News

St. Maarten has submitted a request to the Netherlands for a military vessel that can be used as a floating hospital. Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Silveria Jacobs said, that the hospital ship would also serve the islands of Saba and St. Eustatius which are …

Govern­ment Commissioner Marnix van Rij and Deputy Govern­ment Commissioner Alida Francis announced Wednes­day that all schools in St. Eustatius would be closed. They also promised a crack­down on violators of the self-quarantine rules in con­nection with the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak. The St. Eustatius Health Department GGD said there are currently …

Three new coronavirus COVID-19 cases were announced on Wednesday by the Préfecture and regional health agency ARS. One patient is hospitalized and the other two are confined to their homes. No further details were given. The total number of active cases in French St. Martin is now nine. Five are …

Address of Island Governor Jonathan Johnson of March 25, 2020. Note: Downloading the recording may take some time if you have a slow internet connection.

The travel restrictions for shippers and mariners went into effect as of at 11:59pm Atlantic Standard Time on March 24. After this date, no foreign vessels (exemptions applied) will be allowed in the territorial waters of St. Maarten until further notice. This includes but is not limited to pleasure vessels, …

The masks were requested by the St. Maarten Airport and will be used for the protection of the employees against the COVID-19 virus while they are at work. This is especially important in areas where passengers are. The multiple pallets arrived on a passenger-empty flight from Amsterdam on Monday. On …

A male resident who returned to the country from New York, USA has been confirmed as the third coronavirus COVID-19 case for St. Maarten, Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Silveria Jacobs announced on Wednesday. The number of active cases for the Dutch side now totals …

Address Island Governor Jonathan Johnson  on Tuesday, March 24

In preparation for a possible spread of the Corona virus on Bonaire, far-reaching measures have been taken by the hospital. On Thursday March 19th, eight crew members have been flown in for the air ambulance from Colombia. Additionally there are two air ambulance aircrafts at the airport, ready to transport …

Contrary to its communiqué on March 21 announcing the suspension of all its commercial flights as of March 23, Air Antilles announced Tuesday it has reinstated a new schedule of flights between Point-à-Pitre, Marie Galante, St. Martin Grand Case, and St. Barths. This has been permitted in coordination with the Préfecture …

There are currently 22 suspected cases of coronavirus COVID-19 in Dutch St. Maarten and a total of 322 persons in self-quarantine; 57 in self-isolation; 12 negative cases; eight pending cases and two positive cases, figures provided by Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Silveria Jacobs in …

Museums all around the Netherlands have begun offering content online to give patrons a taste of culture while facilities remain closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Several others have added a variety of children’s content to entertain and educate young students forced to stay at home while school doors stay …

Windward Islands Airways International Winair announced on Monday that it has suspended flights until April 6, and its main office will be closed until further notice. Winair has discontinued all scheduled flights until April 6. However, the airline said it still “has the ability to perform char­ter services seven days …

Address Island Governor Jonathan Johnson on Monday, March 23, 2020 GIS Saba

On Friday March 20th education stakeholders met with the Public Entity of St. Eustatius to discuss the situation with regards the coronavirus and in particular the opening of schools. The local authorities, the Department of Compulsory Education, management/schoolboards of the secondary and primary schools, Buzzy Bees Daycare Center and Happy …

Address from Island Governor Jonathan Johnson on Covid-19

On Friday March 20th, several charter flights from Sarpa and EZ Air will arrive from Colombia with residents of the Caribbean Netherlands who were on medical referral there. In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS), the Health Insurance Office of the Caribbean Netherlands (ZVK) has arranged …

As in the European part of the Netherlands, there are also major concerns in the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom about the effects of the coronavirus. In Aruba, Curaçao, St. Maarten, Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, a new reality of stalled activities applies. In addition, for the Caribbean parts of …

Aruba, Curacao, St. Maarten and Colombia have closed their airspace to passenger transport from the islands of the Caribbean Netherlands due to the increasing crisis surrounding the coronavirus COV1D-19. Passengers from Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba are cur­rently not admitted to Aruba, Curacao, St. Maarten or Co­lombia unless they reside …

On Tuesday, March 17, 2020, the suspect of a sex offense flew over from Saba to Bonaire and was detained. This transfer was handled in accordance with the virus protocol. The 36-year-old man from the Dominican Republic is suspected of an attempted rape and / or sexual assault of an …

GIS Saba We know that many of you have questions after yesterday’s message to the public, and we would like to address some of these concerns. First, we would like to reassure you that there are still no confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 on Saba. Please continue to practice …

Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and Colombia have closed their airspace to passenger transport from the islands of the Caribbean Netherlands due to the increasing crisis surrounding the corona virus. This means that passengers from Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba are currently not admitted to Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten or Colombia, …

Today, there are no suspected nor confirmed covid-19 infections on Saba. Since Monday less people have arrived on Saba. Some are in self-quarantine. From Thursday, March 19 – Thursday, April 9th: All persons arriving on Saba need to go into self-quarantine for 2 weeks; All bars and night clubs will …

Address of Lieutenant Governor Jonathan Johnson to Saba residents, March 18, 2020 On Monday, March 16th, we implemented some precautionary measures. Since then, we have seen less people coming to Saba and some residents now in self-quarantine. Because of recent developments, it has been decided that more precautionary measures are …

From 2013 up to and including 2017, a total of 392 young adults who were born in the former Netherlands Antilles or Aruba left the Caribbean Netherlands to stay in the European Netherlands. This is equivalent to nearly half of young people on the islands. Two-thirds of the group who …

The Caribbean Netherlands Fire Depart­ment BKCN St. Eustatius branch recruitment drive came to an end when two recruits were selected. The recruitment drive started with 13 applicants for the open positions at the Fire Department. Nine candidates took part in the sport test and job interview portion in which two …

Travel Notice: Due to the vulnerability of Saba and the limited medical capacity, the Island Government of Saba has put additional measures in place in an effort to lower the risk of the introduction of COVID-19 on the island. A travel restriction has been implemented effective as of Monday March …

GIS Saba

The Netherlands is adopting a strategy of ‘maximum control’ to deal with the spread of coronavirus, prime minister Mark Rutte said in a televised speech to the nation on Monday evening. Click HERE to read his speech in English The aim, he said, is to try to spread the peak …

Chairperson of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs has confirmed the St. Maarten has recorded its first COVID-19 (coronavirus) case. This was stated in her national address held today, March 17. The prime minister said a local male resident recently traveled to the United Kingdon (UK) via …

In connection with the Corona virus, Belastingdienst Caribisch Nederland will exercise leniency when it comes to assessment and objection procedures and the collection of taxes from tax payers from Bonaire. St. Eustatius and Saba that cannot meet their obligations  as a result of measures taken to combat  the virus. This …

Following a protest at the Bonaire airport and a request of the Public Entity Bonaire, the Dutch government on Monday im­posed a prohibition of flights from the United States (US), Canada, Colombia and the Dominican Republic to the Caribbean Netherlands. Minister of Medical Care and Sports Bruno Bruins and Minister …

The Minis­try of Economic Affairs and aimate Policy (EACP) of the Netherlands and the Ben­elux Office for Intellectual Property (BOIP) partnered to provide a workshop for the management and staff of the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry St. Eustatius and Saba with the objective of increasing Intel­lectual Property …

The BCFI, the Belgian Centre for Pharmacotherapeutic Information, warns against using NSAIDs in covid-19 patients. Update: other experts claim that ther is insufficient proof: see below The BCFI thus follows the advice of the French health services, which state that NSAIDs may be a risk factor for worsening the infection. …

Address of Lieutenant Governor Jonathan Johnson to the residents of Saba: Medical referrals The Saba Health Care Foundation communicates the following: To all our patients, Earlier this morning the Governor announced that starting this week there will be travel restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. To prevent the …

After it became known on March 13 that the first two people in Aruba have tested positive for the Covid-19 virus, the Horacio Oduber Hospital (HOH) has decided not to accept foreign patients for the time being. In order to prevent expansion, the Board of Directors, in consultation with the …

On Sunday, March 15, 2020 the Public Entity of Saba announced the following measures: Summary of the measurements announced: In general, also for all residents: do not travel unless it is absolutely necessary; Saba is closed for all visitors, except for essential persons like medical specialists, etc. There will be …

All international flights and cruises originating from the United States of America, Europe and the United Kingdom to Sint Maarten will be cancelled for two weeks as of Tuesday, March 17, Chairperson of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs said in a national address today, Saturday. As …

The central government in The Hague has decided that all passenger flights from Europe to the BES Islands will be stopped as of Saturday, Mach 14, 8 pm (Dutch time). There will also be no more flights from Europe to St. Maarten, Curacao and Aruba. This restriction will be valid …