News

Talks with the Caribbean Sail Training Association have opened possibilities for the ship to take two local Caribbean students as trainees on board each time the ship sails out of the island on a voyage, as of the end of December. If final talks result in the tall ship returning, …

Young and old were Wednesday in in Scheveningen on the Pier to ask questions to the Lieutenant Govorners of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. They wanted a dialogue with their people living in the European Netherlands. It appeared that there was a great need for information on the development on …

Saba’s Chief of Police Lt. Durk Hiemstra said investigations into two recent attempted burglaries and one home invasion had resulted in the arrest of a twenty-six year-old suspect. The suspect is a Dominicano man residing in The Bottom. The first incident took place during the night of March 5, in …

Saba Commissioner Chris Johnson is questioning The Hague’s loyalty towards the Dutch “public entities” Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius by wanting to include a permanent differentiation clause for the islands in an amended Dutch Constitution. “We have come to a point where we ask whether we are truly part of …

The Reference Framework report (referentiekader rapport) might have established that the free allowance (vrije uitkering) for Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba is too low, but The Hague cannot commit as yet to a possible increase. If the sole purpose of the trip of the delegations from Bonaire, St. Eustatius and …

On March 15 the Kingdom Service Caribbean Netherlands RCN launched its own intranet. The launch was made known by workers with a special video clip. RCN wants to use this modern communication tool to bring its workers closer together and keep them abreast of all sorts of matters within the …

In the past 2 weeks a special ship, the Intrepid rolled out the fibre optic cable between Saba, St. Eustatius and St.Kitts. In the next 4 weeks the work will be completed on the beaches and the islands. RCN projectmanagers Nico Scheper and Werner Haan “The laying went smoothly. We …

An extraordinary public meeting of the Island Council of the Public Entity of Saba took place at the Government building in The Bottom, March 13, in memoriam of the late Peter Leicester Granger. Not all Island Council members were able to attend the meeting called on short notice. The meeting …

The Council of Ministers (COM) of St Maarten has dispatched a letter to the GEBE Shareholding Foundation Chairman Ralph Richardson requesting that the foundation seek the immediate resignation of GEBE’s Supervisory Board members. The letter was dated March 12 and signed by Prime Minister Sarah Wescot- Williams on behalf of …

Kingdom Service Caribbean Netherlands (RijksdienstCaribisch Nederland (RCN)) has lost the court procedure in its quest to obtain a fibre optic cable landing permit in St. Maarten, Judge René van Veen of the Court of First Instance said Wednesday. RCN has started laying fibre optic cables in Saba, St. Eustatius and …

In the Second Chamber a discussion is ongoing to opt for a change in the Dutch Constitution that would result in the possibility that the BES islands would be permanently considered as special public entities. The Island Council of Saba has send a letter to the Second Chamber in with …

The Governments of Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius have to comply with certain quality standards by 2015. The government apparatus must have integrity, government’s financial household has to be in order and citizens have to become more involved. These goals are stated in the list of criteria that will be …

State Secretary of Finance suggested conducting an interdepartmental study to chart the economic situation on Bonaire and the other two public bodies St. Eustatius and Saba. The results of this study could be reason to implement tax adjustments. As of October 1st 2011, in anticipation of the results of this …

Local non-governmental and non-profit organizations joined efforts in organizing a week of youth oriented activities. The joint platform brings together the coordinating efforts of Expertise Centre Education Care (EC2), the financial support of AIDS Support Group Saba Foundation (ASGS), the involvement of Child Focus Foundation and Juliana’s Hotel in providing …

The funeral of late former Acting Lt. Governor, Island Council Member and Commissioner Peter Leicester Granger took place at St. Paul’s Conversion Church in Windwardside on Monday morning. The solemn ceremony brought together family, friends, officials and the community at large, with eulogies read by Former Lt. Governor Sydney Sorton, …

In upcoming meetings with Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Liesbeth Spies, Commissioners Chris Johnson and Bruce Zagers also hope to bring up research conducted by Deloitte on local purchasing power. The report recognizes the limited leverage of the Island Government in raising revenue, while facing huge local inflation. …

Should the Saba delegation attending the so-called BES Week in The Hague be able to secure a meeting with Minister of Finance Jan Kees de Jager or with State Secretary Frans Weekers, Commissioners Chris Johnson and Bruce Zagers intend to discuss the tax structure and needed modifications, based on insights …

Not only the Labour Party PvdA, but also the Christian Union (CU) want to delay the anchoring of the constitutional status of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba in the Dutch Constitution. According to the CU there is no direct need to secure the Dutch public entity status of the islands …

Note from the Editor: The article below has raised some discussion in the community. The head of the Bureau of Economic Affairs. Mr. Dave Levenstone, was so kind as to allow us to publish the English version of the law concerned: “Price Act BES”. You can click HERE to read …

On the photo: Two students of Bonaire’s comprehensive school SGB are seen in front of the sign carrying the slogan they came up with for the campaign “Krea Bo Futuro” (Create Your Future) that was unveiled by Education Commissioner Silvana Serfilia. The intention is to improve the image of professional …

Before their departure to The Hague, Commissioners Chris Johnson and Bruce Zagers provided extensive insights into the many issues they plan to discuss with Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Liesbeth Spies. First to be discussed is the island’s free allowance or “vrije uitkering” indexation. The reference framework is …

The Dutch Parliament’s Second Chamber is divided on whether to grant non-Dutch nationals residing in Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba voting rights in Island Council elections. From the law proposal to change the Dutch Constitution to accommodate the constitutional position of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba as public entities of …

Commissioner of Environmental Affairs Bruce Zagers has termed his recent trip to Aruba to investigate the viability of Air Burner technology as “very fruitful,” and said applying the technology here is “definitely a solution that can work.” While on Aruba, the commissioner was able to visit the operating company, which …

Last week’s Positive Thinking lectures and discussions attracted fullcapacity attendance and resulted in long-term interest for a core group of Saba residents, at the Pearl House on Troy Hill. Workshop lecturer Devki Ramsahai is currently based in St. Maarten where she serves the Brahma Kumaris Centre in Front Street, Phillipsburg, …

Lorenzo Caines, a local athlete and trainer, left on Friday to the Netherlands for a two week sports education course “Train the Trainer,” where he will be taught various methods of how to educate other instructors on the island to also train local athletes. The course is being hosted by …

The Consultative Caribbean Dutch (OCaN) ( Overlegorgaan Caribische Nederlanders) holds a meeting on Wednesday, March 14 for Dutch people come from Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. During the meeting, among others, the lieutenant Gerald Berkel of St. Eustatius and Saba Jonathan Johnson will be present. “Purpose of the meeting to the …

RCN is investing a lot of money to provide high speed internet service to Saba by connecting Saba to St. Kitts by means of a fibre-optic cable. This is a cable that will be put on the bottom of the sea. On Saturday morning, the vessel that lays the cable …

With the Strong Women of Saba organization undergoing changes in leadership and board, International Women’s Day 2012 was only modestly marked by a banner on the government building and female employees wearing government issued pink T-shirts for the occasion. The T-shirts were financially supported by the Executive Council. A note …

Governor Jonathan Johnson, Commissioners Chris Johnson and Bruce Zagers, Island Secretary Menno van der Velde and financial advisor Piet Gerritsen left Friday on a week-long visit to the Netherlands with an intense schedule of meetings during the so called “BES Week.” They are expected to return on March 18. The …

The Island Government of Saba would hereby like to announce that the condolence register for the late former Acting Lt. Governor,Island Council Member and Commissioner Mr.Peter Leicester Granger, has been opened this morning at 11:00 am. Persons that would like to express thier condolences can do so in Main Lobby of the Government Administration. …

The Dutch Government wants one joint organisation in the Dutch Caribbean to combat infectious diseases and is willing to contribute to that cause. Dutch Minister of Public Health, Wellbeing and Sports Edith Schippers stated this in a recent document to the Second Chamber in relation to the proposed changes to …

The secretary of the Dutch Caribbean Committee on Marine Biodiversity and Fisheries Paul Hoetjes clarified the challenges to be met by the different institutions involved in the implementation of the nature policy. Hoetjes is nature policy coordinator of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation working from the Rijksdienst …

Artist Heleen Cornet will be holding workshop sessions on positive thinking. She is inviting the public to register with her for the events that will explore the power of the mind. The first session took place Thursday, March 8, with other sessions planned for today, Friday 9:00-10:30am, and 7:30-9:00pm, as …

Former member of the Island and Executive Councils of Saba Peter L. Granger passed away Thursday evening on Saba at Hon. Henry Every Senior Citizens Home, at the age of 94. Granger served in the Island Council of Saba for some 28 years and during 16 of those years, he …

This week the Fire Brigade on Saba has completed the first series of prevention controls on private business planned for 2012. The inspections, which formed part of a joint effort between the Fire Brigade, the Saba Police and the Saba Health Department, started on Monday March 5th and was completed …

Last week, the Dutch Media Authority or ‘Commissariaatvoor de Media’ (in Dutch) visited Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba for the first time. In accordance with the Media Act BES the Media Authority also has a task in the Caribbean Netherlands. The aim of this visit of the Dutch Media Authority …

The Dutch Labour Party PvdA in the Second Chamber is not convinced that now is a good time to amend the Dutch Constitution to regulate the constitutional position of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. The PvdA pointed out in its observations regarding the law proposal to change the Constitution that …

The new Board of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries for St. Eustatius and Saba was introduced to the Executive Council of Saba. Recently, Koos Sneek resigned from the Chamber Board after taking up his duties as Commissioner in Statia’s new Executive Council. Sneek has been instrumental in setting up …

Only two other European Union countries support Dutch Immigration Minister Gerd Leers’  proposals for stricter rules on family reunion for immigrants. Three countries reject the idea of changing European immigration law. The minister had asked all 27 EU countries for their views on stricter immigration laws. They had until 1 …

The Dutch Caribbean Committee on Marine Biodiversity and Fisheries EEZ, gathered on Saba for a two-day session, establishing the way forward on a series of regional marine conservation issues. Commissioner Chris Johnson gave the opening remarks Tuesday, noting that, “Sometimes it is difficult to see cooperation among the members of …