Oil and War: A Look at Curacao's Decolonization

The original intent of European powers having colonies in the New World was that of profit and global influence.  By the end of the 19th century, European colonies were beginning to be more of a burden than an asset to the home countries.  As that burden grew with slave revolts and nationalist movements, some European countries fought to keep their influence on their satellite colonies.  Others such as the Netherlands looked to allow their colonies to gain independence through diplomatic means.  After the Japanese surrender in World War II in 1945, the large dutch colony known as the Dutch East Indies declared independence as the country of Indonesia.  After an armed struggle diplomacy ensued and the Netherlands formerly recognized Indonesia as an independent nation in 1949.  This would greatly influence the action of the Netherlands towards its remaining colonies in the West:  Aruba, Bonaire, Suriname, and Curacao.  The discovery of oil on Curacao would also push further autonomy on that island.

In 1914, a large reservoir of oil was found on Curacao.  In strange turn of irony, where the large slave depot of Asiento had stood, a large oil refinery was built to take advantage of the new abundant resource.  This new refinery and the new services needed by the growing oil industry began a boom in employment opportunities for the citizens of Curacao and of immigrants.  The sudden influx of immigrants to take advantage of the job opportunities would eventually cause social unrest on the island as racial tensions would take hold.  The oil industry in Curacao would remain lucrative through out the 1970's.

These tensions would accumulate in May 1969 when strikes and riots would cause the Dutch to intervene.  The Dutch were compelled to intervene after the Statuut agreement between the Dutch Antilles and the home kingdom of the Netherlands in 1954.  During World War II, the Dutch Antilles were constantly harassed by German U-Boats and the Dutch could do little to defend them.  The island was used to refuel Allied planes and was a constant target for enemy attacks.  With growing autonomy movements and lack of defense, the Antilles looked for diplomatic means to change the constitutional policies of the home country.  They used World War II as an excuse.  This accumulated in the Statuut, or the Charter of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.  This agreement made the Antilles and the Netherlands all equal partners within the kingdom and it made the home nation responsible for the defense of the islands of the Antilles and Suriname.  It also made Curacao the seat of government for the Dutch Antilles.  The riots of 1969 brought into question on whether or not the Statuut should be taken further with full autonomy given to the former colonies involved.  This debate would continue for decades and came to a head in the 1990's.  Aruba, in name, was given full independence.  Curacao still remains an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.  The home Kingdom is still responsible for the defense and the foreign affairs of the island.

Today, tourism is the main source of income for the island of Curacao.  The islands coral reefs and beaches attract divers and swimmers.  The harbor in Willemstad is still the largest in the Caribbean allowing for large cargo ships to moor on the island.  This allows Curacao to remain a commercial center in the Caribbean.  The largest desalination plant in the Caribbean resides in Curacao.  The oil refinery that had pushed Curacao into an economic boom was sold in the 1980's and has been the subject of lawsuits because of environmental reasons.  The oil industry in Curacao is not as lucrative as past years.  Racial tensions still remain as emigration and immigration still are a problem that the home Kingdom still tries to regulate.  This attempt at regulation continues to strain the relationship between Curacao and the Netherlands.

Sources:
 Brushaber, Susan, and Arnold Greenberg. 2002. Aruba, Bonaire & Curacao Alive!. Hunter Publishing, 2002. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost), EBSCOhost (accessed November 27, 2011).

Paul K. Sutton,  Europe and the Caribbean.  London : Macmillan Caribbean, 1991