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This is an original message from Cordaid The Hague, November 11, 2013 – The Cooperating Aid Agencies ( SHO ) open immediately Giro555 for emergency aid to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan . The damage caused is huge and the number of fatalities is estimated at ten thousand . Increasingly …

Despite an increase in government funding, the gap in the performance between native Dutch and ethnic minority students has increased, the NRC wrote on Friday. While the number of students from a minority background has doubled over the past 15 years, they are still less likely to complete their course …

The CBS, Centraal Bureau voor Statistiek, has published a booklet ‘The Caribbean Netherlands in figures’. In this publication the CBS provides a brief overview of key figures concerning the economic and social situation in the Caribbean Netherlands. The figures are presented for each island, based on a number of themes, …

Windward Islands People’s Movement fraction leader Councilman Rolando Wilson has submitted a barrage of questions for the Executive Council’s response, writes The Daily Herald. Wilson reiterated his question on development projects and incentives created by the executive branch to attract investors. He questions if the island has a development plan …

The Daily Herald writes that Secretary of State for Infrastructure and Environment, Wilma Mansveld, has appointed an external consultant on the subject of waste management for St. Eustatius, Saba and Bonaire. The consultant, who will be based on Bonaire, started his appointment on November 1. The consultant will advise and …

Minister for Infrastructure and Environment M.H. Schultz van Haegen is currently in talks with government officials of Saba to decide on measures to be taken as a result of the recent research into drinking water on the island, writes The Daily Herald. The minister will present a number of measures …

PUBLIC NOTICE Due to unforeseen circumstances the Public Island Council meeting on Friday, November 8th, 2013 has been postponed. The meeting will convene on Monday November 11, 2013 at 9:00 am. I apologize for any inconvenience caused.   Trusting to have informed you sufficiently Sincerely, The Chairman _________________ J. G. …

In a press release the ECB bank published: 7 November 2013 – Monetary policy decisions At today’s meeting the Governing Council of the ECB took the following monetary policy decisions: 1.    The interest rate on the main refinancing operations of the Eurosystem will be decreased by 25 basis points to 0.25%, …

The Saba Lions Club and Child Focus Foundation joined hands this year in hosting one of the spookiest fun Halloween celebrations last week, reports The Daily Herald. In an interview, Saba Lions Club President Glenn Holm labelled the cooperation with the Child Focus Foundation a “great success.” Child Focus programs …

The sisters of Living Water Community (LWC) marked their 25th anniversary with a special thanksgiving service held at Sacred Heart Church on Monday evening, November 4th, reports The Daily Herald. Presiding over the special ceremony, Father Danilo “Dan” Pastor expressed his great appreciation for the support and missionary work of …

The second annual meeting of the Netherlands Red Cross and its overseas branches was held again in St. Eustatius. This writes The Daily Herald. Representatives from Aruba, Curacao, St. Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius were present, while Bonaire’s representatives participated via Skype. The two-day meeting was held recently at Golden …

“EU planning to reduce plastic bag mountain”, writes The Daily Herald. European Union member states will be encouraged to tax or even ban thin single-use plastic bags handed out in shops under proposals to tackle the tonnes of plastic waste that enter the water system and kill wildlife. Some countries, …

The Daily Herald writes that the “Fireman’s Week” celebrations commenced with a blessing of the local fire-fighters at the main fire station, followed by the sounding of the sirens honouring fallen comrades. Saba Fire Department Commandant Julio Every informs that the fire-fighters will hold a reception on Tuesday and series …

The Daily Herald writes in The Weekender” that question about Saba’s roving goats reached the public menu again this October when it was brought up during a “Sea and Learn” lecture by orchid specialist Dr. Jim Ackerman. “Sea and Learn” is an environment awareness program which brings naturalists and scientists …

Local authorities are not discriminating against dog owners by making them pay a tax for keeping their pet, the High Court said on Friday. After all, it costs councils money to keep public places and special areas for dogs clean, the court said in its ruling. In addition, the size …

“St. Kitts’ going solar,” screams the headline in Boston.com wrote the Daily Herald yesterday. Paul E. Kandarian, a frequent contributor to Globe Travel and who writes and photographs New England and Caribbean stories in the article states: “If you fl y into St. Kitts and see shiny panels on landing, …

The liberal democratic VVD party and the Socialist Party in the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament support St. Eustatius’ coalition government in their desire to hold a constitutional referendum next year. Statia has every right to organise a constitutional referendum, said Member of the Second Chamber André Bosman (VVD) …

The Daily Herald reports that the granting of the new concession for the postal services in the Caribbean Netherlands to Flamingo Services has raised some questions in the Dutch Labour Party PvdA in the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament. Members of Parliament (MPs) Roelof van Laar and Mei Li …

Breast Cancer lecture and walk on Saba took place on Tuesday, October 29, writes The Daily Herald. The event was organised by Saba University School of Medicine (SUSOM) together with the Lions Club on Saba. The event started in Windwardside at the Eugenius Johnson Centre where second semester SUSOM students …

The Daily Herald writes that the Caribbean Netherlands Week in The Hague was closed off on Thursday with minor successes, mainly due to the financial restrictions of the Dutch Government. The high expectations that the Executive Council delegations of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba had when they came to the …

Students from the Dutch Caribbean who come to the Netherlands on their own, the so-called “free movers,” are facing increasing problems, writes The Daily Herald. The Cabinet of Curaçao’s Minister Plenipotentiary Marvelyne Wiels is concerned and is taking action. Free movers from Curaçao, but also from the other islands, who …

The Daily Herald reports that general evaluation in 2015 will not be narrowed down to the status of either public entity or municipality status for Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. The island delegations and the Dutch Government on Thursday agreed to install a high level work group which will look …

The law initiative of Member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament André Bosman (VVD) to regulate the registration of people from Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten was the source of a heated debate in Amsterdam on Tuesday. This reports The Daily Herald. Initiative-taker Bosman and Consultative Body for …

The Daily Herald writes that St. Eustatius will not agree to the terms for a general evaluation in 2015 if its constitutional status as Dutch public entity is not open for discussion and the option to hold a referendum is excluded, said Statia Commissioner Reginald Zaandam on Wednesday. Statia considers …

The Island Government recently commissioned a pilot project to investigate the feasibility of solar lighting on Saba. This was reported again in The Daily Herald. It is expected to determine if the technology would be suitable in all areas of the island including those with significant cloud cover. The Island …

The Daily Herald writes that the Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk will keep a keen eye on the rights of homosexuals in the Dutch Caribbean, but at the same time he is aware of the fact that this area is a responsibility of the autonomous …

The Daily Herald writes that Housing foundations on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba may be exempted from real estate tax in the future. Dutch Minister of Housing and Government Service Stef Blok is looking at this possibility together with State secretary of Finance Frans Weekers, Blok stated in a letter …

RCN updated their press release on October 31: In the press release below a summary was given of weapons that are prohibited. In the text under “Prohibition” the highlighted text below has to be added: PROHIBITION In pursuance of the BES Firearms Act, it is prohibited to have on hand …

The unique CN photo contest, ‘This is the place’, recently ended with brilliant results. Citizens of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, young and old, uploaded beautiful photos of their own island to the CN photo contest’s Facebook page, competing to win one of the 29 prizes in different categories. These …

The last months the Ministry of Economic Affairs has been busy with the awarding  of a new concession for mail services on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. The current concession of NPNA will end at the end of this year. On October 17th Minister Henk Kamp of Economic Affairs appointed …

Please join us today, Tuesday, October 29th at 6:30PM for an informative public short-talk held at the Eugenius Johnson Community Center in Windwardside. Invite friends and family for Saba’s breast Cancer Awareness Walk. The walk will start at 7:00PM from the Eugenius Johnson Community Center and will end on the …

The Daily herald writes that development plans for Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, and the general evaluation in 2015 will be the two main issues addressed in the so-called Caribbean Netherlands Week, which takes place in The Hague this week. The development plans and the evaluation were main topics during …

Former vice-president of the Council of State and current member of the National Committee 200 Years Kingdom Herman Tjeenk Willink fully supports the Kingdom Youth Parliament event that will be held on St. Maarten in May next year, writes The Daily Herald. According to Tjeenk Willink, the Kingdom Youth Parliament …

The Daily Herald reports that a  team of international researchers, which completed a one-week scientific expedition to the Saba Bank over the weekend, has noted a reduction of several fish species and an increase in sharks. The expedition from October 19 to 27, organised by marine ecology institute IMARES of …

The Executive Council of the Public Entity of Saba left over the weekend for its bi-annual Caribbean Netherlands week in The Hague, reports The Daily Herald in addition to another general report about that meeting. The CN week is a week-long series of meetings, where Saba along with the other …

  The most severe gales to hit the Netherlands since 1990 killed one woman in Amsterdam on Monday and severely disrupted public transport throughout the country. The storm, at its height between midday and 14.00 hours, caused considerable damage in the capital, where dozens of trees were blown down, leading …

A feasibility study must prove which language policy will best fit the local context and possibilities on St. Eustatius. This was decided by State Secretary of Education, Culture & Science (OCW) Sander Dekker and Commissioner Zaandam (Education) on Monday during a meeting in The Hague. Recent research shows that the …

Kelly Johnson reports that the Saba Amateur Boxing Association hosted its 4th Annual Amateur Boxing Tournament on Saturday October 26 at the Princess Juliana Sports Field to our largest audience yet all waiting in anticipation for the four bouts of the evening. The event entitled Fight 2D Finish saw amateur …

The Daily Herald reports that coastal geomorphologist Dr. Jennifer Rahn held a presentation on the tenuous situation of the Tent Reef during an evening Sea & Learn Saba event hosted by Sea Witch restaurant in Windwardside, Wednesday, October 23. She said that the island government seeks Dutch government nature conservation …