The seat of the Netherlands Antilles local government lies in Willemstad, Curacao.
Each of the five islands within the association maintains control over some internal affairs,
but it is the central government based in Curacao that regulates police affairs, post,
telecommunications, aviation, public health, and education, among others.
The Netherlands Antilles government is based on a parliamentary democracy, and Parliament
comprises a council of ministers and a prime minister. A governor general, who resides
in Curacao, is appointed by the queen of the Netherlands to be the crown's representative
in the Netherlands Antilles.
Elected legislative officials from the islands congregate regularly in Curacao to preside over
the running of government. Each island within the Netherlands Antilles runs its internal affairs
through an island council and executive council, comprising elected members of the island council
and a governor, who is appointed by the queen.
In modern times, Curacao has expanded its infrastructure and modernized. The refinery is still
big business, and now a large desalinization plant provides the island's potable water. The
capital Willemstad has grown as well, and in the post-WW II period, the city experienced
tremendous growth. Jn addition to other changes, bridges were added to provide easy access between
the two downtown sections of the city, Punda and Otrobanda, which are separated by the Sint
Annabaai (St. Anna Bay) channel.
Revenues on the island are dependent on remittances from Holland, oil refinery earnings
(representing more than 90% of all exports), offshore banking, and tourism. Curacao's tourism is
still growing, but it is that aspect of the island that makes it so appealing to many. About 200
cruise ships call yearly, and nearly 240,000 tourists, most from Europe and specifically the
Netherlands, visit each year.
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