Many meetings with State Secretary Klijnsma

State Secretary of Social Affairs and Employment Jetta Klijnsma arrived Sunday on her first visit to Saba, her first stop on a tour of the three islands of the Caribbean Netherlands. She not only met with Island Governor Jonathan Johnson and the Executive Council, but also went on an extensive tour of the island. On Monday, State Secretary Klijnsma met with representatives of the Saba Business Association, Saba Merchants Association and the Chamber of Commerce who had a chance to express their support for a minimum wage increase. She also met with the Women and Infants Health Care Unit (WIHCU) labour union, which speaks on behalf of the nurses of A. M. Edwards Medical Centre and Honourable Henry C. Every Home for the Elderly. The State Secretary visited both institutions and spent a substantial amount of time speaking with residents of the old age home. She also met with the institution’s director, Nurse Rosita Riley and board chairman Roy Smith. Klijnsma also met with social worker Valerie Prijor and one of her clients.

The charismatic and emphatic State Secretary also visited the homes of several senior citizens, who receive assistance from the Meals on Wheels food-delivery programme. “She wanted to see up close and personal the living conditions behind the beautiful façades of the island” said National Service Caribbean Netherlands RCN Communications advisor Alida Francis.