COVA]; National People's Party or PNP [Susanne F. C. CAMELIA-ROMER]; New Antilles Movement or MAN [Kenneth GIJSBERTHA]; Patriotic Union of Bonaire or UPB [Ramon BOOI]; Patriotic Movement of Sint Maarten or SPA [Vance JAMES, Jr.]; People's Party or PAPU [Richard Hodi]; Pro Curacao Party or PPK [Winston LOURENS]; Saba Democratic Labor Movement [Steve HASSELL]; Saba Unity Party [Carmen SIMMONDS]; St. Eustatius Alliance or SEA [Kenneth VAN PUTTEN]; Serious Alternative People's Party or Sapp [Julian ROLLOCKS]; Social Action Cause or KAS [Benny DEMEI]; Windward Islands People's Movement or WIPM [Will JOHNSTON]; Workers' Liberation Front or FOL [Anthony GODETT, Rignald LAK, Editha WRIGHT]
note:
political parties are indigenous to each island
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| Political pressure groups and leaders: |
NA
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| International organization participation: |
Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WCL, WMO, WToO (associate)
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| Diplomatic representation in the US: |
none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
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| Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Consul General Barbara J. STEPHENSON
consulate(s) general:
J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad AN, Curacao
mailing address:
P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao
telephone:
[599] (9) 4613066
FAX:
[599] (9) 4616489
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| Flag description: |
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
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