Members of the Island Council speak
On this page each member of the Island Council tells about his/her experience during their term as a member. We also explain how the island council members are elected, what tasks the council has and how you yourself can also be part of the island council.
Members of the Island Council
In the session 2015 – 2019 the following Island Council members were appointed:
Edison Rijna
Chairman of the Island Council
Clark Abraham
Member of the Island Council
Hennyson Thielman
Member of the Island Council
Elvis Tijn A Sjoe
Member of the Island Council
Maritsa Silberie
Member of the Island Council
Marugia Janga
Member of the Island Council
Renata Domassé
Member of the Island Council
Robby Beukenboom
Member of the Island Council
What does the island council do?
The Island Council is the highest governing body on Bonaire. The Island Council indicates what needs to be done on Bonaire and supervises the work of the Executive Council. The Island Council is elected by the inhabitants of Bonaire and consists of 9 Island Council members.
Tasks of the island council
The duties of the Island Council can be divided into three parts:
- forming the people’s representation,
- setting frames,
- supervise the Executive Council.
How do I become a member of the Island Council?
Everyone can become a member of the Island Council. And you do not have to quit your job or study, because it is not a full-time job. You too can participate in the decisionmaking process over Bonaire in the four years as a member of the Island Council. The most commonly way to become an a member of the Island Councilor is to register with a political group on Bonaire.
Formal requirements
To be elected as a member of the Island Councilor you have to meet a number of conditions. You must be eighteen years or older and not be excluded from the right to vote. If you want to be installed as a member of the Island Council member, you have to be living on Bonaire. It is also possible on Bonaire for people with a nationality other than the Dutch nationality to be part of the Island Council. For residents with a non-Dutch nationality you must have lived legally on Bonaire for at least five years. Because there are functions that are not compatible with the exercise of the Island Council membership, Island Council members are obliged to make public what other functions they fulfill. For example, you can not be appointed as an official by the Executive Council.