Governance options in Europe's Caribbean dependencies

Abstract

The remaining Caribbean dependencies of Britain, France and the Netherlands are constitutionally diverse. Yet in none of the territories is there evidence of significant support for independence. Dissatisfaction exists with central control, but this does not produce separatist pressures. On the contrary, there is the general expectation that continued close ties with the metropolitan government can act as a hedge against the unpredictable fortunes of the contemporary world. Using the notion of ‘governance’ as a way into the complex relations between these dependencies and their metropolitan states, this article reviews recent constitutional and political developments in the French and Dutch Caribbean and draws some parallels and contrasts with the situation in the British Caribbean dependencies. It now appears quite unlikely that any of the three metropolitan powers would be able, or willing, to force their remaining dependencies into independence in the near future. Partly for this reason, during the 1990s some similarities have been emerging between the political and constitutional debate in the French and Netherlands Antilles and in the British dependencies. The main remaining difference is in the citizenship policies adopted by the three states. French and Dutch islanders of the Caribbean are more favourably treated in this respect than the inhabitants of the British Caribbean island dependencies. This article concludes that, while French and Dutch administration in the Caribbean dependencies is broadly compatible with principles of ‘good governance’, this is less apparent in the administration of the British dependencies. Following the return of Hong Kong to China, however, the prospects for improvements in governance of these tiny territories may now be brighter than for some time.