News

Dutch News reports that Ministers and two opposition parties on Wednesday reached a deal to abolish  student grants from the start of the 2015 academic year, freeing up €1bn to spend on improving educational standards. Describing the move as the most important educational reform in 30 years, education minister Jet …

On Thursday May 29th the third meeting of the workgroup evaluation Caribbean Netherlands took place on St. Eustatius under the chairmanship of Commissioner Reginald Zaandam. Present were the Commissioners of Constitutional Affairs and island Secretaries on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba and a delegation of the Ministry of Home Affairs …

The government and its opposition allies have not yet finalised their plans for phasing out student grants but there are signs some compensation will be offered to students from poorer families. The Volkskrant reports on Tuesday that ministers have agreed to set aside €200m to €300m to ease the impact …

Centre democrat D66 of former Minister of Government Reform and Kingdom Relations Alexander Pechtold emerged as Saba’s winner in the European elections, writes The Daily Herald. The elections for Members of the European Parliament were held throughout the Dutch kingdom on Thursday, but the official results for Saba were not announced until Monday. For the …

Since he succeeded Pierre Heijnen a year ago as a member of the Permanent Committee for Kingdom Relations of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament, Roelof van Laar of the Labour Party PvdA has stirred things up with his candid statements about poverty, children’s rights, education and his critical …

The Daily Herald writes that Youth and Family (CYF) on Saba organised a well-attended farewell cocktail reception for outgoing social worker Errick Spence on Monday evening, at its office in The Bottom. Social worker Tessa Alexander facilitated the introductions, after which the ceremony stared with a steel pan rendition of the …

The Kingdom Youth Parliament (KYP) closing ceremony in St. Maarten, which was also Princess Beatrix’ last public event, was streamed on live television. It concluded with the first copy of the results handed to Princess Beatrix. A second round of copies was handed to various delegation leaders by the youngest …

The real Dutch results from Thursday’s European election show a slightly different picture than three different exit polls. The final results, with turnout of 43%, are as follows CDA 5 ( was 5) (15%) D66 4 (was 3) (15.4%) PVV 4 (was 5) (13.2%) VVD 3 (unchanged) (11.9%) PvdA 3 …

Focussing on connecting sustainable business initiatives, the 18th trade mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean region visited Saba Saturday, writes The Daily Herald. InterExpo Caribbean brought together over 20 speakers to promote business matchmaking initiatives between business leaders on both sides of the Kingdom’s Atlantic shores. …

The Daily Herald writes that the Aloei Historical Dancers and Statia Young Musicians will be travelling to Saba to host a dance and music show at Princess Juliana sports field on Saturday, June 7, at 8:00pm. The cultural extravaganza features young musicians under the age of 18, compromising trumpet, saxophone, …

Oranje Straat, the road leading to the Old Age Home has been resurfaced and the work was finished last week. This work has been executed by The Department of Public Works and is financed through the budget of the Island Government. Commissioner of Public Works, Bruce Zagers, stated that plans …

The Daily Herald writes that all policemen of the Caribbean Netherlands Police Force walked out of the police stations on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba at 3:15pm on Friday in protest of the changes to the harmonisation of salaries and benefits. At the same time as they  walked on Saba and Statia, their colleagues on Bonaire …

Members of the first ever, three-day-long Kingdom Youth Parliament (KYP) presented the conclusions of debates, as well as their plan of action to Her Royal Highness (HRH) Princess Beatrix in the presence of her entourage and various Kingdom Government officials at the University of St. Maarten on Thursday. “You can …

The Daily Herald writes that expenditures of the Dutch ministries for the Caribbean Netherlands increased in 2013. In total the ministries spent some 227.4 million euros on the islands, in the form of extraordinary remittances (“bijzondere uitkeringen”), an increase compared to the 187.5 million euros that was spent in 2012. …

The Daily Herald writes that the number of employees of the National Government Service for Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba (“Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland” (RCN)) has gradually grown from 488 in 2010 to 665 in 2013. This is stated in the 2013 Annual Report Business Operations of the Dutch Government that …

The island had only one European Parliament election station set-up in Windwardside, open from 7:30am until 9:30pm, writes The Daily Herald. Voting bureau coordinator Nellie Peterson said the island government accommodated the first European Parliament election on Saba by issuing informational materials on the local television station, a video clip …

The Dutch Caribbean Police Force (KPCN) has in recent weeks held a recruitment campaign for aspiring police officers. The Force was looking for candidates for the two-year training for police officer which starts in October. With the theme: “Do you have the guts? We have the job!” candidates were called …

The site Bonaire.nu reported that Stinapa Junior Rangers have paid a visit to Saba and have left a great impression on the Saban youth and adults with their knowledge and expertise in the field of nature. During the Easter holidays 5 young people traveled to Saba, supervised by three adults …

On Wednesday, May 21st  at approximately 9:45 AM a man with initials E.L.M. was held in regard to a theft or attempted theft in the Mathew Dorms. Press release KPCN, May 22, 2014

In the presence of Princess Beatrix the history text book “Unity and diversity – 200 years Kingdom. Netherlands and the six Caribbean islands presented in dates” was handed over on Wednesday in Sint Maarten. Twenty students of the Sint Maarten Academy received a first copy from the chairperson of the …

A group of Aruban Senators visited the island on Monday on a fact finding mission. The purpose of the visit was to get information on the Saba Marine Park and other pending legislation. The Parliament of Aruba has a bill pending which would amend the Ordinance for Nature Conservation to …

A joint project between the Public Entity of Saba and the National Government under the auspices of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor aims to assist seniors on fixed incomes by providing aid for vital repairs to their home. The project is part of the goal of the Executive …

According to a first preliminary estimate of the CBS the gross domestic product (GDP) of Bonaire resulted in 364.2 million US Dollars in 2012. As Bonaire counted 16,975 residents that year, the GDP per capita was equivalent to 21 thousand US Dollars. The GDP per capita is an approximation of …

In their editorial The Daily Herald writes that yesterday’s opening of the Kingdom Youth Parliament debate being held at University of St. Martin (USM) was impressive. Not only is it the first-ever such gathering, but the presence of Princess Beatrix, all three Governors, PrimeMinisters and Parliament Presidents of Aruba, Curaçao …

Princess Beatrix opened on Tuesday the Kingdom Youth Parliament (Koninkrijksjeugdparlement – KJP) on Sint Maarten. After a short speech the princess gave the presidential gavel to Trumane Trotman, the Sint Maarten student of 23 who will be the chairperson of the KJP. For three days 50 the youngsters from across the …

The Daily Herald writes that the annual Book Week organized by Queen Wilhelmina Library commenced Monday morning with an opening ceremony at Sacred Heart primary school in St. John’s. Island Governor Jonathan Johnson attended the ceremony as did Windward Islands People’s Movement (WIPM) Island Councilman Carl Buncamper and his counterpart …

Burglary attempt A police patrol caught a man red-handed as he tried to break into a store, Saturday, at approximately 1:15am. The man, however, managed to run away and could not be found. The burglar tried to take away a microwave and a container. The case is under investigation, the …

In observing Haitian Flag Day, members of Saba’s Haitian community gathered at Princess Juliana’s Sports Field in The Bottom on Sunday to mark their identity and thank Sabans for their hospitality. This writes The Daily Herald. Haiti Association President Germaine Mermane and Joseph Louimaire spoke on behalf of those gathered …

Members of the first ever Kingdom Youth Parliament (KYP) and National Committee got acquainted on Monday, May 19, and shared more about their aims and objectives prior to the official start of debates today, the Daily Herald announces. Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrix is set to open the KYP this …

Domestic violence is a serious problem on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, with women and children being the main victims, reports The Daily Herald. For the original Dutch version of the report see under the announcements on SabaNews. Poverty is the main trigger. The Dutch Government wants to tackle this …

Nine candidates for the May 22 elections of a new European Parliament tried to convince the Dutch Caribbean voters of their importance during a debate in Rotterdam on Saturday, writes The Daily Herald. Candidates present were Maruschka Gijsbertha of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats/PvdA, Marc Frans of the …

Newly established Saba United People’s Labour Union and Association (SUPLUA) held its first public town hall meeting to inform the community of their efforts at the Anglican Community Canon Hassell Center on Thursday evening, reports The Daily Herald. SUPLUA President Ludwina Charles introduced the board, consisting of Vice President Antonio …

The Daily Herald writes that Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Caribbean Netherlands bade farewell on Friday to David van Delft with a reception in the “Mangazina di Rei” on Bonaire. Van Delft has officially stepped down as Chief Prosecutor for Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba (BES-islands). For a period of …

Tourist Bureaus of Saba and Statia (STDF) participated in the 13th St. Martin/ St. Maarten Annual Regional Trade Show SMART. The regional trade mission is organised by L’Association de Hoteliers de St. Martin, St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA), in conjunction with L’Office du Tourisme de St. Martin and …

Body, Mind and Spirit (BMS) Foundation representatives Carl Buncamper and Bastiaan Janssens participated in the sixth Regional Conference of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association for Latin America and the Caribbean ILGALAC in Havana, Cuba, May 6-10. This writes The Daily Herald. The conference brought together more than …

The Daily Herald reports that Dutch Caribbean Coastguard issued two fines to ships this week for trespassing on Saba Bank. As of June 1, 2013, this area has been designated as a particularly sensitive sea area and it is considered illegal for a ship weighing more than 300 gross tons …

The Daily Herald writes that minister Plasterk repeated his earlier assurances that the two public entities, part of the Netherlands since October 10, 2010, were free to hold a referendum on their constitutional status, during a general debate with the Permanent Committee for Kingdom Relations of the Second Chamber of …

Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk has dismissed complaints about the medical evacuation helicopter for St. Eustatius and Saba, writes The Daily Herald. Members of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament Ronald van Raak of the Socialist Party (SP) and Roelof van Laar of the …

The Permanent Committee of Kingdom Affairs and Inter-Parliamentary Relations met on Friday, and approved the attendance of Members of Parliament (MPs) who want to attend the 18th Trade Mission. This writes The Daily Herald. The theme this year is “Connecting Sustainable Business from the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the …

In the meeting of the sector negotiation for The Caribbean Netherlands of May 15th and 16th an agreement, concerning the terms of employment for 2013 and 2014, was almost reached with a majority of the unions. In the coming week an ultimate attempt will be made to reach an agreement …