The Caribbean Netherlands experienced significant employment growth in 2024, with the employed labor force (aged 15 to 74) reaching 17,500 people—a 12% increase from 2022. This growth was driven primarily by Bonaire, while Saba saw modest gains and St. Eustatius experienced a decline, according to the latest Caribbean Netherlands Labour …

PES wishes to inform the public that we are actively monitoring the current accumulation of sargassum seaweed, particularly in the Cove Bay area. Reports indicate that this year’s sargassum influx has been more abundant than in previous years and has arrived earlier than expected. Residents of lower Hell’s Gate are …

The Dutch government is working to improve coordination and policy alignment in its fight against poverty on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba (BES islands), according to care­taker State Secretary for Kingdom Relations Eddie van Marum. In a detailed update to Par­liament, Van Marum out­lined ongoing and upcoming measures following recom­mendations …

Citizens who believe a law violates their constitutional rights may soon be able to challenge it in court—a power currently unavailable under Dutch law. The government has proposed a constitutional amendment to enable judicial review, aiming to strengthen the protection of fundamental rights. Minister Uitermark of the Interior and Kingdom …

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers & Markets (ACM) has updated maximum electricity tariffs for the Caribbean Netherlands, effective July 1, 2025. The changes reflect adjustments based on higher-than-expected oil prices compared to December 2024 estimates. Average household impacts vary by island: Bonaire and Saba will see monthly increases of approximately …

Public Notice: Central Committee Meeting Date: Thursday, July 10th, 2025 Time: 2:00 PM Location: Government Administration Building, Saba The Central Committee of the Public Entity Saba cordially invites the public to attend its upcoming meeting. The agenda is as follows: Agenda Opening Approval of the Agenda Approval of Minutes Central Committee Meeting (CCM) …

Jonathan Johnson, who has held the office of Gezaghebber (Island Governor) of Saba since 2007, announced on Tuesday that he will not seek reappointment when his current term concludes next year. His decision marks the end of a historic 17-year tenure—the longest in the island’s history—following two reappointments.* Johnson announced …

Senior officials re­sponsible for justice, public order, and safety convened on Saba on June 25 for a key meeting of the “Grote Driehoek” (Grand Triangle), aimed at strengthening co­ordination among law en­forcement and public safety services across Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba (the BES islands). The meeting focused on strategic collaboration …

Dutch competition author­ity ACM has reset the maximum tariffs for electricity distribution in the Caribbean Netherlands. As of July 1, the average household in Bonaire and Saba will now pay about US $2 more per month, while the average house­hold in St. Eustatius will pay about $3 less. “The changes …

Saba celebrated Emancipation Day 2025 under the theme “We know because they spoke, gen­erations remember”. As part of the pre-Eman­cipation Day celebrations on Monday evening Saba’s Heritage Center hosted a screening of the first episode in the docu-series “Awo Now Nu”, which fea­tures young voices from across the six Dutch …

Last November, a group of teenage boys from Saba embarked on a transformative journey, earning their PADI Open Water Diver certification through a partnership between Saba Reach Foundation (SRF) and Sea & Learn Foundation (SLF). The program, part of SRF’s Replay initiative, provided hands-on learning and career exposure for youth outside traditional education. Supported …

The Netherlands will launch a new grant program on August 11, 2025, providing funding for social initiatives related to the transatlantic history of slavery. This program represents a significant step in addressing the legacy of slavery and its ongoing impact on communities today. Program Overview The initiative stems from the …

The Public Entity Saba is pleased to announce a major milestone in its School Housing Project for St. Johns: demolition of the existing gymnasium will commence this summer. This critical first phase will enable the construction of a state-of-the-art sports complex and a new Technical School in St. Johns. Project …

Residents and visitors of the BES islands—Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba—may be eligible for compensation in a major legal action against Booking.com over alleged anti-competitive practices that have systematically inflated hotel prices for consumers. The Consumer Competition Claims Foundation has filed a collective lawsuit against the online booking giant, alleging …

The out­going Dutch government is exploring options for in­creasing financial support to large families in Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba (BES islands), following a recent evaluation of the Child Ben­efit Provision (Kinderbi­jslagvoorziening BES). A final decision on any ad­ditional support will be made by the next administration, wrote caretaker State …