Curaçao and Sint Maarten, two of the five islands in the Netherlands Antilles, will be able to claim their longed for autonomy no later than October 2010. This was agreed in Willemstad, the capital of the Netherlands Antilles on Wednesday, during discussions with the Dutch government, the island group’s administration and the islands themselves.

Ank Bijleveld, the Netherlands’ deputy minister for Interior and Kingdom Relations, said a definite date for autonomy would be announced in September.

The agreement means that the three other islands, Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius, will become a special municipality with the Netherlands.

Photo of Willemstad by Chennette (flickr)