News

The St. Eustatius Government delegation that met with the United Nations (UN) Decolonisation Committee in New York this week has decided to proceed with the process to gather international support for the island to be placed back on the list of Non-Self-Governing Territories (NSGTs). Drafting a St. Eustatius Constitution is …

The Lieutenant-Governor of Statia has issued the following press release to the citizens of his Island.  Probably, citizens of Saba could address our local government with suggestions as well. Press Release September 23, 2015 Royal decorations are issues annually as a result of recommendation made from within the community. These awards are …

The Island Council of the Public Entity Saba passed the multi-annual budget of 2016 – 2019 during its meeting on Tuesday, September 21st. The total amount for the budget for 2016 is $10,576,850, only $156,000 more than the budget of 2015. Once a year, the Island Council has to approve …

Saba’s Juancho Yrausquin International Airport has been undergoing some major changes recently with a comprehensive safety overhaul of the airstrip and general facilities that will include renovations to the terminal as well. There will be a new fire station and an upgrade that includes a lighting system that should bring …

With nearly 27 thousand dollars, the median disposable income on Statia is the highest in the Caribbean Netherlands. On Saba the median income is 24 thousand and on Bonaire 23 thousand dollars. Compared to 2011 the median income of Saba and Statia grew faster than inflation. This is shown by Statistics Netherlands …

Sea and Learn is almost here! Check out our experts and the exciting events that are just around the corner… Watch our teaser here:​​ Can’s wait to see you all in October! — SEA & LEARN ON SABA Enhance Your Environmental Awareness P.O. Box 598; Windwardside Saba, Dutch Caribbean +599-416-2246 …

On St. Eustatius, Mrs. Benita Bayer-Bowen of the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) recently led an information session to inform teaching staff of St. Eustatius and Saba about the CPEA (Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment) testing system of the CXC. The purpose of this system is to ensure that students can make …

On September 16th, 2015, Commissioner Chris Johnson, presented the official declaration establishing the “Yarari” Marine Mammal and Shark Sanctuary to representatives of the Saba Conservation Foundation (SCF). The declaration was handed over to Parks Manager Kai Wulf and Saba Bank Science Officer Dahlia Hassell. Sharks are the keystone of healthy …

Ten-year-old Zakiya Lake will represent her island of Saba at the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Annual Pathfinders Congressoree in Anguilla from October 9-11, writes The Daily Herald. She will be the island’s first-ever representative to the gathering of young people from surrounding islands under the theme “A Powerful Generation: God …

A four-member Statia delegation will be meeting with the United Nations’ Decolonisation Committee this week in an effort to seek the support of international organisations such as the UN to intervene on the island’s behalf in the struggle with the Dutch Government for more autonomy and the right of self-determination. …

Gilbert Isabella took office on September 1, 2014 as the new Kingdom Representative of the Caribbean Netherlands. Below article is a short review on his first year in office. Not enough time. I was forced to come to that conclusion early on in my first month as Kingdom Representative. That …

The Centre for Youth and Family (CYF) in Saba has been bolstered with the addition of two new members: Behavioural Specialist Sander Ulehake and Youth Worker Jacques Heemskerk, writes The Daily Herald. Ulehake joined the CYF in June 2015. He is originally from the Netherlands where he worked as a …

Saba is the first public entity to have an annual account with an approved declaration of an accountant, an accomplishment that was highly praised by the Committee for Financial Supervision CFT. Late August 2015, the CFT received the annual account covering the budgetary year of 2014. “The CFT wants to …

The Dutch Government will be spending 281.7 million euros on (behalf of) the Dutch public entities Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba next year, writes The Daily Herald. This is in addition to the 33.4 million for the socalled BES Fund to finance the tasks of the local governments in the …

On Monday September 14th Kingdom Representative, Gilbert Isabella, and Secretary General of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, Richard van Zwol, paid an extra visit to Statia to discuss the Plan of Action with the Executive Council and the Island Council. On September 1st Kingdom Representative Isabella presented …

King Willem-Alexander focused on economic recovery in his speech to parliament on Tuesday, but also spoke of  the ‘integrated approach’ needed to tackle the refugee crisis which is ‘creating tensions within Europe.’ The king’s speech, which is written by ministers, marks the start of the new parliamentary year and outlines government …

On August 1 of this year the complaints procedure for schools in the Caribbean Netherlands (CN) came into effect. This means that each school funded by the Kingdom Government now adheres to a standard procedure for handling complaints by parents, pupils and personnel and that a central Complaints Committee(Complaints CommitteeCaribbean …

Kingdom Representative Gilbert Isabella welcomed students of Saba and Statia at the official residence on Thursday September 10th. These young people currently live on Bonaire and for most of them this is “new” and far from home. The students and the Kingdom Representative talked in an informal atmosphere (during a …

Dear Editor, My husband and I are back, safe and sound! We would like to thank the Police Department, the Fire Department, the Saba Conservation Foundation, Dutch marines and all other people who were trying to find us and prayed for our safe return. We heard you were all very …

On September 9th , 2015 in the evening, a hotel owner came to the police with the announcement that two hotel guests had not returned from the Sandy Cruz Trail. The hotel owner was worried about the man and the woman who were regular guests and who also had a …

The Executive Council of Saba is working on a framework policy on how the Public Entity will deal with prescriptive rights of landowners on Saba. In order to develop the framework with a proper legal structure, lawyers from the law firm VanEpsKunnemanvanDoorn has been retained to draft the policy. No …

Update: The integral text of the proposed law is available in Dutch. Click here to download. ————– If the Dutch Parliament gives consent, parents with children under eighteen years of age on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba can benefit from child allowance as of next year. From this, especially low-income …

Initiated by the SLP fraction, MP Van Raak (SP) submitted questions to Minister Plasterk regarding the water shortage on Saba. The questions and answers are as follows: Questions of MP Van Raak (SP) to the Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations about the water shortage on Saba. (submitted July …

“Spectacular” or “scary” landings are a popular international media topic for the immediate region, and recently the airports of St. Maarten, St. Barths and Saba were featured as three of just six of the “scariest airport runway landings in the world” by high-visibility technology news outlet BRG. Only Nepal’s Lukla …

Saba’s amazing cloud forest is a great source of inspiration for local artist Heleen Cornet. Enjoy this video  that gives you an impression of her work and the way she lives on this beautiful peaceful island. The video was made made by our local Chizzilala productions. Paintings of Heleen Cornet are …

Dutch State Secretary of Economic Affairs Sharon Dijksma sees the potential to revive and further grow Saba’s agricultural sector, writes The Daily Herald. This possibility was a key topic discussed with Island Governor Jonathan Johnson and the Saba Government this week while she was on a working visit to the …

On Tuesday September 1st Kingdom Representative Isabella presented the Plan of Action regarding the financial and administrative problem of Statia to Minister Plasterk of the Interior and Kingdom relations. The Plan of Action was drafted by the Steering Committee.  On June 10th the Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations …

Caribbean Netherlands Office RCN has launched a corporate citizenship programme to encourage social involvement via community support, writes The Daily Herald. The programme is funded through the Office of the Kingdom Representative to the tune of US $100,000 for 2015-2016, said RCN Communication Adviser Alida Francis. Non-governmental organizations that want …

The Caribbean Netherlands Office RCN marked Dutch Caribbean Day of the Press on September 1, starting with a breakfast on Saba for media personnel, and continued with lunch at the historical Old Gin House on Statia. The Daily Herald’s correspondent on St. Eustatius Althea Merkman and RCN Communication Adviser Alida …

State Secretary Dijksma of Economic Affairs opened a shark reserve during her visit on Saba and Bonaire. Shark populations are plummeting worldwide and therefore need extra protection against illegal fishing and the bycatch of regular fishery. The local nature and fisheries organisations are involved in the protection. The Netherlands will …

On August 27th 2015 the Commonwealth of Dominica was severely impacted by Tropical Storm Erika. Twelve inches of torrential rain fell in a period of only twelve hours and caused dangerous floods on the island. In solidarity with the people of Dominica, Saba Health Care Foundation staff got together to …

In Saba, as well as in St. Eustatius, items are being collected among persons in the community to assist residents of disaster-stricken Dominica writes The Daily Herald. The Caribbean island was devastated by tropical storm Erika last week, leaving more than 20 people dead and dozens more missing. The storm …

Monday afternoon State Secretary of Economic Affairs, Sharon Dijksma, heaved the Silver Quality Coast Award flag in front of the Saba Tourist office in Windwardside. She was accompanied by Island Governor Jonathan Johnson, Kingdom Representative Gilbert Isabella, Director of the tourist office, Glenn Holm and the staff of the tourist …

Caribisch Netwerk reports that, yesterday, in the Island Council meeting on Statia, the coalition parties PLP and UPC adopted a motion of no confidence against Governor Gerald Berkel. In this motion Minister Ronald Plasterk of the Interior and Kingdom Relations was asked to dismiss Berkel immediately. According to coalition leader …

The Dutch Government is boycotting working visits to St. Eustatius since final instruction was given to the island’s government writes The Daily Herald. Member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament Wassila Hachchi of the Democratic Party D66 is questioning the boycott. Statia Commissioner of Constitutional Affairs Reginald Zaandam …

Tropical Storm Erika passed Saba on Thursday without causing any major problems, writes The Daily Herald. As Erika neared Saba during the afternoon, weather stations reported she had become “disorganized and difficult to predict,” although expected to remain a tropical storm. The island did not experience the predicted force of …

Publication 1st semi-annual report 2015 Board of financial supervision BES. The public entities have had great difficulties in the first half of 2015 to timely fulfill their report responsibilities. Only Bonaire has managed to timely submit its financial statements 2014 as adopted by the island council. Bonaire and Saba have …

State Secretary Dijksma of Economic Affairs visits Saba and Bonaire from August 30th until September 2nd. It is the first visit of the State Secretary to these islands of Caribbean Netherlands. On the program on both islands are meetings with the Island Governors, the members of the executive councils and …

Windward Islands Airways International Winair has cancelled all of its flights scheduled for Thursday into and out of Princess Juliana International Airport SXM due to the passing of Tropical Storm Erika in the local area, writes The Daily Herald. All flights are expected to resume as normal on Friday, weather …

Commissioner Chris Johnson gave an update to the planned improvements to Saba’s Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport during Thursday’s meeting of the Island Council’s Central Committee at the Government Administration Building. Two major improvements currently planned at the airport are the removal of part of the hill affecting the crosswinds and …