News

A new contract is being negotiated for the medical evacuation helicopter services for St. Eustatius and Saba, Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk informed the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament on Wednesday. This writes the Daily Herald.  The contract with the current helicopter service provider, …

The Daily Herald writes that Plasterk stated that hooking on the sea cable internet connection had a positive, price decreasing effect on the Internet Protocol IP-transit tariffs for the islands. He was answering questions about the high cost of using the fibre optic sea cable for St. Eustatius and Saba. …

Concerned about media reports confirming that many on Bonaire live far below the poverty line, the Labour Party in the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament has sought clarity from government. Members of the Second Chamber Roelof van Laar and Tunahan Kuzu, both PvdA, on Wednesday submitted written questions to …

The Daily Herald writes that shortly after the newly elected Chamber of Commerce and Industry of St. Eustatius and Saba took office at the beginning of the year, the National Ombudsman recalled a complaint they had received from information and support foundation Informatie, Voorlichting and Ondersteuning (IVO). IVO President Brenda …

On Tuesday February 18th at approximately 13.05 pm the Dutch Caribbean Fire Brigade on Saba received notice that there was a bush fire in the Windwardside.  After arriving on the scene, together with the police the firemen scouted the area and saw that the fire was almost completely burnt out.  …

Jerry Sprott, Manager of the Security Department of Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company (PJIAE) NV and Security Screening Section Head Antonio Janga are on Saba this week holding a fiveday, basic security training for Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport security staff. This reports The Daily Herald. Saba Security Chief Beatrix …

Progress in the field of financial management for Saba, St. Eustatius and Bonaire is still a mixed picture; six months after the Board of financial supervision of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba (CFT) announced similar findings in its previous semi-annual report. This writes The Daily Herald. The latest report announces …

The Daily Herald writes that Dutch Minister of Public Health, Wellbeing and Sports Edith Schippers stated in a letter to the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament on Tuesday that findings of the FWG Trend Report on health care in the Dutch Caribbean are “familiar” and will be taken along …

Effective February 4th the Dutch Caribbean Police Force (KPCN) has a new Chief of Basic Police Care on Saba in the person of Coenraad Klein Swormink. He is working with the Royal Netherlands Military Constabulary (KMar) in the Netherlands already since 1986. There he has held many positions in all …

The Daily Herald writes that there is a proposal that the portfolio of the Dutch public entities Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba should be handled centrally in the Permanent Committee for Kingdom Relations of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament, and not be scattered over the various committees. Member …

On Friday, February 14th , around 3.00 PM, police received a report of a fire at the Old Captains Quarter in Windward Side. The fire brigade was informed but police have extinguished the fire upon arrival itself. A person with initials O.H.D.P. who worked there, had severe burns and was …

Restaurants, shops and hotels in Saba dazzled with tantalising and romantic offers on Valentine’s Day, writes The Daily Herald. The celebrations started with a pre-Valentine’s Day show organised by Sacred Heart Primary School at Sunny Valley Youth Centre in The Bottom. Angelic kindergarten, firstand second-grade children performed onstage for their …

The Daily Herald writes that Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte came to the defence of Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk on Friday stating that the minister did not hide a report on the coordination of the tasks of the Dutch Government on or on behalf of …

Island artists put together the first Outdoor Art Market at Breadline Plaza in Windwardside on Wednesday morning. The location and time were selected to coincide with the weekly SabaGro Market of fresh local organic produce. Surprisingly, the friendly-priced artwork flew off to new homes faster than the fresh fruits and …

The Daily Herald writes that the  First Chamber of the Dutch Parliament, the Senate, on Tuesday requested Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk to include an Electoral College in the law proposal to amend the Dutch Constitution which is needed to arrange the voting rights of …

The Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament will urge Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk to have all preparatory documentation for the evaluation in the Caribbean Netherlands ready for a general debate on March 13, 2014. This writes The Daily Herald. The Second Chamber’s Permanent Committee for …

Head librarian of Queen Wilhelmina Library (QWL) Joanna Simmons and librarian Tiffany Zagers attended a two-day training on digital upgrading at Philipsburg Jubilee Library (PJL) on St. Maarten. PLJ hosted the training in collaboration with QWL and Gertrude Judson Library of St. Eustatius. The three libraries are upgrading to the …

The Daily Herald writes that the Labour Party PvdA in the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament on Thursday demanded clarity on the increasing number of complaints about the medical referrals of the health care insurance office ZVK for Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. PvdA Members of the Second Chamber …

Former health minister Els Borst, who was found dead in the garage of her home in Bilthoven on Monday, may have died as the result of a crime, police said on Thursday. The investigation into Borst’s death is continuing after a post mortem established she had died as the result …

The Daily Herald writes that the head of the public health department Dr. Gijs Koot downplayed threat and pledged active prevention measures to address the dengue and chikungunya threat pointed to by Cuban Medical Entomologist Sandra Moreno Reyes in public reports. Dr. Koot issued a correction of the recent Island …

Dutch government representative Wilbert Stolte has no intention to step down before May 1 as planned, although he agrees with the gist of the ISB study on the failing national policy in the Caribbean Netherlands. This writes The Daily Herald.  He told “Caribisch Netwerk” the report is critical of everyone …

Two women, ages 37 and 26, and a man (27) appeared in Court on St Maarten Wednesday for their alleged roles in a large-scale drug network. The three suspects were arrested during a search of an apartment building on St Maarten on August 4, 2013. Police was acting on information …

In a press release the Police announced that in the morning hours on Wednesday February 12th the police on Saba,  under  supervision of the examining judge, conducted house searches at two different addresses. This followed a statement made earlier of a sexual offense. One suspect was arrested. In the interest …

The Daily Herald writes that last weekend, Anguilla Lions and Leo Clubs were visited by Lion Zone Chairman Frank Wilson of Saba Lions Club Zone 2B, who is also Deputy Governor of Saba. He was accompanied by past Zone Chairman of St. Maarten Lions Club Lion Frank Elstak. The meeting …

The second workgroup meeting of three about the health care package offered to residents of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba by health insurance office ZVK on Bonaire started yesterday, Tuesday February 11, and will end on Saturday. It was prepared by the delegation from Saba, Commissioner of Health Bruce Zagers, Director …

The Daily Herald writes that the functioning and pending resignation of National Government Representative (“Rijksvertegenwoordiger”) for Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba Wilbert Stolte will be the subject of a yet-to-beplanned plenary debate in the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament. A date has yet to be set for this so-called …

Social affairs minister Ronald Plasterk survived a long debate on Tuesday night into revelations he had wrongly stated the US was behind the collection of information about 1.8 million phone calls. The Liberal democratic party D66, which often acts as a de facto junior coalition party, failed to gather enough …

There were only nine confirmed cases of dengue on Saba until November 2013, but because residents travel frequently to St. Maarten and other islands in the region, Saba is at a great risk of acquiring dengue or the chikungunya disease, Cuban medical entomologist Sandra Moreno Reyes stated.  The Daily Herald …

The second conference of three about the health care package offered to residents of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba by health insurance office ZVK will be held on Bonaire starting today, Tuesday February 11, until Saturday. During the conference, representatives of the three islands will deliberate on reduction of the …

The Daily Herald writes that impact of legislation, efficiency of the new governmental structure and consequences for the people should be the main issues in the 2015 evaluation of the constitutional status of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, according to the Dutch Council of State (Raad van State). These three …

The Daily Herald writes that residence requirements cause more problems, while a paternity law prevents problems. The Consultation Body Caribbean Netherlands Ocan tried to convince members of the Second Chamber of Dutch Parliament Roelof van Laar (PvdA) and Madeleine van Toorenburg (CDA) of this. A paternity law will not allow …

Devki Ramsahai of St. Maarten Brahma Kumaris Centre held two well-received public seminars on “stressfree living” and “positive thinking” in Saba, writes The Daily Herald. The first workshop was held Friday at Sunny Valley Youth Center in The Bottom, while the second workshop was held at Eugenius Johnson Center in …

Home affairs minister Ronald Plasterk and defence minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert were summoned by the prime minister on Wednesday night to explain the confusion over exactly who gathered information on 1.8 million phone calls and text messages. The ministers told parliament yesterday the Dutch, not the American, secret services were responsible …

Archaeology Center Sabarc is gearing-up for an exciting year in heritage preservation with new management and prospects for the opening of a permanent facility in Windwardside, writes The Daily Herald. Former Leiden University student Helena “Heli” Böhm arrived on Saba in mid-January to take over from her Leiden colleague Ryan …

The Daily Herald writes that the findings of the Inspection Signalling and Guidance ISB of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the coordination of tasks that the Dutch government carries out in the Caribbean Netherlands has serious shortcomings has the full attention of Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom …

The Saba Tourism Committee met with Windward Islands International Airways WINAIR Managing Director Michael Cleaver and Director of Strategic Marketing, Sales and Public Relations May-Ling Chun this week. This reports The Daily Herald. The meeting was an opportunity for industry partners to exchange ideas on how to increase tourist arrivals …

It may be called a miracle that sometimes something goes well from what the Dutch government is doing in the Caribbean Netherlands. Among the civil servants in the ministries who are employed or ares sent to the islands cooperation leaves much to be desired . This is evident from the …

Commissioner of Health, Bruce Zagers, was given a presentation with regards to the breeding of mosquitos on the island by Medical Entomologist, Sandra Morena Reyes. Morena Reyes, who hails from Cuba has been on Saba for the past six months on a project with the Saba Reach Foundation to do …

The Police reports that on Wednesday, February 5th, around 2:00 PM they received a report of a burglary attempt at a property situated in the Promised Land Road. The attempted burglary would have taken place on Tuesday February 4th, around the afternoon. Files have been charged.

The Daily Herald reports that the respective chief executives of regional airlines Air Antilles and Winair gave joint presentations of their recently formed alliance that sees both airlines pooling their resources and equipment to facilitate travel within the entire Caribbean to over 22 destinations from the hubs of St. Maarten, …