Dr. Wouter Veenendaal, Professor of Kingdom Relations and Associate Professor of Comparative Political Science at Leiden University, delivered his inaugural lecture on Mon­day. Sitting in the centre of the bench on the left is Professor Francio Guadeloupe, President of the University of St. Martin in Philipsburg. The Dutch pub­lic has a …

The Dutch gov­ernment has presented its vision for economic development in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. In plans submitted to the House of Representatives by State Secre­tary Zsolt Szabo (Digitisation and Kingdom Relations) on behalf of Minister Dirk Beljaarts (Econom­ic Affairs), key conditions are out­lined to strengthen the economies …

A sexual health training was conducted in Saba last month, which aimed to equip professionals with tools to educate young­sters to make informed and healthy decisions. The training, called “Long Live Love” and held Feb­ruary 18-20, adapted the curriculum of the Dutch “Lang Leve de Liefde” programme of SOA Aids …

The Adviso­ry Division of the Kingdom Council of State has raised concerns that the Nether­lands’ national Climate Plan excludes the Caribbean ter­ritories, focusing solely on the European part of the country. In its advisory opinion, the Council of State notes that under the Climate Act, the plan applies only to …

Saba’s Island Council met last Tuesday to discuss a wide range of issues, such as ferry and air services, invasive species control, cost of living and housing. Island Council Member Vito Charles raised concerns about the “Makana” ferry, particularly the smell of diesel on board and associated health risks to …

A growing dispute has emerged be­tween Dutch Minister of In­terior Affairs and Kingdom Relations Judith Uitermark and State Secretary Zsolt Szabo over the allocation of the 66-million-euro slavery fund designated for Cura­cao, Aruba, and St. Maarten (CAS countries), as well as Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba (BES islands). The disagreement …

The Genetic Lega­cies of Slavery and Poverty Project initiated by the Saba Archaeological Center Foundation SABARC will call for local descendants to voluntarily provide DNA, preferably blood, to ex­plore links between slavery, poverty, race, class, gender, diet and genetic predisposi­tions to hypertension and type two diabetes amongst Saba’s residents from the …

Monday evening saw the start to a week-long schedule of presentations and events by the Saba Ar­cheological Center Foun­dation and the Saba Heri­tage Center to mark Black History Month. “These gatherings are dedicated to educating and raising awareness among the Saban public about the history of the transatlantic slave trade …

Team Saba won the 6 a side soccer championship or­ganized by the SSFF (St. Eustatius Sports Facilities Foundation) in collabora­tion with IBOS (Interna­tional Brothers of Statia soccer club.) The cham­pionship was held on Sat­urday at the Johan Cruyff soccer field in Statia. The Competition had 4 local participating teams along …

As a direct outcome of the BES Summit held in Saba on February 12, the Island Councils of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba have jointly sent a protest letter to Dutch State Secretary of Kingdom Relations and Digitisation Zsolt Szabo. This letter addresses con­cerns raised by Szabo’s let­ter to the …