News

At least 1.2 million people were living in poverty in the Netherlands last year, a rise of over 150,000 people on 2011, according to a new report. Research by the national statistics office CBS and the government’s socio-cultural think-tank SCP, shows 7.6% of the population is now living below the …

Ministry of Interior Affairs, dept. Integrity raises questions about double charging of Rijksvertegenwoordiger (Kingdom Representant) The Ministry of Interior Affairs seeks clarification from Wilbert Stolte , representative of the Kingdom Representant of the Dutch islands Bonaire , Sint Eustatius and Saba , about the double invoicing.” Amounts can be declared …

The Saba Tourist Office launched a brand new island identity and website on Monday, December 2. The new logo is colorful and vibrant and instantly reveals elements of the natural environment that the island is known for, while the new website gives persons interested in traveling to the island up …

The extra costs for travel and accommodation for officials who travel from Holland to the Caribbean part of the Kingdom takes an average of over $65,000 per person. This is concluded by Jamila Baaziz from research  by the Caribbean Network  weblog,  based on official  information requested about short and longer …

In their press release of today the Caribbean Netherlands Police Force communicated the following information: The local governors, the  Public Prosecutor Office and the police are satisfied with the course  of the action “FIREARMS OFF THE STREET, HAND IN THAT WEAPON” . During this action a total of five firearms …

The Daily Herald announces that representatives of the National Ombudsman’s Office will hold consulting hours next week. They will be on Saba from December 9 to 11. Citizens may consult with the National Ombudsman about complaints regarding the local government or local authorities. Stefan Pfeifer and Armin Dorn Saba will …

The Daily Herald writes that the Women’s Medical Student Association of Saba University School of Medicine raised over US $200 in the Saba-Palooza fun event held on Thursday afternoon at Johan Cruijff Court in The Bottom. The funds will go towards Christmas presents for residents of Henry C. Every Home …

This week, the Weekender edition of The Daily Herald spend a whole page on the works of Heleen Cornet. They wrote: “Through the works of Dutch-born Saban artist Heleen Cornet, the magic of Mt. Scenery, the zenith of the kingdom, virtually travelled to the Museum de Fundatie in Zwolle but …

In a press release the Police Force of the Dutch Caribbean, KPCN, informs the public about the following incidents: Collision On Saturday, November 30th, around 17:35 pm, a collision occurred at the junction between a local nightlife establishment and a supermarket in Windwardside (Saba). There were no injuries. Arrest On …

Wesleyan, Catholic and Anglican churches distributed red ribbons and marked World AIDS Day during Mass over the weekend. In its 2012-2013 pastoral plan, Wesleyan Holiness Church marked December 1 in observance of World AIDS Day. Young and old members of the congregation proudly displayed their red ribbons during Mass in …

St. Eustatius received unexpected support during last week’s Kingdom Congress. Leader of the Dutch Democratic Party D66 Alexander Pechtold called for a bigger celebration of the historic November 16, 1776, First Salute, while Aruba Governor Fredis Refunjol publicly stated that he would help to give St. Eustatius a push. This …

The Daily Herald writes that the Bonaire communication office of the Dutch Caribbean Police Corps (Korps Politie Caribisch Nederland – KPCN) issued on request a followup statement on the investigation of the Fort Bay landfill car-tire fire incident this Wednesday. The police stated that within the investigation “it has further …

Canadian student at Saba University School of Medicine (SUSOM), Blake Waters, was crowned winner of the tenth annual Saba Idol Competition Friday night at Scout’s Place in Windwardside. This writes The Daily Herald. Waters is famous on Saba, not just for his enviable physique and great personality, but also for …

The Daily Herald reports that the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Kingdom of the Netherlands kicked off on Saturday in the presence of King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima, a large part of the royal family and representatives of all parts of the Kingdom, including the prime ministers of the …

Several communitybased organisations ralliedup in an effort to show Saba’s continued solidarity in the fight against HIV and AIDS on World AIDS Day, Sunday, writes The Daily Herald . In preparation of World AIDS Day, Body, Mind and Spirit Foundation (BMSF) distributed red ribbons, information material, condoms and lubricants throughout …

The Daily Herald reports that the Christian Union wants the Caribbean Netherlands to have its own elected representative in the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament. According to Christian Union Member of Parliament (MP) Gert-Jan Segers, who presented his proposal during the Kingdom relations budget debate on Wednesday, having a …

The islands have the right to organise a constitutional referendum at any time, but the options have to be realistic, Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk confirmed during the handling of the 2014 draft budget of Kingdom Relations in the second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament …

Mr H. A. Seferina and Mr. S. R. Hodge will be deputy judges at the Court of First Instance in St. Maarten of the Common Court of Justice. The National Council of Ministers decided to nominate them at the proposal of the Minister of Security and Justice. Mr. Seferina (1975) …

Joep Dohmen (NRC) writes that  Lt. Governor Lydia Emerencia of Bonaire sent a message  to Minister Plasterk ( Interior, Labour) that she resigned this morning. She did so after a majority of the island Council had expressed not to have  confidence in her last Tuesday. According to Emerencia , the …

The Director of Tourism Office Glenn Holm officiated at an awards ceremony Wednesday evening, at the Eugenius Johnson Centre in Windwardside, reports The Daily Herald. During the ceremony Saba’s winners in the “CN Expo” Competition were recognised. Organised by the Caribbean Netherlands Government Service (RCN) on Saba, St. Eustatius and …

The Daily Herald writes that Health Commissioner Bruce Zagers calls on the community to mark World AIDS Day this Sunday, December 1, by wearing a red ribbon as a symbol of solidarity in the global campaign to halt and mitigate the impact of the Human Immunodefi ciency Virus (HIV). He …

The Daily Herald writes that Commissioner Bruce Zagers issued a prompt message Wednesday evening, addressing the car-tire fire set ablaze near the Fort Bay landfill. The toxic smog that engulfed the village of St. John’s Wednesday, led to the closing of the two schools in the compound above the landfill. …

The Police of the Dutch Caribbean announced that on Wednesday November 27, around 10:20 AM, a call by STENAPA St. Eustatius came in about a diver who became not well. The diver was rushed by an ambulance to the Hospital of St. Eustatius. The diver died in the hospital. The …

MP Van Laar (PvdA) asked minister Plasterk as some sort of  question: The Labour Party is committed to social progress in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. The fight against poverty is what the Labour Party sees as the highest priority. The answer was: The government recognizes the importance of …

MP : Hachchi ( D66 ) asked the question: Can the minister  streamline the appointment of the Rijksvertegenwoordiger (Kingdom Representative) to that of a Commissaris van de Koning (Commissioner of the King) ? The answer was: There are major differences in the position and the role of  the Commissioner of …

Saba Business Association chairman and newly elected board member of the Saba and St. Eustatius Chamber of Commerce Wolfgang Tooten decried the attempt to strip all non-Dutch residents of their voting right in the local Island Council elections. This writes The Daily Herald. The alleged dilemma posed by Dutch Minister …

Community based organisations on Saba involved in the protection of children’s rights announced an open house day for parents and children this Friday, November 29, at the Voogdijraad building, on Paris Hill Road in The Bottom. Community leaders, parents, legal guardians, youth, children and involved family members welcome this opportunity …

The Daily Herald writes as follows. “We talk a lot with each other in the Kingdom, but often don’t understand each other. We project our prejudices without really listening to each other. Sometimes, I am surprised how little we truly know each other.” Words of the Leader of the Dutch …

The police reported that a big fire raged Wednesday morning in the port of Saba. The police, the fire department and the ambulance-service went to the location of the incident. In the meanwhile the fire is under control. From within the police-force, the Duty officer – calamities was used. Because …

The appointment procedure of the State Representative in the Caribbean Netherlands should be more transparent, is the opinion of D66 . The reason behind this remark is the impending departure of Wilbert Stolte. The current representative is controversial because of its share of the administrative problems on Bonaire. D66 is …

The Daily Herald announces that women’s Medical Student Association of the Saba University School of Medicine will organise a Saba-Palooza fundraising event this Thursday afternoon, November 28 at the Johan Cruyff Court in The Bottom. Everyone is invited to participate in this outdoor activity-filled afternoon that, according to the organizers, …

The Daily Herald writes that Windward Island Airways (WINAIR) launched its new destinations on Santo Domingo and Curaçao last week on November 20 and 22. The WINAIR team, led by Michael Cleaver President and CEO and Roberto Gibbs Vice President and CFO were present to introduce their new flights that …

The Vice Consul of the United States for the Dutch Caribbean will be on Saba on December 5, from 9:00am to 12:00pm, at Shearwater Resort, Booby Hill. This can be read in The Daily Herald. The Vice Consul will only be able to accept applications for US passports, Reports of …

The Daily Herald reports that the Queen Wilhelmina Library officially reopened its doors in the Carmen Simmons Cultural Complex, marking its 90th anniversary with a grand reception held on Friday evening, November 22. The library opened its doors on November 23, 1923, as an endowment given to the island by, …

Here you may find (part of) a trnslated letter from Minister Plaster to UNICEF Dear In your letter of October 10, 2013 you asked to draw attention to the progress of the improvement of the children’s situation in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom . You call for cooperation and …

In a letter to th Second Chamber (Commission Kingdom Relations) minister Kamp gave the following answers. (red: apologies for possible poor translation) 1 Do you know the messages ‘ Bonaire , Sint Eustatius , Saba get a new postbode’ and ‘ BES Mail delivery in consultation with residents and business …

The Daily Herald reports that catholics  celebrated the “Feast of Christ the King” with a special mass at Sacred Heart church in The Bottom, attended by parishioners from all villages. The Mass, marking the end and renewal of the Church calendar, was preceded by a procession and followed by a …

The Daily Herald writes that Central Bureau for Statistics (CBS) will be organizing statistics training for participants from St. Eustatius and Saba November 25-26 on Statia and November 28-29 for subscribers on Bonaire. The training will be conducted by trainers from the Netherlands who are specifically in charge of teaching …

The Daily Herald reports that Professor of Caribbean Archaeology at Leiden University Corinne Hofman received the prestigious Academy Merian 2013 Award on Thursday, for researchers who are women, given by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences KNAW in Amsterdam, for her extensive archaeology research in the Caribbean, which …

The Body, Mind and Spirit Foundation, together with the Saba University School of Medicine (SUSOM), held Responsible Students Peer Education Curriculum and Training RESPECT programme workshops at the Saba Comprehensive School (SCS) in St. John’s on Monday. This writes The Daily Herald. The flagship RESPECT programme was implemented in 2005. …