Matai Isai Yudistrh Zamuel: ‘We are worried about the future of Bonaire’

Matai Isai Yudistrh Zamuel, an advisor to the Bonaire Human Rights Organization, expressed deep concerns over the future of Bonaire during a conference titled "Bonaire's Pathway from Baku through UN General Assembly to Self-Determination," jointly organized by BIG and the Bonaire Movement for Human Rights and Change, Report informs.

"We have been fighting for our rights against the Kingdom of the Netherlands while demanding our independence," Zamuel stated. "Although we still have a long way to go and are far from decolonization, the support of friends and allies can help raise international awareness of our problems. Oppressed people recognize the struggles of other oppressed people, but the powerful must also be made aware. The Baku Initiative Group and the citizens of Azerbaijan have provided us with great support in this journey."

Zamuel emphasized that Bonaire's history did not begin with the Dutch presence on the island. "Today, there are attempts to destroy the local community of Bonaire, and people are forced to endure this. Unequal access to resources is evident in store prices, the housing market, and many other areas. After Bonaire became a Dutch colony, settlement on the island was facilitated, leading to a rise in property prices. While wealthy individuals can comfortably live on the island, members of the local community face increasing difficulties. The high prices are particularly noticeable in products imported from the Netherlands, which constitute a large portion of the goods available on the island."