2004 Saban status referendum

Saba was one of five islands in the Netherlands Antilles alongside Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, and Sint Eustatius.^[1] The Netherlands Antilles, which was based in Curaçao, was criticised for ignoring the smaller island members.^[1][2]

Referendums were held in all member islands of the Netherlands Antilles to determine their future with the Netherlands. The options presented in these referendums were direct constitutional relations, maintaining the status quo in the Netherlands Antilles, or independence.^[1] All of these referendums were non-binding and only served as advisory recommendations to the States General of the Netherlands.^[1][3]

The ruling and opposition parties of Saba, the Windward Islands People's Movement and Saba United Democratic Party, supported voting for direct constitutional relations with the Netherlands.^[1]

The Saba Referendum Committee held a town hall meeting on 1 November 2004, and a mock vote on 4 November.^[1] Two polling locations were used for the election, one in The Bottom and one in Windwardside.^[4]

Turnout in the referendum was 77.80%. 86.05% of the population voted for closer links to the Netherlands, remaining a part of the Netherlands Antilles received 13.18% of the vote, and independence received 0.78% of the vote.^[4]

• Dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles
  • 2000 Sint Maarten status referendum
  • 2004 Bonaire status referendum
  • 2005 Curaçao status referendum
  • 2005 Sint Eustatius status referendum