News

The Daily Herald writes that the new Island Council of Saba was sworn in Thursday. The outgoing Island Council had its final meeting at 10:00am, with outgoing member Amelia Nicholson of Windward Island People’s Movement (WIPM) giving her farewell speech. Nicholson was an Island Council Member for four years. In …

Island Governors Gerald Berkel (St. Eustatius), Jonathan Johnson (Saba) and Edison Rijna (Bonaire) and Director Kingdom Relations of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Erwin Arkenbout are to meet Tuesday in St. Eustatius. This writes The Daily Herald. They will talk about the Administrative Development Programme, which is …

Dear Editor, Several weeks ago I heard a rumor that was later confirmed, that the former director of Saba Comprehensive School and the three teachers whose contracts were not renewed have filed lawsuits against Saba Educational Foundation. Are the lawsuits common knowledge? Does anyone care that Saba Educational Foundation is …

Princess Juliana International Airport SXM has expressed its commitment to the success of the new service that Dutch airline Arke Fly will soon start, and said it has offered to waive departure fees for any familiarization (fam) trips that the company may host, while granting complementary use of its Executive …

The Daily Herald writes that the annual free remittance (“vrije uitkering”) of the Dutch Government for Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba should increase by US $1.8 million for St. Eustatius, US $1.1 million for Saba, and US $4.9 million for Bonaire. Inflation correction should become standard. This is the advice …

The Daily Herald writes that the Kingdom Council of Ministers decided on March 6 to proceed with the establishing of an integrity supervisory body for St. Maarten through a so-called General Measure of the Kingdom Government (“Algemene Maatregel van Rijksbestuur”AMvRB). Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk …

Dutch primary schools will soon be able to conduct 15% of lessons in English, French or German in an effort to boost language skills, parliament agreed on Tuesday. Junior education minister Sander Dekker wants to extend the use of other languages following successful trials which show young children pick up …

The Daily Herald writes that Windward Island People’s Movement (WIPM) held their victory parade and celebrations on Sunday. On Wednesday, March 18, WIPM had won the Saba elections with a three-to-two seat win from Saba Labour Party (SLP). At approximately 3:00pm, 70 cars and motorbikes, all with orange flags and …

The Daily Herald writes that the Prosecutor’s Office received an accusation of voting fraud on Tuesday, March 17, the day before the election. The official declaration was made by Enrico Klaber, number three SLP candidate, and was backed by the entire SLP party. The alleged accusation states that a bribe …

On Friday at 10:00am, the official vote results of the 2015 Saba Elections were presented by Governor Jonathan Johnson. The presentation was given in the courtroom of the government building. This writes The Daily Herald. The results are as follows: The Windward Island People’s Movement (WIPM) party 545 votes Saba …

With six political parties all winning between ten and sixteen per cent of the vote in the provincial elections in the Netherlands, the Dutch political landscape has never been so divided, writes The Daily Herald. The results of the vote, which saw the VVD remain the largest party, will also …

Various safety measures have been taken to monitor the volcanic activity of Saba’s Mount Scenery and to deal effectively with a possible disaster. This writes The Daily Herald. A second and third seismic metre will be installed in June this year, as well as a Global Positioning System (GPS) later …

The Daily Herald writes that according to the second semi-annual report for 2014 of the Board of Financial Supervision CFT, the public entities develop themselves at different paces. At times Bonaire has difficulties with keeping the budgeting process in control; St. Eustatius struggles with internal procedures while Saba expects a …

As part of the transition to English as the language of instruction on St. Eustatius, an educational delegation from the Caribbean Netherlands recently paid a two-day visit to the headquarters of National Council Technical Vocational Educational Training (NCTVET) in Kingston, Jamaica. This writes The Daily Herald. The visit was primarily …

Dutch News reports that the ruling coalition in the Netherlands will be faced with the difficult task of putting together a new alliance to ensure controversial legislation gets passed in the senate following Wednesday’s provincial elections. With over 97% of the votes counted, the VVD and Labour are on course …

The Daily Herald wites that the streets of Saba turned orange and blue on Wednesday as the elections for 2015 finally took place. The Windward Island People’s Movement (WIPM) defeated the Saba Labour Party (SLP) with a preliminary voting count of 545 votes against 407 votes for the SLP. This …

The “Solar Park” petition has been emailed to the Executive and Island Councils Tuesday evening.  It contains 107 signatures. The Saba Merchants Association would like to stress that this is not a tactic to influence the elections as petition was started since February 13. The original text of the petition …

A proposal to establish Electoral Colleges for Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba will be ready before the summer of 2015, Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk told the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament on Tuesday. This reports The Daily Herald. A vast majority in the …

On Sunday a Monday the two political parties on Saba held their final meetings at Topo Gigio bar and restaurant, before Election Day. On Sunday evening, the candidates of the Windward Island People’s Movement (WIPM) party were showing their colours and held their speeches. On Monday evening, it was the Saba …

The Daily Herald writes that Saba Business Association (SBA) recently awarded Patrick Hassell with the Entrepreneur of the Year (EOTY) 2014 title. Hassell owns and manages “Patrick’s Auto Detailing” located on the outskirts of Windwardside. Wolfgang Tooten, president of the SBA, announced feeling proud to be able to award the …

Dear Editor, Apart from all propaganda and promises, it makes sense to look at achievements in the past also. This text is just an opinion but definitely also based on experiences and facts. Because actually only two Commissioners were really in power to perform and realise achievements, it is there …

This Saturday, Ecolodge will organise a benefit auction, called Saba-Aid, to help fund restoration of Jungle Cottage Resort. The fundraiser will be held at Breadline Plaza in Windwardside. This writes The Daily Herald. The event will start at 12:30pm with food and drinks, and the auction will start at 2:00pm, …

The Daily Herald writes that a second meeting was held for the Windward Island People’s Movement (WIPM) at the Eugenius Johnson Centre in Windwardside on Thursday evening at 7:00pm until late. Food and drinks were provided and around a 150 attendants showed up to cheer for their party candidates. The …

Hazel Durand writes the following on Caribisch Netwerk: On March 18, 1,056 eligible voters decide which political party Saba will lead during the next four years. The forthcoming elections attract much attention because there are many new faces on the lists of candidates. The new candidates are clear about their …

The Daily Herald writes that Beyond Writing Foundation (BWF) has announced that it is calling on all children ages 8 through 14 in St. Maarten, Anguilla, Saba and St. Eustatius to participate in its 2015 writing competition. The one held in 2013 was deemed a success, with five winning poets, …

The Daily Herald writes that closer cooperation in healthcare in the Dutch Caribbean is possible and desirable, but is frustrated by developments on especially Curaçao and St. Maarten. The latter country is accused of obstructing the medical evacuations from St. Eustatius and Saba. Dutch Minister of Public Health, Welfare and …

Various chapters of the Dutch Democratic D66 party will submit a motion to party members at the April 18 D66 congress, to arrange the voting rights of Dutch nationals in the Caribbean Netherlands and abroad through an Electoral College. This writes The Daily Herald. Persons with Dutch nationality living outside …

The auditors of the audit firm Ernst and Young have completed the quick scan of the Saba Cultural Foundation (SCF). The findings of the quick scan were presented to the Executive Council by the auditors this past week. The purpose of the quick scan, which was requested by the Executive …

The information campaign continues. Most voting cards have been distributed. Voting stations and collaborators are prepared. Everything is practically ready for the Island Council Elections. The countdown to March 18th has begun, when eligible voters from St. Eustatius, Saba and Bonaire can vote from 7.30 in the morning until 9 …

Twenty-four young Sabans participated in a chess tournament Sunday, at Child Focus in Windwardside. They were divided into senior and junior divisions. This reports The Daily Herald. The senior division was won by Kyle Buchanan (13) with Jake Jansen and Daniel Barnes coming in second and third. The winners of …

The Daily Herald announces that the fourteenth St. Martin/St. Maarten Annual Regional Trade Show (SMART) – where the region comes together to support, interact and promote tourism to the Eastern Caribbean – will be held at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and Casino, May 13 through 15. Attendees to last …

Dutch News reports that three people who made racist comments about a selfie featuring Dutch football international Leroy Fer have been told they can avoid going to court by paying a €360 fine. The three, who come from The Hague, Rotterdam and Breda, made the comments about the selfie, which …

Dutch News reports that hardline justice minister Ivo Opstelten and his deputy Fred Teeven have resigned following revelations about a 4.7 million guilder payment to a convicted drugs baron in 2001. Speaking at a news conference on Monday evening, Opstelten said further investigation by his officials had led to the …

Households on Saba today began receiving their new bins as part of the Recycle for Saba campaign which is introducing recycling to the island. Homeowners will be receiving an orange and gray bin, which are being distributed by The Department of Public Works and Sanitation. The orange bins are for …

The Daily Herald writes that Saba Electric Company (SEC) has announced that in an effort to go green and reduce its dependency on fossil fuels, the company is endeavouring to make “prodigious and sound” investments in renewable (solar) energy. Their greatest challenge at the moment, according to SEC, is the acquisition …

The National ombudsman has visited the islands of St. Eustatius and Saba twice in 2014. Each visit saw a rise in complaints submitted by the public and another trip has been scheduled from March 9 until March 12 this year. The National ombudsman hears and investigates complaints by private citizens …

The Daily Herald writes that Public Entity Saba has been doing well financially in the last quarter of 2014 as it realised a surplus of US $894,000 which was more than the anticipated US $780,000. Saba closed off 2014 with a revenue position of some US $12.2 million while the …

Some 150 people attended the first public meeting of the Windward Island People’s Movement (WIPM) on Thursday. This reports The Daily Herald. The meeting was held at the Zion’s Hill Community Centre. Master of Ceremonies was former senator of Saba, Ray Hassell. Hassell introduced all nine candidates with great enthusiasm …

It seems that Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk will be left little choice but to introduce a special Electoral College for the Caribbean Netherlands to safeguard the voting of both Dutch and foreign nationals on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. This writes The Daily Herald. …

Members of the Economic Team of Saba met with Kenneth Lei of Development Bank Netherlands Antilles (Ontwikkelingsbank Nederlandse Antillen – OBNA) recently at the Government Administration Building. Accompanying Lei were members of the Small Business Stimulation Funds Saba, Hilton Hassell, Rose Zagers and Sonia Richardson. The purpose of the meeting …