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News | January 29, 2024 | 16:59
Papiamento has been officially recognized by the central government, with the expertise and input of public entities in Bonaire, which hopes to further protect and enhance the status of the language for the benefit of present and future generations.
Papiamento is an important part of the identity of the people of Bonaire. The increasing pressure on the island from other languages such as Dutch, Spanish and English could lead to unnecessary suppression of Papiamento. In March 2021, the then Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, the Minister of Education, Culture and Science, the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education and the Media and the Secretary of State for the Interior and Kingdom Relations signed the Administrative Agreement on the Papiamento Language in Bonaire, expressing their intention to recognize Papiamento in accordance with the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (hereinafter referred to as the “Charter”).
The Charter is a convention of the Council of Europe for the protection and promotion of minority languages traditionally present in national territories. Previously, the Charter only applied to the European Netherlands. Therefore, for Bonaire’s Papiamento to be recognized under the Charter, the scope must first be extended to the Caribbean Netherlands. Last December, Parliament approved this provision. On Monday, January 22, 2024, the extension of the scope to the Caribbean Netherlands and the recognition of Bonaire’s Papiamento under the Charter came into effect simultaneously.
A language can be recognized under two parts of the Charter. Recognition under the second part is the general recognition of a language. It requires a country not to restrict the use of the language through legislation or regulations. Recognition under the third part requires the protection and promotion of the language in specific areas such as education, culture, media, administration of justice, social and economic life and international cooperation. Papiamento in Bonaire was recognized under the third part.
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