KRALENDIJK--The Plenary of the Permanent Conference of Political Parties of Latin America and the Caribbean (COPPPAL) has unanimously elected Bonaire human rights advocate James Finies as President of the organization's Decolonization Committee.
COPPPAL brings together 80 political parties from 30 countries and is headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico. Finies was appointed during the organization's 43rd Plenary Meeting in recognition of his international advocacy on issues concerning Bonaire and other Caribbean territories administered within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
As President of the Decolonization Committee, Finies will chair efforts aimed at promoting dialogue and increasing international attention on decolonization issues affecting Aruba, Curaçao, St. Maarten, Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, as well as Puerto Rico and the Malvinas, also known as the Falkland Islands.
During its plenary session at the former Senate building of Mexico, COPPPAL reaffirmed its longstanding opposition to colonialism in all forms and encouraged continued discussion of decolonization issues within the United Nations and other international forums.
The organization also expressed support for continued international engagement concerning Bonaire and other territorial questions, while reiterating its solidarity with Puerto Rico and reaffirming Argentina's position concerning the Malvinas.
As part of the plenary program, Finies addressed delegates from Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Europe and Asia on contemporary decolonization issues and the situation facing Bonaire.
His presentation highlighted concerns surrounding the protection of Bonaire's cultural identity, the application of international legal standards and the importance of ensuring that issues affecting the island continue to receive attention through established international and multilateral mechanisms.
Finies also raised concern over what he described as the increasing marginalization of Bonaire's people through laws and policies that have contributed to significant demographic changes on the island.
He pointed to the declining proportion of native and long-established Bonairean residents within the total population and said the trend raises serious questions regarding the preservation of Bonaire's cultural heritage, identity and language, as well as the meaningful participation of local people in public affairs.
Finies said these developments should remain part of the international discussion surrounding Bonaire and deserve continued examination within applicable international standards and the United Nations decolonization framework.
His unanimous election places him at the head of a COPPPAL committee with a broad regional mandate and provides an additional international platform for issues affecting Bonaire and other Caribbean territories to be raised among political parties and representatives from across Latin America and the Caribbean.
