News

The Department of Youth Affairs – writes the Daily Herald –  will be hosting a Youth Round Table Conference on September 26 at the Westin St. Maarten Resort and Spa under the theme: “Youth – the key to social enhancement”, writes the Daily Herald. The closing ceremony will be held …

The Daily Herald reports that procedures as stated in the accountancy law were not followed when the fibre optic cable company Saba Statia Cable System (SSCS) was established in 2012. This became clear from a document that Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk sent to the …

The Daily Herald writes that Foundation development Netherlands Antilles SONA has received “an unqualified opinion” on its annual accounts through 2012 from the auditors of KPMG, which is being controlled again by the Dutch entity Auditdienst Rijk, according to the foundation. KPMG and Auditdienst have taken “different views of the …

The Daily Herald reports that Dutch Ministry of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations BZK. Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk responded in a letter to the Second Chamber on Tuesday, that there was no wrongfulness regarding 270 million euros and that the “uncertainty” as a result …

The Committee for Financial Supervision CFT has marked “fragile improvements” in financial management on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba in general, reports The Daily Herald. The islands closed-off 2012 with a positive result, CFT stated in its half-year report but lack of capacity remains a problem, with partially incorrect or …

The Daily Herald writes that Brighter Path Foundation and others handed in more than 800 signatures for a referendum on the constitutional status of St. Eustatius to Commissioner for Constitutional Affairs Reginald Zaandam on Monday morning. The signatures were handed to Commissioner Zaandam by Jack Anson, Lynnette Anson-Leerdam, Jacintha Brice, …

Island Governor Gerald Berkel confirmed that approximately 170 and 200 litres of oil were released during two separate incidents at NuStar Statia Terminal on June 12 and August 2, writes The Daily Herald. Governor Berkel, who as local Chief of Police is also responsible for the handling of environmental incidents, …

On September 3rd the Royal Marines and the Coast Guard will be organizing an Open House from 9.00 AM until 2.00PM in the harbor of Saba. The support ship of the Marines, Zr. Ms. Pelikaan, will roll out her rope ladder for visitors. You can take a look onboard. Also, …

The proposed law BES electricity and drinking water is currently available for inspection. The proposal describes the regulation of the electricity and drinking water facilities on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. Civil servants of the Ministries of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure and Environment are currently on the islands to hear …

The Daily Herald writes that the TelEm Group, has extended its invitation to photographers everywhere who wish to submit their favourite digital photos depicting the flora, fauna and marine life of St. Maarten/St. Martin, Saba and St. Eustatius. The company is seeking digital photos of the highest quality (300 DPI) …

The Platform of Antillean and Aruban Councils PAAB in the Netherlands wants according an article in The Daily Herald the Curaçao Parliament to organise a protest against the law proposal of Member of the Second Chamber of Dutch Parliament André Bosman of the liberal democratic VVD party to restrict the …

Bonaire’s youngsters that are in The Netherlands to study should be stimulated to return and work on the local labour market as has been written in The Daily Herald. “They want to come back, but don’t feel welcome,” foundation “Ban Boneiru Bèk” (Let’s Go Back to Bonaire) toldBelkis Osepa of …

The Daily Herald reports how the Judges Koos van de Ven and Katja Mans were officially installed as Judges at the Court of First Instance during an extraordinary sitting of the Joint Court of Justice on Friday afternoon. Earlier that day, the two new Judges were sworn in by Acting …

Central Committee Chairman Rolando Wilson (Windward Islands People’s Movement, WIPM) released received written responses from the Executive Council to questions he initially posed June 22. This was reported by The Daily Herald. – The drinking-water study determined a need for two water plants to be located at the harbour and …

From July 30 to August 9 – writes The Daily Herald – the Acting Island Registrar Akilah Levenstone received on the job training from visiting Registrar Hans van Berkel. He is the current registrar of the Reusel de Mierden municipality in the South of The Netherlands and Levenstone’s mentor. Van …

The RCN reports in a press release that this morning, the emergency detachment of the Dutch Ministry of Defense departed for the annual Hurricane Relief Exercise on the Windward Islands. The squad of the Royal Dutch Marines left from Aruba, the support vessel Pelikaan left from Curacao. This year, a …

The Daily Herald writes that Saba All Stars won the Caribbean Netherlands Government Service (RCN) friendly volleyball tournament to nurture cordiality among civil servants working at various governing levels on the island August 16 to 18. Members of the Executive and Island Council played together as the “Saba Island Government …

Dutch household spending power fell 1% in 2012, the biggest drop recorded since 1985, the national statistics office CBS said on Tuesday. Spending power is likely to fall again this year and in 2014 in the light of tax increases and further government spending cuts. The family spending institute Nibud …

Dutch Antilles Express writes that due to unforeseen circumstances beyond the airline’s control, Dutch Antilles Express (DAE) has advised that it is necessary to temporarily suspend flight operations to Bonaire. Operations to Sint Maarten have been also suspended.  The airline expects that further details will be available shortly. Passengers who …

The Organoponic Garden of Foundation Social Workplace Saba hosted a watercolour painting class Saturday morning, writes The Daily Herald. The art workshop on The Level was led by Saba’s most acclaimed artist Heleen Cornet. Cornet leads a group of artists and students, who meet weekly. The session at the garden, …

The Daily Herald reports today that Commissioner Reginald Zaandam of Statia said that apartment owners and others who invested financially to cater to students and staff at University of St. Eustatius School of Medicine put the blame squarely on the shoulders of the governments of Statia and The Netherlands for …

The Daily herald reports that Saba University School of Medicine (SUSOM) held a ceremony on campus Thursday evening, recognising the 2013 summer class of students who completed their Basic Sciences studies. The welcoming and opening remarks were done by Assistant Dean Dheeraj Bansal who acknowledged not just the 60 students, …

The funeral of prince Friso, who died on Monday after spending 18 months in a coma, took place in the leafy Dutch village of Lage Vuursche on Friday afternoon. Shortly before the service began, the royal family left nearby Drakensteyn castle and walked in a large group to the church. …

The Daily Herald writes that French St. Martin artist Roland Richardson identified as a leading figure in the West Indian impressionist art school painted and personally delivered a portrait of Saba’s historian and former commissioner and Member of Parliament of the Netherlands Antilles Will Johnson. The artist brought the finished …

Dear Editor, There is a very dangerous situation here on Saba and I do not understand what the elected officials of this island are thinking or their method of prioritization. The problem I am referring to is the improper handling of waste. It is well known that the methods used …

Members of the Caribbean Netherlands Customs executed a number of drug catches recently as reported in the Daily Herald.  On Bonaire 1,766 grams of cocaine was intercepted and 28.5 grams of cannabis on Saba, with a combined street value of US $78,100. Members of the Physical Supervision Team encountered four …

The Daily Herald reports that all proposals on the public Island Council (IC) meeting agenda were adopted unanimously Wednesday morning. The session commenced in the absence of Councilman Eviton Heyliger with the three other Windward Island People’s Movement (WIPM) council members present, as well as Saba Labour Party (SLP) Councilman …

Since Monday the Island Government begun to mark the passing of Dutch Prince Friso with flags on government buildings being flown at half mast, and expected to be kept so until after the actual funeral, writes the Daily Herald. A moment of silence was observed following the official opening of …

The government will not make extra cuts on top of the €6bn austerity package already being worked out, despite disappointing economic forecasts published on Wednesday, says Dutch finance minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem. Even though the government’s macro-economic think-tank expects the budget deficit to break eurozone guidelines next year, Dijsselbloem told RTLZ …

Government hopes of an improvement in the Dutch economy were dashed on Wednesday when new figures showed unemployment continues to rise, consumer spending is down and the recession will continue to the end of the year at least. The Dutch economy contracted a further 0.2% in the second quarter of …

Dutch Prince Friso is to be buried near his mother’s castle Drakensteyn on Friday, four days after he died from injuries sustained in a 2012 skiing accident, the palace said as reported in the Daily Herald. “His royal highness Prince Friso’s burial will take place on Friday afternoon, August 16, …

The Daily Herald reports that Commissioner of Education Chris Johnson and Commissioner of Social Affairs Bruce Zagers paid a working visit to Sacred Heart School on Tuesday, in connection with the start of the new school year on August 12. The commissioners met with Principal Diane Wilson and internal guidance …

Saba Comprehensive School (SCS) director Hemmie van Xanten was optimistic about the prospects of the school’s 99 students, but declined to comment on any rumours concerning changes within the school board, at the start of the new school year, reported the Daily Herald. Chief of the Fire Department Julio Every …

Sacred Heart Primary School and Saba Comprehensive School reopened early Monday morning for the 2013-2014 scholastic year. The day started with the traditional assembly, the singing of the Saba Song, a prayer for teachers and schoolchildren, as well as addresses from Principals Diane Wilson and Hemmie van Xanten. The Daily …

The Daily Herald reports that Police Officer Wingrove Baker confirmed the arrest of a man in Windwardside on Friday, because the police considered him as not properly clothed. Baker explained the man was arrested for violation of Article 470 of the Criminal Code and Article 31 of the Island Ordinance …

In the spirit of cooperation civil servants of the RCN and the Public Entity of Saba will face each other in a friendly volleyball tournament this weekend at the Peter L. Granger Auditorium in St. Johns. To make the tournament even more exciting two additional teams will join the mix; …

The state information service RVD has announced that prince Friso, in a coma since a skiing accident in February 2012, has died. Friso died as a result of ‘complications’ after receiving serious brain damage in the skiing accident in Lech, Austria, in February 2012, the RVD said. He died on …

The Daily Herald reported that former Member of Parliament of the Netherlands Antilles and current Saba’s representative on the supervisory board of GEBE Ray Hassell extended an interview about discussions held between the company’s representatives and Commissioner Chris Johnson on the transition of the utility company. Thursday’s meeting brought together …

Recently returned from the Lions International Convention in Hamburg, Germany, Saba Lions Club past President Carl Buncamper spoke of the impact of the international recognition received in validating and reinvigorating local community service efforts. This was written in The Daily Herald. Saba was propelled into the international spotlight of Lionism, …

Healthy people will soon be able to undergo a full body scan to check for cancer and heart and lung diseases, the Volkskrant reports on Monday. The Volkskrant says health minister Edith Schippers is considering relaxing the current ban on preventative full-body screening and has asked the national health council …