News

The Daily Herald writes that the new website of Saba Health Care Foundation (SHCF) was officially launched at a New Year’s reception at Queen’s Garden Resort in The Bottom on Saturday, witnessed by SHCF staff and invited guests. For a couple of years, SHCF decided to only share their information …

The rumble was so low and the shaking so slight, many residents didn’t even realise there had been an earthquake until messages started to pop up on social media and via various messaging services on Sunday afternoon. This writes The Daily Herald. The earthquake occurred after 4:00pm. It appears to …

More cooperation in the area of quality health care and inspection, less waste through the joint purchase of medication, reducing cost by clustering specialist care and the reduction of medical referrals. These are the main objectives that the Parliaments of Aruba, Curaçao, St. Maarten and the Netherlands would like to …

The Island Government of St. Eustatius has asked the Dutch Government to hold off the increase in the island’s sales tax until next year. This writes The Daily Herald. At the first press briefing of this year, Finance Commissioner Reginald Zaandam explained that “any tax rise can only be applied …

Today the E-team, Saba’s platform of economic stakeholders, held their first meeting of 2015. Main topic on the agenda was Saba’s Development Plan, in which the Executive Council outlines their vision on future development of Saba. Other points of discussion were the protest against the drastic raise of consular tariffs …

Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC), in partnership with Saba Conservation Foundation (SCF), recently completed an island-wide survey for the Audubon’s shearwater on Saba, writes The Daily Herald. The Audubon’s shearwater, also known locally as the wedrego, is displayed prominently on the island’s crest. It is notoriously difficult to survey …

The Daily Herald reveals that the year 2015 is shaping up to be a year in which United Telecommunications Services Eastern Caribbean (UTS) will seek to strengthen its position of innovator when it comes to technology. On the heels of announcing that UTS would refocus and reshape its attention on …

The Executive Council of Saba in a letter to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bert Koenders expressed their concerns about the recent increase in consular tariffs for work permits. Minister Koenders announced on December 15th 2014 that the consular tariffs in Caribbean Netherlands will be adjusted to the level in the …

Based on a Royal Decree, followed by a swearing-in ceremony on December 29, 2014, Rob Rammeloo has been appointed deputy prosecutor at the Prosecutor’s Office for Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba BES. Rammeloo is employed at the Prosecution’s Office of Breda/Middelburg in the Netherlands, but will be working on location …

A letter of protest has been sent to the Dutch government by the Executive Council of the public entity St. Eustatius, together with the Chamber of Commerce for Statia and Saba, and the St. Eustatius Business Association STEBA, to complain about the increase in consular tariffs for the Caribbean Netherlands. …

The Daily Herald writes that a teacher’s workshop was held Monday at Eugenius Johnson Centre in Windwardside. The workshop was named “The Teacher makes the Difference” and was presented by guest speaker Ludo Heylen from Belgium. This event was organised by Expertise Centre Education Care EC2 and sponsored by Saba …

The Daily Herald writes that more than seven in ten Dutch people are optimistic about 2015 and expect the economy to remain stable or improve, according to research by the government’s socio-cultural think tank SCP. Just 18 months ago, only 47 per cent of Dutch had confidence in the economy, …

The Daily Herald writes that the third and last budget amendment meeting for 2014 was held on Thursday, December 18, at the Public Central Committee Meeting at the Government Building in The Bottom. As for the two previous amendments for 2014, there have not been any policy changes. Councillor Carl …

Commissioner of Finance and Planning, Bruce Zagers recently signed a contract for the construction of a new parking lot in Windwardside. This writes The Daily Herald. The contract was signed with contractor Saba Roads, whose Managing Director Janhendrik Boekhaar completed the signing. Also present was Head of Planning, Robert Zagers …

The Daily Herald writes that the controversial anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders tried to claim between 500,000 and 600,000 euros last year as parliamentary expenses for legal fees incurred during a trial for inciting hatred, the Volkskrant newspaper reported on Saturday. Sources told the paper that Wilders’ claim was rejected after …

The public of Saba is invited to view what will definitely be a spectacular fireworks show, when the skies over Hell’s Gate are lit up during the Annual End of Year Grand Fireworks Display. The pyrotechnic extravaganza will take place Monday, December 29 at 7:00 pm, at Cove Bay, allowing …

King Willem-Alexander made a plea for tolerance while emphasising the fact that everyone is different in his televised Christmas address to the nation. ‘Unity without diversity is suffocating,’ the kind said. ‘Diversity without unity is grains of sand. The Netherlands is more than 17 million selfies.’ Willem-Alexander also spoke about …

A study examining what is driving the tourism flows in the Caribbean has found that the region’s share of the global tourism market is declining. This writes The Daily Herald. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Working Paper titled “Revisiting Tourism Flows to the Caribbean: What is Driving Arrivals,” finds that …

For the fourteenth consecutive year, Scout’s Place hosted its staff Christmas party. This reports The Daily Herald. The event took place at the hotel, bar and restaurant itself, with the restaurant being closed during the celebration to honour all staff with presents, entertainment and a rich buffet. Scout’s new chef …

The Daily Herald writes that the Island Council of the Public Entity of Saba met on Friday, December 22, to approve the third quarter budget amendment. In attendance at the meeting were Island Council Members Rolando Wilson, Carl Buncamper, Amelia Nicholson, Eviton Heyliger and Ishmael Levenston. The meeting was chaired …

Statistics Netherlands: Papiamento most-spoken language on Bonaire, English on Saba and St Eustatius According to figures released by Statistics Netherlands this week, most people on Bonaire speak Papiamento. On St Eustatius and Saba most people have English as first language. Only a small number of people have Dutch as a first …

Recently, Saba Day was celebrated with many different activities around the island, writes The Daily Herald. One of these activities was the famous Wahoo Tournament on Fort Bay. The Captain’s Briefing for this tournament was held on Friday evening, where a raffle took place and prizes could be won. Saba …

The Daily Herald writes that pensions for residents of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba may differ from pensions in the European Netherlands, the Joint Court has stated in the appeal case of three residents of the islands against the Minister of Social Affairs and Employment. According to the three appellants, …

Cabinet threatens to bypass senate if revised health reforms not backed The ruling VVD and Labour parties have reached a compromise deal to amend controversial health insurance reforms which were rejected by Labour senators earlier this week. The new look bill will be debated again in both houses of parliament …

Just under 150 thousand tourists flew to the Caribbean Netherlands in 2012. In 2013 this was slightly more: around 152 thousand. This number includes both holidaymakers and business visitors. In the first half of 2014, 77 thousand tourists arrived at the airports of the Caribbean Netherlands. Most of the tourists …

The Permanent Committee for Kingdom Relations of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament wants the Dutch government’s reaction to the results of the referendum in St. Eustatius. This writes The Daily Herald. The committee agreed on Thursday with a proposal of Member of the Second Chamber Ronald van Raak …

The Permanent Committee for Kingdom Relations of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament wants to know how the Dutch Government intends to tackle the Chikungunya illness in Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, writes The Daily Herald. The committee approved a request of Member of the Second Chamber Roelof van …

The Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament wants the governments in the Kingdom to get moving with concrete projects to improve children’s rights in the Dutch Caribbean. Three parties, the liberal democratic VVD party, the Labour Party PvdA and the Democratic Party D66, made use of the opportunity to submit …

The Daily Herald writes that the Dutch Caribbean Customs intercepted cocaine, cannabis, liquid assets, spirits and cigarettes in November. In a press release, the organisation gave an outline of its successes over the last month. The press release explains how the department executed a number of catches. Customs officers managed …

Dutch State Secretary of Social Affairs and Employment Jetta Klijnsma earlier this week released an overview of the projects to help combat poverty in Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. This writes The Daily Herald. Twelve projects for St. Eustatius and eight for Saba. The projects that are approved for St. …

The Daily Herald writes that the referendum held on St. Eustatius on Wednesday, December 17, to determine the future of the island drew insufficient voters to make the results binding. Of the 2,546 people eligible to vote, only 1,156 showed up, amounting to just over 45 per cent. At least …

The Dutch cabinet crises caused by the decision of three Labour senators to torpedo key health reforms, continued on Wednesday with no sign of a solution in sight. According to the Volkskrant, VVD Health Minister Edit Schippers has told the Labour party to come up with a way out of …

The annual lighting of the Christmas tree took place at Eugenius Johnson Centre in Windwardside on Saturday. A great number of attendants were present at the event, which started with a children’s performance of “A Charlie Brown Christ- mas.” This reports The Daily Herald. Charlie Brown Christmas originally is an …

All figures about 2013 of each island have been published by CBS. For Saba for instance on the following pages Saba 45 Education 47 Energy 47 Health and welfare 49 Household amenities International trade 54 Labour 55 Population 58 Prices 63 Security and justice 66 Social security 70 Traffic, transport …

A new ruling by the Dutch High Court sets limits on freedom of speech for politicians and has implications for the case against anti-Islam campaigner Geert Wilders. This writes The Daily Herald. The Prosecutor’s Office is soon to take a decision on whether or not to press ahead with prosecuting …

[Red: This news is in fact about the continental part of the Netherlands.] The upper house of parliament on Tuesday voted against cabinet plans to give more power to health insurance companies so they can restrict freedom of choice for patients. The government had struck a deal with three opposition …

The cutting down of the mango tree in front of A.M. Edwards Medical Centre in The Bottom was prevented at the last moment by concerned citizens, who believed the tree was part of the cultural heritage, and those who simply did not see the need to dispose of the tree. …

The Daily Herald writes that members of the Second Chamber wrote: “We should not get rid of the Caribbean part of our Kingdom, but realise advancement together. That is the best way to serve the people and increase bearing surface for the Kingdom. That demands a lot of politicians, on …

The governments of St. Eustatius and Saba formally requested a postponement of the planned increase of the general sales tax ABB during a meeting with the Ministry of Finance in The Hague last week. This writes The daily Herald. Commissioners of Constitutional Affairs Reginald Zaandam of St. Eustatius and Chris …