Bonaire agrees 15-point governance plan after Dutch concerns

Van der Burg said Island Council members and people outside the elected administration had reportedly interfered with civil servants' work. He said the Island Council oversees the administration, while executive officials direct the civil service.

He named waste company Selibon, public transportation and financial administration as matters needing attention. Van der Burg said the Netherlands has an interest in progress because it has funded several projects. He said Bonaire's first public transportation bus had arrived and would be tested before passenger service is expected to begin in January 2027. Additional buses are planned for the network.

Island Governor John Soliano said the agreement set measurable commitments and timelines, with several actions expected by mid-2027. Soliano said Bonaire's growth had placed pressure on its administration, which carries responsibilities not supported by the provincial and water-authority structures available to municipalities in the European Netherlands.

Van der Burg said the Netherlands intends to help strengthen Bonaire's civil service. He and Soliano also discussed the March 2027 Island Council elections and legislation that would enlarge representative bodies in Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius and allow an additional executive official.