In 2020, the population of the Caribbean Netherlands saw gains in purchasing power again. On Bonaire, the year-on-year increase in median purchasing power amounted to 4.2 percent; on St Eustatius 2.4 percent and on Saba 4.1 percent. The highest purchasing power gains were seen among people living on benefits and …
Read More »Island Council concludes visit to the Netherlands
The visit of the Saba Island Council to the Netherlands was generally perceived by the delegation members as very positive and conducive to the relations with the Netherlands, especially in terms of bringing forward Saba’s issues and discussing solutions in the interest of the people. On Friday, July 1, the …
Read More »Saba’s Youth Council left for a working visit to The Netherlands
The Youth Council left Saba on Thursday, June 30th, to start their working visit in the Netherlands. The working trip was made possible by Unicef Netherlands, the Public Entity Saba, and the Ministry of BZK. The Youth Council is scheduled to visit Den Haag, Utrecht, and Rotterdam. Meetings are planned …
Read More »Substantial expansion of Island councils in Caribbean Netherlands
The Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations does not oppose the expansion of the Island Councils of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. Civil servants are working on an amendment to the woIBES law that will make it possible to significantly increase the number of council seats as of the …
Read More »Roald Lapperre Director-General of Kingdom Relations at BZK
Ir. R.P. (Roald) Lapperre will become Director-General for Kingdom Relations at the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. The Council of Ministers has approved the proposal of Minister Bruins Slot of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. The appointment will take effect on the 1st of September, 2022. The Director-General …
Read More »Island Council meets with State Secretary Van Ooijen
A delegation of the Saba Island Council and Commissioner of Public Health Rolando Wilson met with Dutch State Secretary of Public Health, Wellbeing and Sport Maarten van Ooijen in The Hague on Thursday, June 30. The meeting focused on the challenges that Saba as a small island faces in providing …
Read More »Saba and Statia join forces to promote Makana Ferry service
The Public Entities Saba and St. Eustatius have joined forces to assist with the marketing of the Makana Ferry service. Though the Makana Ferry is primarily responsible for the marketing activities of the ferry services between St. Maarten, Saba, and St. Eustatius, the Saba and Statia Tourism Offices can assist …
Read More »Financial supervision Caribbean Netherlands will be reviewed
The financial supervision of the public entities of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba will have a different character. In the autumn, State Secretary Alexandra van Huffelen (Kingdom Relations) will present proposals for amending the finBES Act, which contains rules for the financial policy of the islands. The law that came …
Read More »Wilson highlights meaning of freedom on Emancipation Day
Commissioner of Cultural Affairs Rolando Wilson shared his message on the occasion of Emancipation Day, July 1, which will be observed for a second time in Saba. “This is a significant day, since it shows that we in Saba are in solidarity with our brothers and sisters of the other …
Read More »A relief for the high airfares to SXM is still far away
Again, the Central Government has postponed the decision on how to make airfares affordable in the Caribbean Netherlands. It was expected that the ‘exploration of the subject’ would be completed before the end of this year, but the results are still at least 2 years away. This is evident from …
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