> CU in CQWW DX CW as PJ4A from the new country of Bonaire. It's
> going to be fun. J
Don't jump the gun.
None of the former Netherlands Antilles automatically gain "new
country" status. To become a "Political Entity" the territory
must: be a member of the UN General Assembly, have a separate
ITU callsign block, or be listed on either the US Department of
State or UN list of "non self-governing territories."
Since all of the former PJ islands will continued to be represented
by The Netherlands for external/international affairs, neither of
the first two criteria are likely to come into play (even Aruba
does not have its own ITU block - P4 is assigned to The Netherlands).
As to inclusion on the UN or US DOS lists, there is no assurance
that will happen on 10/10/10 or even quickly after 10/10/10. In
the case of St Barts (FJ) it took some nine months from the date
on which the French Ministry made FJ an Overseas Collective (a
separately administered entity) and the date on which FJ first
appeared on the US DOS listing. (Contacts with FJ were not valid
for DXCC purposes until the addition of St. Barts to the DOS
list on December 14, 2007).
Further, there is no guarantee that Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and
Saba (the BES Islands) will appear on the DOS list - they are
to be "municipalities" within The Netherlands and not autonomous
entities. Unless the BES Islands are listed individually on the
DOS or UN lists, they should be a single "Island Group" under
the DXCC rules since the separation between the Port of Saba and
the northeast corner of Bonaire (near Spoelunk Light) is less
than 800 km according to Google Earth and at least one of the
accepted distance calculation methods of the US FCC.
It is a shame that the multiplier status of PJ2/4 and PJ5/6/7 are
likely to be in a state of flux throughout the entire fall and
winter contest season. It is also a shame that there are groups
spending big bucks to activate countries on "independence day"
when those contact may not count for anything other than PJ2/4
or PJ5/6/7 if ARRL follow their published rules.
73,
... Joe, W4TV
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