News

Last weekend, Sabans in The Netherlands celebrated Saba Day in The Hague. In addition to partying and enjoying good food, they also discussed the situation on the island. For example, most party-goers hope for a better future for their island. In The Hague, in café “De Vriendenkring” sounds lively soca …

The Simpson Bay Bridge control booth on St. Maarten was destroyed by a large mega yacht entering the Lagoon on Sunday after an open observation platform high up on the vessel’s bow collided with the booth during the 3:00pm bridge opening. The bridge operator was able to jump out of …

A number of persons who were de­tained in Saba for violating the immigration regulations of the Caribbean Netherlands were flown to St. Eustatius on Friday. The immigrants landed around 5:30pm and were seen disembarking in handcuffs. Four of the immigrants are citizens of the Dominican Republic. The Dominicanos were flown …

The public entity Saba and nine municipalities in the Netherlands will participate in a pilot to assess integral secu­rity plans, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations BZK announced last Thursday. With the assistance of experts in the area of integral security, the municipalities Almelo, Berkel­land, Breda, Dalfsen, Gooise …

This past weekend, a Christmas tree was placed at the top of Mt. Scenery, with 877m the highest point in the Dutch Kingdom. On Saturday, December 14, six persons climbed Mt. Scenery with a Christmas tree, with the roots still attached. Climbing 1,060 steps with a tree that measured about …

The Dutch press reported on the visit of princess Beatrix to Saba and Statia. On Statia she even gave a short video interview with the press explaining why she made the trip and loves the islands. It was the first video interview in six years. (click images to link to …

In 2017, the volume of gross domestic product (GDP) declined on Bonaire and Saba, by 1.3 and 1.4 percent respectively. On St Eustatius, GDP rose by 6.6 percent. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this based on newly released figures. The GDP volume change* is the development of GDP** value, adjusted for …

With a small delay and in the pouring rain, Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands landed on Saba on Thursday morning, December 12. Clad in a grey rain poncho, she emerged from Winair’s Twin Otter and was greeted by Island Governor Jonathan Johnson and Island Secretary Tim Muller who both held …

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has set the maximum tariffs for the production and distribution of electricity in Bonaire and Saba, which shall apply as of January 1st, 2020. For Bonaire, the ACM has done the same for drinking water. Annually, the ACM sets maximum tariffs for …

As you may know, tomorrow December 12th 2019, Princess Beatrix will be visiting our island for the day. We know that many of you would like to see her during the visit and so would like to provide you with her schedule and the best times for seeing her. Update: …

Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) Chair Hellen van der Wal and Interim Director Tadzio Bervoets recently concluded a working visit to the Netherlands. The primary goal of the visit was to engage and discuss the way forward for the organization and to lobby for increased support for the Nature Conservation …

A record number of participants raced on Saba as part of the Saba Day Weekend festivities. The race, named the Sea to Scenery as it ascends from the shoreline of Cove Bay, through Hell’s Gate and Windwardside, to the very top of Mt Scenery, took place on Saturday, December 7th. …

On Friday, December 6th , a man with initials J.L.M.R. 45-year-old was arrested on Saba for assault. The suspect has assaulted a man with a bottle because of an old problem. The victim had to be taken to the hospital for medical treatment. On Saturday, December 7th , a man …

Leonieke Zuiddam of St. Eustatius and Hermanus Van Xanten for Saba were duly elected on Tuesday as members of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of St. Eustatius and Saba board. Announcing the result, the Chamber’s Public Re­lations Director Ebbie Schmidt congratulated the elected candidates and conveyed her best wishes …

The Public Entity Saba decided to put the school bus drivers and their team leader James Bennett “Benny” Johnson in the spotlight. A get-together was organized for the bus drivers on December 4 where the bus drivers received a certificate from Head of the Human Resources Department Miguela Gumbs. From …

The Saba Heritage Center in Windwardside since last week has become the temporary home for the “Caribbean Ties: Connected People, Then and Now” international exhibition, facilitated by Leiden University and the Saba Archaeological Center (SABARC). The exhibition will remain on Saba until May 2020. The exhibition, which was officially opened …

Juliana’s Hotel in the Windwardside on Thursday officially opened its new Captains’ Suites. Under the supervision of hotel owners Wim and Johanna Schutten, the once derelict building, formerly part of the Captain’s Quarter Hotel, was turned into four spacious suites. During a well-attended festive reception in the afternoon hours, Saba …

Last month pupils of the Sacred Heart school (SHS) were asked to make a poster about plastic pollution, the upcoming ban on single-use plastic and to promote recycling. A winning poster was selected from each grade. As grade five stood out in terms of creativity, two winning posters were selected …

Sabans and invited guests from the other islands turned up in large numbers to celebrate Saba Day in The Bottom on Friday, December 6. The 44th Saba Day ceremony featured messages by Island Governor Jonathan Johnson, Commissioners Rolando Wilson and Bruce Zagers, and several performances. The official part of the …

A group of Sabans living and holding executive positions in St. Maarten recently gathered in recognition of the service of former caretaker Prime Minister and fellow Saban Wycliffe Smith. The group released a photo of their get-together to mark Saba Day and wish Saban people in Saba and abroad, a …

Consul-General of the Republic Suriname to the Dutch Caribbean H. Agnes E. Daniël is visiting Saba this week. This is the first time that the Consul-General, who was appointed in October 2018 for a period of four years, visits Saba. Stationed in Curaçao, Mrs. Daniël represents the Republic Suriname on …

UNICEF Netherlands hosted a presentation on the 2019 situation analysis for stakeholders on Saba on Wednesday, December 4. During the presentation, representatives of UNICEF presented the key findings of the Situation Analysis Children and Adolescents in the Caribbean Netherlands and elaborated on the recommendations. The Public Entity Saba, as well …

The Public Entity Saba and the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK) have asked Milieu Centraal, a Dutch consumer information organization that specializes in energy saving methods and sustainability, to carry out a survey on energy use in Saban households. Residents are asked to fill in a questionnaire. …

The toughest climb in the Kingdom of the Nether­lands is back this Saba Day Weekend. A record amount of people is expected to join this Saturday, December 7, 2019, at 7:30am, for the annual Saba Day run — Sea to Scenery. The course is 6km long, which winds up from …

The Dutch government will look at the possibilities to bundle the multi-annual incidental funds and include these in the structural contribution to the public entity Saba, Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops stated on Monday. This will be done in order to reduce the administrative burden of …

In the afternoon hours of Friday, November 29th , a traffic control was held at the E.A. Johnson road on Saba. A total of 5 cars were checked of which 2 drivers received warnings for a recently expired driver’s license and a recently expired insurance certificate. KPCN

The Human Resources Department of the Public Entity Saba on Tuesday, November 26 and Wednesday, November 27, hosted a workshop that focused on the technical implementation of the civil servant regulations (“arbeidsvoorwaarden ambtenaren”) The two-day workshop was attended by employees of both the Public Entity Saba and the Public Entity …

On Thursday, November 28th , around 9:40 PM, a car crash occurred in Troy Hill on Saba. The driver of a car driving downhill noticed that the brakes did not work and to prevent him from falling off the hill in the upcoming sharp turn, he turned to the other …

The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Services KNMI has developed a webpage dedicated to the volcanoes of Saba and St. Eustatius. The webpage called http://www.knmidc.org/volcanoes/ contains information about the monitoring and setting of the Mount Scenery and the Quill volcanoes. Visitors to the site can view the monitoring data. People are encouraged …

From January 1st 2020, the old age pension (Algemene Ouderdomsverzekering, AOV) will be supplemented for elderly people with a low income and little equity. This is one of the measures taken by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment to increase incomes and benefits in the Caribbean Netherlands. Persons aged …

President of the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights (“College voor de Rechten van de Mens”) Adriana van Dooijeweert visited Saba from Saturday, November 23 to Wednesday, November 27 for meetings with local authorities and organizations to discuss human rights related topics. “We are your human rights institute too.” Accompanied by …

Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands will pay a visit to Saba on Thursday 12 December and to St Eustatius on Friday 13 December. The visit to the two islands in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom will focus on nature conservation and social initiatives. Thursday 12 December …

The Saba, Statia Cable System (SSCS) submarine fibre optic telecommunications cable located in Great Bay was damaged recently. Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Rene Violenus said in Wednesday’s press briefing that the cable had been damaged by a boat and left in desperate need of repair. …

Saba’s Domestic Violence Platform Saba and the Public Entity Saba on Monday evening, November 25, hosted a very well-attended event on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls. The “Black & Blue, the Right Way” at the Sunny Valley Youth Center featured …

The Dutch government, on behalf of the entire Dutch Kingdom, is seeking approval of the treaty to establish the Caribbean Customs Organisation (CCO). The treaty, signed in Havana in May 2019, seeks to further strengthen the cooperation between Customs organisations operating in the Caribbean region. Minister of Foreign Affairs Stef …

On Saturday, November 23, Children’s Week ended with the “Color of Rights” walkathon. A good number of children and their parents, youngsters and supporters participated in the walkathon aimed at promoting children’s rights on Saba. The group walked from the Windwardside to The Bottom. The event ended at the Johan …

Preparations for this year’s Saba Day celebration on Friday, December 6, and the events during Saba Day Weekend are progressing well. The 44th celebration has as theme “Building Roads to the Future” and will start on Friday morning with the official ceremony at the Government Administration Building in The Bottom. …

Colleagues held a short memorial event for fireman Reid Barnes Jr. at the Juancho Yrausquin Airport on Monday morning, November 25. Reid Jr., who died in July 2019, would have turned 40 on Monday. A number of employees of the Public Entity Saba who work at the airport were in …

A connecting road needs to be constructed to the proposed location of the new harbor. Plans are being drafted to this extent. Saba’s Executive Council is looking into development of a public road that will connect the current end of the public road at the gas station in Fort Bay …

During the period from October 21st to the 27th and October 28th to  November 3rd, a campaign to hand in (fire) weapons was held respectively on Saba and Sint Eustatius and on Bonaire. During the campaign, citizens who were in possession of firearms, were able to hand them in. During …