News

On two of the three islands of the Caribbean Netherlands the value of the Goss Domestic Product (GDP) increased in 2014, Central Bureau for Statistics (CBS) reported on Tuesday. On Bonaire the increase was 4.1 per cent, and on Saba 1.8 per cent. According to CBS, St Eustatius was the …

“It goes without saying that the people of Saba can be proud of the achievement accomplished here today,” said Saba Electric Company (SEC) NV’s Managing Director Charles D. Johnson at the opening ceremony of Elmer Linzey Solar-Diesel Power Plant on Monday. This milestone in the realization of reliable, durable, safe …

Minister of Economic Affairs Henk Kamp pledged his support for business people on Saba at the end of his two-day visit on Monday. “Entrepreneurs do not have it easy on Saba due to the small scale on the island, and also because of its difficult connections with St. Maarten and …

Residents of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba still have little or no access to Dutch TV programmes. Member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament Roelof van Laar of the Labour Party PvdA wants clarity. Van Laar submitted written questions to Acting Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations …

The number of visitors to Saba has declined over the past years, which is the reason for the Saba Government and Tourism Commissioner Bruce Zagers to assume a hands-on approach to boost the visitor figures. The result is the Tourism Action Plan 2016-2018, a copy of which was presented to …

As an employee it is possible you may not know your rights and obligations. The same applies for the employer. The Social Affairs and Employment Unit establishes that there is obscurity regarding the BES Labour Law code 2000. It is important that both employers and employees expands their basic knowledge …

As part of the investigation in the Hector case, concerning the death of the female student on Saba in April 2015, an arrest was made on August 17th, 2016. The arrest, at the request of the public prosecution office Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (BES), was carried out by the …

The official opening of Saba Electric Company’s (SEC’s) new Elmer Linzey power plant is a “wonderful occasion,” because the new plant is a “success story,” as it serves all four goals of the national energy policy, Minister of Economic Affairs Henk Kamp said Monday. Before an audience comprising Members of …

On Sunday August 28th Minister of Economic Affairs, Mr. Henk Kamp, and delegation arrived on Saba as part of a 5 days working visit to the Caribbean Netherlands. Shortly after his arrival on Saba the Minister held a meeting with island Governor, Jonathan Johnson. Sunday’s activities further included a special …

In the context of enforcement the Labor Inspection conducted 38 inspections in the construction sector in the Caribbean Netherlands, during the period from January 2015 through July 2016. At 30 inspections the Labor Inspection issued a written warning 29 times and once it drew up an official report. At 8 …

More than half of Dutch university courses are taught entirely in English, the Volkskrant said on Friday. The paper looked at 1,632 different degree courses at the country’s 13 universities and found 60% are now in English. When it comes to master’s degrees, just 30% are taught in Dutch and …

“Just over 4 years ago I came to Saba to work for Saba Health Care Foundation. Up until today, I have been working with great satisfaction, with a lot of pleasure and up to my best abilities to deliver good care for all residents on Saba. It is time now …

Public Notice 32 The Executive Council of the Public Entity of Saba hereby informs the public of the following: Based on the Island Ordinance of Identification and Registration of livestock and domestic animals (nr.2004.1), article 7 c.a., as of Monday August 29th, 2016 designated hunters will be hunting the free roaming …

The 2015 annual report of the Public Entity Saba shows a long list of investments and implemented actions that directly benefited the Saba people. A lot of attention was given to the elaboration and implementation of the comprehensive development plan for Saba. Funding was secured to hire a children’s rights/domestic …

The 2015 financial statements of the Public Entity Saba has received a positive audit, again. This is the fourth time in a row, a milestone which has not been accomplished by any other Dutch Caribbean island. The Saba Island Council discussed the 2015 annual report and related documents in the …

The labour agreement 2016-2017 for education personnel of the Caribbean Netherlands was signed between August 23 and 26 on Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius. The signers included the commissioners of Education, representatives of the school boards, teaching staff and the labour union on Bonaire.  

The Dutch liberal democratic VVD party is seeking clarity on the announced closure of the Windward Island Bank (WIB) branch in Saba. VVD Members of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament Aukje de Vries and André Bosman submitted written questions to the Dutch Government on Tuesday. The questions by …

Minister of Economic Affairs Henk Kamp will pay a working visit to Saba, St. Eustatius and Bonaire from August 28th until September 1st. On August 28th the Minister will visit Saba. He will speak with among others the Island Governor and members of the Executive Council. The Minister also has …

On August 15th and 16th, Saba was proud to host the 2nd Annual Tweedaagse conference, which is a conference meant for the fostering of cooperation among the islands and to learn how each island has been managing within the new constitutional system. This was a conference for the Governors, Executive …

When the Executive Council of Saba learned of the Windward Islands Bank’s (‘WIB’) intention to close their branch in Saba, they sent a formal letter to the Ministry of Finance in the Netherlands. This Ministry is responsible for a healthy financial market on the BES. Awaiting a formal reply from …

The Public Prosecutor in Bonaire promised a $10 thousand, or around 8,800 euros, reward for the tip that leads to the arrest of the man responsible of shooting and killing a Dutch police officer on the island on Wednesday night, NOS reports. The police officer, Ferry Bakx, was critically injured during …

Also read the Update below. Late Wednesday evening around 10:00 pm a police patrol in Bonaire responded to an armed robbery in the area of Sabbadeco Terrace in Bonaire. Where the police officers got in an exchange of heavy gunfire, one police officer was fatally hit by one or more …

If an incident occurs, time is of the essence. Knowing what to do and who to call can save a person’s life. During the Summer, RCN together with the Public Entity of Saba have placed signs with all the emergency numbers of the emergency services on all relevant public buildings. …

This is certainly not good news for Saba in general. After receiving the information from WIB we as the representatives of a large number of local business were shocked. This doesn’t really help to improve our economic climate at all. Also we are disappointed with the relatively short notice the …

Inter-island cargo vessel MV Sirena ran aground on the northern coast of the island of St. Eustatius late Thursday, at approximately 11:50. The vessel was sailing from the Port of Galisbay in French St. Martin and was heading to Martinique. The vessel had general cargo on board in some 20 …

The Central Committee of the Island Council of Saba will be holding a meeting at the Government Administration Building in The Bottom on Thursday, August 25, at 10:00 am. Main items of discussion will be the First Budget Amendment and the 2015 Year Report. The meeting was announced in a …

The Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK) and the Public Entities Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba are joining forces in the further professionalization of the local government. In this context, on Monday August 15th and Tuesday August 16th the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations is organizing …

Yes. Ecolodge has really been sold and that’s Great News! Ecolodge Rendez-Vous — resort and restaurant — will be preserved and upgraded by its new owners, honoring its unique environmental purpose while aiming to make Saba a world class eco-tourism destination. The sale gives people new hope about the future of this …

The Maduro and Curiel’s Bank (MCB) in Curaçao, the parent company of the Windward Islands Bank (WIB), has confirmed the intention to close WIB’s lone branch in Saba per the end of October this year, writes The Daily Herald. “It is a business decision, based on the reality of our …

Three more people have tested positive for Zika over the past few weeks. The total number of cases is therefore 5: two likely imported and three infected on Saba (local transmission). At the moment it appears that most infections happened in The Bottom. No serious complications have emerged so far. …

On August 8th, Governor Jonathan Johnson, Commissioner Rolando Wilson, Commissioner Bruce Zagers and Island Secretary Tim Muller attended the first Saban Student Summit with representatives of the Saban student body who is studying abroad. Attending the meeting were students who are attending university in various locations such as the Netherlands, …

The Daily Herald reports that the runway at St. Maarten  was closed to incoming flights due to the disabled plane sitting on the runway. Flights were being redirected to surrounding airports including Grand Case and St. Barths. But The runway was reopened around 3:15 p.m. The Daily Herald understands the Ameriflight …

The president of the Saba Business Association, Wolfgang Tooten, and Saba boutique hotel owner, Hemmie van Xanten, participated in the NABHOOD Summit (National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators & Developers) July 27-29 in Miami. The theme was “Changing the Hospitality Landscape With Our Partners”. The summit was exciting and packed with information to help …

It has come to the attention of the Public Entity Saba that the Windward Island Bank intends to close its branch located in The Bottom, Saba in October 2016. This is a situation that greatly concerns the Executive Council, who is lobbying for a solution to these unsettling circumstances. In …

The Fire Department Caribbean Netherlands (BKCN) and the Foundation Fire Department Training BOGO, have signed a collaboration agreement on July 8th  with which BOGO will support the BKCN the upcoming years with organizing Fire Department training and examinations up till the level of sergeant. The agreement was signed by Director …

The United States Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, has issued a travel notice for Saba due to the presence of the mosquito-borne Zika virus. In the advisory, which was issued on Saturday, the CDC said it is working with other public health officials in the …

Two students from St. Eustatius and one student from Saba were part of the group from the Caribbean Netherlands that arrived in the Netherlands on Monday morning. Shaël Bennett (19) and José Hupsel (20) from St. Eustatius and Jordan Every (16) of Saba were full of spirit and visibly happy …

Centre for Youth and Families Bonaire, on the Centre for Youth and Families on the Winward Islands, and the Guardianship board BES signed a new cooperation agreement on 25th of July 2016. Due to a growing chain, there is a need for uniform work method and a good cooperation with …

              The Daily Herald.

Miss St. Maarten Diandra Marlin captured the crown during the Miss Dutch Windward Islands Pageant held on Saba last Thursday. The freshly crowned queen returned to St. Maarten on Friday, and received a royal welcome at Princess Juliana International Airport. Marlin emerged as winner of the pageant; Miss St. Eustatius …