30 million euros to help reduce cost of living for BES residents

The Netherlands’ draft 2027 budget, present­ed on Tuesday, contains a provision of thirty million euros to help reduce the cost of living in Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba.

Investments will be made to ensure lower rates for electricity, drinking water, and telecommunications in the long term.

A total of 12 million euros will be available to produce more sustainable energy in Saba and St. Eustatius, while the seawater intake system in Bonaire, essential for turning salt water into drinking water, will be re­placed to the tune of eight million euros.

Specifically for St. Eusta­tius, some 1.7 million euros will be allocated to replace leaking water pipes while 2.1 million euros has been earmarked to modernise the fibre-optic network.

The three public entities may also receive additional funds in 2027 to provide financial assistance to par­ents who are unable to pay their share of childcare expenses. A total of 6.2 million euros has been re­served for these subsidies. “In 2027, we will take signif­icant steps to lower the cost of living. In doing so, we are continuing to implement the recommendations of the Caribbean Netherlands So­cial Minimum Committee,” said Dutch State Secretary of Kingdom Relations Eric van der Burg.

He added: “Making elec­tricity and water produc­tion more sustainable pays off, as the current geopo­litical situation is driving up fuel and energy prices. Residents are already feel­ing the impact of these price hikes. A large portion of their wages goes toward water and electricity bills. The measures we are tak­ing must result in residents of Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba feeling the finan­cial benefits, both in the short and long term.”

Dutch Minister of Social Affairs and Employment Hans Vijlbrief said: “On Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba, people are experi­encing increasing costs of electricity, water and inter-net. That is why we are now taking a major step to lower the cost of living, with sus­tainable solutions that will continue to deliver results from 2027 onwards.”

The Daily Herald.