News

Sub-district 60B Governor 2018-2019 Lion Leslie Ephraim PMJF from Antigua & Barbuda visited Saba on Wednesday for an audit meeting of Saba Li­ons Club. Ephraim visited the Life Cen­tre and the Meals on Wheels programme. He paid a visit to Island Governor Jonathan Johnson, who received a Dis­trict 60B pin …

The Dutch aviation company BES Air – together with the German company Air Alliance as partner – is ready to connect Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba with each other and with Sint Maarten, but is, in their own words, opposed by the Inspectorate for Aviation and Transport (ILT). Owner Wim …

The placing of all 2,960 solar panels on the frames of Saba Electric Company’s (SEC) second solar park was completed this week. Phase 2 should become operational late February/early March. The installation of the panels was done by sub-contractor Enersado from Portugal, with Ecorus as the main contractor. Currently, a …

The Ombudsmen of the Kingdom met on Saba this week. “It was our turn to organize the yearly gathering. We chose Saba and everyone is happy that we did,” said National Ombudsman Reinier van Zutphen. “Saba is a real special place. We have very good relations with Saba, despite the …

In Q4 2018, consumer prices on Saba were back at the level of one year previously. In the preceding quarter, consumers on Saba paid 4.4 percent more for goods and services year-on-year. On Bonaire, prices in Q4 2018 were 3.4 percent up on the previous year, while prices rose by …

Saba now has a special room dedicated to its traditional craft: Saba Lace. The opening of the Saba Lace room in Windwardside is a most welcome addition. Not only for the tradition of Saba Lace work, but also for people who want to buy this authentic artwork. The Saba Lace …

The BES Healthcare Insurance Office (Zorgverzekeringskantoor BES, hereinafter ZVK) announces that several elements of the BES Healthcare Insurance Claims Regulation (Regeling Aanspraken Zorgverzekering BES) have been changed as of January 1st, 2019. This has been effected in conjunction with changes in the basic package of the Healthcare Insurance Act (Zorgverzekeringswet) …

~Says Council of State has role of ‘honest broker’~ Vice-President of the Council of State Thom de Graaf visited Saba on Sunday, January 20 and Monday, January 21, and he liked what he saw and heard. He noticed a well-kept island with a people that strives to be self-reliant, a …

The Wesleyan Holiness Church celebrated its centennial anniversary with a special service on Sunday, January 21. During the service, which counted on the presence of General Superintendent Reverend Joel Cumberbatch from Barbados and District Superintendent Reverend Spencer Watts from St. Kitts, Commissioner Rolando Wilson announced that the church building of …

With a record number of participants, some 70 in total, another successful edition of the Hell’s Gate Triathlon took place on Saba on Saturday January 19. The unique sports event contained a new element this year: running through the recently established Mount Scenery National Park. The triathlon keeps growing, said …

In accordance with the Electricity and Drinking Water BES Law, the Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has set the maximum tariffs for Saba Electric Company (SEC) for 2019. These new tariffs went into effect as per January 1, 2019. he new variable distribution tariff is 0.3516 USD/kWh (see Annex 1), which …

In 2017, the average remuneration per employee job on Bonaire amounted to 2,050 US dollars gross per month. On Saba and St Eustatius, the average monthly pay stood at 2,285 and 3,150 US dollars, respectively. In this calculation, no adjustment has been made for part-time jobs. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports …

The National Ombudsman, the Ombudsman of Curaçao and the Ombudsman of St. Maarten will gather on Saba on Monday January 21 and Tuesday January 22 for their annual meeting. During their stay on Saba, National Ombudsman Reinier van Zutphen, who is also the Ombudsman for Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, …

After several years of preparation, a lengthy financing process, a slow-down in the execution of plans due to the 2017 hurricanes and a reconstruction that was carried out in phases, the renovated, state-of-the-art A.M. Edwards Medical Center was officially opened on Tuesday, January 15. With eight beds in two wards …

The vice-president of the Council of State, Mr. Th.C. de Graaf, who was appointed in November last year, will bring an introductory visit to Bonaire on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th of January 2019. Mr. De Graaf will talk among others with the acting Kingdom Representative, the Island Governor and …

Determined to improve the connectivity to Saba, the Public Entity Saba has decided to hire an expert company to assist in achieving a higher and more affordable transportation capacity by air and ferry, and to draft a connectivity plan. The Executive Council on January 9 approved a proposal of Commissioner …

Members of the delegation of the First and Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament which visited Saba on Saturday, January 12, showed support for the plans of the Benevolent Foundation Saba (BFS) to build a new nursing home for the eldery and disabled, also known as ‘The Home.’ The Parliamentarians …

The Public Entity Saba must be enabled to handle work permit requests, the Dutch Parliamentarians unilaterally agreed during a meeting with the Executive Council on Saturday, January 12. The transfer of this authority has been pending for too long and needs to happen pronto. “This same matter came up in …

The Public Entity Saba must be enabled to handle work permit requests, the Dutch Parliamentarians unilaterally agreed during a meeting with the Executive Council on Saturday, January 12. The transfer of this authority has been pending for too long and needs to happen pronto. “This same matter came up in …

Members of the delegation of the First and Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament which visited Saba on Saturday, January 12, showed support for the plans of the Benevolent Foundation Saba (BFS) to build a new nursing home for the eldery and disabled, also known as ‘The Home.’ The Parliamentarians …

On Friday March 15th and Saturday March 16th of 2019, Saba Lions Club in cooperation with the Oranje Fonds will bring to you, the first edition of SABA DOET, the largest volunteer event on Saba and in the Kingdom. SABA DOET is ‘Make a Difference Day’ and gives you the opportunity to give back to …

The Saba Tourist Office is once again present at the Holiday Fair (“Vakantiebeurs”) in Utrecht, represented by Director Glenn Holm and Assistant Zuleyka Levenstone. Being at the Holiday Fair is important to promote the island as an increasing number of tourists are looking to visit a green destination like Saba. …

The Dutch government, via the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, will donate a truck to Saba to transport the three- and five-gallon refillable water bottles from the under-construction water bottling plant, to and from businesses and homes. Dutch State Secretary for Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops announced …

During his visit to Saba on Monday, January 7, 2019, State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops together with Commissioner Bruce Zagers unveiled the sign for the construction of the water bottling plant in St. John’s. Island Governor Jonathan Johnson gladly lend a helping hand to remove …

Dutch Minister for Legal Protection Sander Dekker announced on Wednesday his plans for the introduction of youth criminal law and youth detention in Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba late 2019. This is being done together with the departments in the justice system and the care partners. Currently, there is no …

Commissioner of Social Affairs Rolando Wilson and State Secretaries Tamara van Ark of Social Affairs and Labor, and Raymond Knops of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 signed an agreement for the BES(t) 4 Kids, a program to strengthen the day care and after school care …

Joint press moment, Tuesday, January 8th, 2019 with state Secretary Raymond Knops of the Ministry of Interior Affairs and Kingdom Relations, State Secretary Tamara van Ark of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour and the Island Governor of Saba Jonathan Johnson. Moderated by Sr. Communications Advisor Ms. Alida Francis.   GIS Saba

State Secretary of Interior and Kingdom Relations (Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties), Raymond Knops  and State Secretary for Social Affairs and Labour (Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid), Tamara van Ark, have concluded their working visit to Saba with much optimism for a continued good working relationship with the Public Entity. Besides visits …

Dutch State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops received an update on the Fort Bay Harbor project on Monday, January 7. The Dutch delegation also visited the harbor where Commissioner Bruce Zagers provided additional information. The State Secretary said he was impressed with the progress that has …

Dutch State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops paid a visit tot he newly renovated A.M. Edwards Medical Center on Monday, January 7, 2019. After a welcoming word by Island Governor Jonathan Johnson, Hospital Director Joka Blaauwboer gave an update on the extensive renovation which is almost …

Work visit Raymond Knops, State Secretary for Interior and Kingdom Relations, on Saba. He visit the newly opened runway which has been out of operation for nearly 4 weeks but it has been reconstructed.  

The Public Entity Saba intends to drastically reduce single-use plastics through several actions. The new water bottling plant, the reusable large water containers with dispensers, and the small reusable Dopper bottle play a significant role in this exercise which fits in Saba’s continued work as a green, sustainable destination. The …

Upon his arrival in Saba on Monday, January 7, Dutch State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops received an update on the renovation project of the Juancho Yrausquin Airport. The State Secretary and his delegation were given a tour of the airport terminal. Commissioner Bruce Zagers gave …

On Saturday, the coast guard vessel Zr.Ms Zeeland, on patrol, detected an unmanned vessel adrift on the Saba Bank. It appeared to be new support and patrol vessel of the Saba Bank Management Unit, the Queen Beatrix II. The Brugteam of the Zr.Ms. Zeeland concluded, after calls via the ship’s horn, that …

SABA—The lack of affordable housing remains a major chal­lenge for persons renting a house in Saba. “There is no informa­tion whatsoever available from the government about rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants, so it’s kind of like the ‘wild west’,” said Rhiannon Jorna. “There is no rental commission in …

From January 6th till January 10th Minister Van Nieuwenhuizen (Infrastructure and Water Management), state secretary Van Ark (Social Affairs and Employment) and state secretary Knops (Interior and Kingdom Relations) will pay a work visit to St. Maarten, Saba, St. Eustatius and Bonaire. The visit focuses among other things on the …

Commissioner Bruce Zagers When looking ahead to a new year it is always important to reflect on the previous one. The year 2018 was an important one for the continued development of Saba. We were very fortunate to be spared from being hit by hurricanes and because of this we …

Saba Commissioner of Social Affairs Rolando Wilson and Island Secretary Tim Muller met with State Secretary Tamara van Ark in The Hague on December 13, 2018 to discuss the Saba Package, a multi-annual agenda-setting development document, and the State Secretary’s visit to Saba next week Monday, January 7 and Tuesday, …

The income threshold for receiving special social relief has been increased to 120% of the statutory minimum wage from 1 January 2019. The RCN unit Social Affairs and Employment (SZW) can help with special social relief if someone unexpectedly has to make a large and necessary expense and has no …

Protected animals species such as the Saba black iguana, the bridled quail-dove, the red-billed tropicbird, the Audubon shearwater, the brown trembler bird, the red-bellied racer snake, bats and hummingbirds, but also the mountain mahogany tree and the artifacts of Mary’s Point and Plum Piece are now enjoying a protected status …