From James Norton
on
Starlink Application for Satellite Communication Services Concession in Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba Rejected
We all know why this application was rejected: to protect the monopoly that Satel has on providing internet services to Saba. And I understand that. With a customer base as small as ours there is not economic room for two or more internet providers to still make a profit. But technology changes quickly, and when a service as ‘personal’ as adequate internet speeds (think of your emotions as your movie freezes with a spinning buffering sign, (yes, I realize that these are very ‘first world problems’, but isn’t that what we are trying to be: a ‘first world country’?)), can be improved by an existing alternative provider, to deliberately deny your citizens that benefit, not only detracts from their perceived quality of life, it also identifies Satel and the government officials who made this decision as the cause of those detractions. A comment to an earlier news item on this topic suggested that Satel access the satellite network themselves and then use their existing infrastructure to provide this enhanced internet service to their customers. That sounds like a win for everyone. One final point, the ‘exception for foreign ships and aircraft’ could lead to the ludicrous scenario where a luxury yacht docked at the Black Rocks harbor can use satellite internet but the customs building cannot. How frustrating for the well-heeled tourists that we are trying to attract. The tide of technological advancement is ever rising. I would ask our elected (just a reminder) government officials to remember that ‘adaptation’ is the key to longevity.
2025/02/13 at 6:53 am
From Maria Christina Sarmiento Firme
on
Police report of Friday, the 24th of January until Friday, the 31st of January 2025
I would like to suggest that somebody proofreads articles prior publishing them. Last January 10th, the article on Minimum Wage used the wrong image… used a 2024 image instead of one for 2025… no erratum was even published for it
In this article, the first sentence “Scheduled traffic check On Monday, the 27th of January, between 3 PM and 4 PM, a scheduled traffic check was held on the Samuel A. Charles Street on Saba.” was not constructed correctly. It could have been intended to be written as “Scheduled traffic check on Monday, the 27th of January, between 3 PM and 4 PM was held on the Samuel A. Charles Street on Saba.” or it could have been left as “On Monday, the 27th of January, between 3 PM and 4 PM, a scheduled traffic check was held on the Samuel A. Charles Street on Saba.”
2025/01/31 at 6:20 pm
From Peter R Johnson
on
Invasive Species Control Measures
That would be an expensive endeavor!
2025/01/28 at 7:56 am
From Capt Jack sparrow
on
Police report of Wednesday, the 22nd of January until Friday, the 24th of January 2025
Just because you were taken to the hospital does not mean you can’t do a breath test. I bet nothing was wrong with the steering either. Makes you wonder.
2025/01/26 at 1:34 am
From James Norton
on
Invasive Species Control Measures
Not to point out the obvious, but with the ever-increasing price of eggs making the news recently, and this island being blessed with an abundance of chickens, maybe our Public Entity representatives should consider that instead of spending taxpayers money killing chickens, they construct a few enclosures to house them and employ a few community members to collect and sell the eggs to local supermarkets? This would seem to benefit the locally-sourced food supply, community employment (and even the chickens!) 🙂
Thank you.
2025/01/24 at 3:15 am
From John
on
Saba resident fed up with pollution caused by govt, backup generator
Besides the much-needed improvements to the exhaust system, there’s a second—and I would argue, an even more effective—solution. It depends on the power use of the fridges if this financially makes sense:
A battery-storage system can be used to bridge a few hours of grid failure. The generator will only automatically start when the batteries are depleted before grid repair is finished.
Ideally, it would be combined with a local photovoltaic (PV) energy installation. The fridges can be powered during sun hours by PV power. The grid power can be used during night hours, and in case the grid fails, battery power can be used. Excess PV power can be fed back into the grid, which will reduce energy costs and partly pay back the purchase costs.
2025/01/15 at 2:11 pm
From Malick
on
Program for the removal of free-roaming livestock will end on January 31st -updated
Guys..Please come in the mountain Road area. There are goats roaming around like champions just this past weekend.
2025/01/14 at 8:34 am
From Gersh
on
2025 Schedule Waste collection
I’m still awaiting a replacement black bin requested over 6 months ago – so I’m not really interested in the ‘Black Bin Cycle”.
2025/01/10 at 12:31 pm
From Cris Hassell
on
Island Governor Jonathan Johnson addresses Saba residents
I must Also add to the
Honorable Lt. Governor J.A. Johnson message as great as it is in it’s entirety; to all wonderful Sabans and wonderful people living on Saba: That he Is inequivocably right when he states that historically Sabans of the past survived with less. I will like to remind Sabans and other people also from other countries who also form part of the community of Saba: “Do not forget to be grateful to GOD the Creator of All; He and His goodness will guide you and bless You in every part!” as it states in the Saban Anthem. In this New Year 2025; together we stand as one people and there is much more greater good that we can accomplish for one another by standing together, supporting each other and most of all respecting, building up each other and not knocking other down.
Happy New Year 2025!!! GOD Bless the wonderful people living on Saba!!!
Cris Hassell
2025/01/04 at 3:48 pm
From R W Lee
on
Senate approves BES tax changes
Everything is great until you run out of other people’s money to spend!!
Where’s the spending reports?
What actually does the higher taxes pay for?
Is it really needed?
From James Norton on Starlink Application for Satellite Communication Services Concession in Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba Rejected
2025/02/13 at 6:53 amFrom Maria Christina Sarmiento Firme on Police report of Friday, the 24th of January until Friday, the 31st of January 2025
2025/01/31 at 6:20 pmFrom Peter R Johnson on Invasive Species Control Measures
2025/01/28 at 7:56 amFrom Capt Jack sparrow on Police report of Wednesday, the 22nd of January until Friday, the 24th of January 2025
2025/01/26 at 1:34 amFrom James Norton on Invasive Species Control Measures
2025/01/24 at 3:15 amFrom John on Saba resident fed up with pollution caused by govt, backup generator
2025/01/15 at 2:11 pmFrom Malick on Program for the removal of free-roaming livestock will end on January 31st -updated
2025/01/14 at 8:34 amFrom Gersh on 2025 Schedule Waste collection
2025/01/10 at 12:31 pmFrom Cris Hassell on Island Governor Jonathan Johnson addresses Saba residents
2025/01/04 at 3:48 pmFrom R W Lee on Senate approves BES tax changes
2024/12/30 at 1:16 pm