Last week Commissioner Bruce Zagers and Island Secretary Tim Muller met with Director General (DG) Roald Lapperre at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (I&W) in The Hague. Mr. Lapperre recently started as the new DG Environment and International Affairs. The Commissioner and Island Secretary had a pleasant introductory …

From February 16 until February 25, 2018, 30 children between the ages of 4 to 18 years old were offered the opportunity to receive swimming lessons by coach Nelson Manuel from Curaçao. “Swimming is an important skill for children to develop, according to Child Focus Program Manager Caroline Teeuwen. Swimming …

All children must be able to participate. Also children who grow up in a family with a low income. With the subsidy scheme “Opportunities for all Children”, the Cabinet makes resources available to help children. The subsidy scheme is intended for supplies that children from 0 to 18 years are …

The Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK) and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (IenW) are joining forces to establish a direct air link between Bonaire and the Winward islands. This week, Ruud Peters (Head of the Shared Service Organization RCN) signed the agreement with Winair on …

Greg Slyngstad’s American Bieker 53 multihull Fujin has capsized during the RORC Caribbean 600 near Saba. All eight crew are safe. On Tuesday the ship was moored in front of Fort Bay, upside down. Stephen Cucchiaro’s Gunboat 60 Flow stood by until Dutch/ French authorities organised a rescue vessel. Preparations …

Saba Health Care Foundation (SHCF) will start the renovation of A.M. Edwards Medical Center in the Bottom in March. To make sure that the patient clinic can remain up and running SHCF has decided to move the clinic to a temporary location. During the renovation, which is SHCF’s biggest renovation …

In 2017, the trade deficits of Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba were higher than in the previous year. In relative terms, St Eustatius saw the sharpest increase in annual deficit. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this on the basis of new figures. The Caribbean Netherlands has a structural trade deficit, with …

Saba Electric Company N.V. hereby informs its customers that there is the possibility of a brownout or blackout in the supply of electricity on Monday, February 19th, 2018, and Tuesday, February 20th, 2018, as it is in the process of finalizing its first solar park installation. A brownout, in this …

The Commissioner of Finance and Infrastructure, Bruce Zagers, and Island Secretary Tim Muller will be in The Hague for the next two weeks to discuss this year’s plans of the Public Entity and address longer term issues once more in the relevant Ministries. Central themes of the visit will be: …

Saba Health Care Foundation welcomes family physician Dr. Lennart Bergwerff Originally from Friesland in the Netherlands Dr. lennart recently moved to Saba together with his family to be one of the 2 new physicians.  Some of you might remember him from last year when he worked here as a temporary …

On January 28th, the Caribbean Netherlands Fire Department (BKCN) started with the training of 12 new colleagues; 3 from Saba, 2 from St. Eustatius and 7 from Bonaire. The participants will be trained for Fireman-A. They will learn about fire control, technical aid and accidents involving dangerous substances. Additionally in …

On Dec 7, 2017 The European Council and European Parliament Decision designating 2018 as the European Year of Cultural Heritage was adopted on 17 May 2017, based on the European Commission’s proposal of 30 August 2016 The year belongs to all to experience, appreciate, and enjoy cultural heritage. Everyone is …

On November 30th and December 1st ,2017 the employment conditions negotiations for the civil servants started. It was a wish of the unions to have an agreement in time because of the expiring CAO 2016-2017. Negotiations continued on January 18, 2018 and resulted in a negotiation result. The result was …

New and existing entrepreneurs in St. Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius can now access microloans up to US $25,000 at two per cent interest, personal mentor­ing and business development tools from Dutch funding foundation Qredits. The low-interest loans are backed by the Dutch Recovery Fund. Entrepreneurs will only pay back …

On March 21, residents in the Caribbean Netherlands may participate in a consultative referendum on the new Law on the Intelligence and Se­curity Services Wiv 2017. This week, Government Service Caribbean Netherlands RCN is starting a six-week infor­mation campaign in Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. Various means of communication will …