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The general public on Saba is invited to come out and discuss the new draft General Local Ordinance during two town hall meetings, writes The Daily Herald.
The first meeting will be held Tuesday, March 8, at the Fire Station in The Bottom, and the meeting of Wednesday, March 9, is to be held at Eugenius Johnson Centre in Windwardside. Both meetings begin at 6:00pm.
The main purpose of the General Local Ordinance is to regulate and safeguard the island’s “public order and safety, public repose (noise reduction – Ed.) and public health.”
The current General Local Ordinance dates from 1995 and is still in effect, as it was one of the ordinances carried over by the Island Council after 10/10/10. This new draft was prepared because the Island Government feels that it is important that legislation is practical, up to date and enforceable.
Because the Ordinance directly impacts the community, the Island Government is strongly urging residents to come out and give their feedback, Saba Government Information Service (SGIS) stated.
The draft General Local Ordinance can be read in English and Dutch on the homepage of the Public Entity’s website: www.sabagov.nl.
Draft General Local Ordinance (English and Dutch)
Isn’t it strange that the community (citizens and entrepreneurs) get just 2 days to read the concept Local Ordinance while it took over 5 years for the government to reformulate the concept of 2011?
Isn’t it strange that the community gets just the opportunity to react in meetings and not in writing?
Isn’t it strange that the government does not compare the new proposal with the old one from 2011?
See: http://www.sabaweb.nl/APV_concept_dec-19-2011-.doc
Isn’t it strange that the government does not compare with the Local Ordinance that in fact is in force?
See: http://www.sabaweb.nl/APV-Saba 1985.pdf
Isn’t it strange that the still valid Local Ordinance is hardly enforced by the Loval government?
Isn’t it strange that the local government does not give an explicitly formulated guarantee that the ordinance will be enforced in the future?
I don’t think the community got two days to read the draft ordnance as it was posted on the government website on the Friday and the meeting was held on the Tuesday so that is no argument. Bottom line is that the draft has been prepared and is now ready for community involvement and the community has shown up to both Town hall meetings and made their input. during the town hall meetings that I attended and did not see Mr. Caderius at neither of the meetings the governor made it crystal clear that resident can submit their questions etc in writing if they so care.
The local government is not the one directly to carry out the law as it also includes the police who has the authority to execute what is in the law. The Government of Saba is making sure to put these laws in place and once the island council approves the draft law it is expected that everyone will fall in line with good information going towards the community. As Sabans all of us are requested to cooperate so that the police or any other law enforcement agencies does not have to act. Sabans over the years has protected their island to the best of their ability and with this new law once approved it is expected that Sabans will continue to protect their island.