Significance: Although the Dutch Antilles, which also included the smaller islands of Saba, St. Eustatius, and Bonaire, had been a Dutch colony since the 17th Century, they have been exercising self-government for the past 56 years. The announcement stated that both Curaçao and St. Maarten will now have more government powers, including the ability to raise their own taxes. The islands are also to establish and share a single supreme court and a central bank. However, the Dutch government will continue to be responsible for islands' defence, as well as their foreign policy.
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