Bonaire's decision to postpone its constitutional referendum (see related story) is important also for St. Eustatius and Saba, the other two Island Territories that are to become special overseas public entities of the Netherlands as the so-called BES islands. The referendum initiated by the ADB/Nicolaas Executive Council was intended to see whether the voters approved of the agreements made by the former UPB government in that regard, which the current coalition opposes.

If a majority had opposed those agreements, the impact on the completion of the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles by October 10, 2010, would have been unclear. Bonaire's Island Government had acknowledged that the process to execute the agreements made would have to continue regardless, but a rejection by the electorate just one month before the new relations within the Dutch Kingdom are to become reality would have a negative psychological effect at the very least.

In addition, if the outcome was not going to change Bonaire's status come 10-10-10 anyway, why have the referendum before then? Not only that, but as the other intended option of "free association" with the Netherlands remains a big question mark and The Hague has already indicated that – apart from full independence for the island – it sees no such alternative within the Dutch Kingdom, a "no" to the current plans basically would have left the population in limbo.

The fact that the referendum committee had only requested another month yet no new date was set in the decision to postpone the poll may indicate that Bonaire's governing coalition has finally realised that insisting on a referendum under the circumstances without knowing exactly what to do with one of the two possible outcomes makes little sense. After all, there is already enough uncertainty accompanying the process of constitutional change and the people of all three future BES islands certainly don't need more.