Saba News News and Information from Saba Island, Dutch Caribbean

Bishop Luis Secco (77) has retired. The Dio­cese of Willemstad will be led by Archbishop Jason Gordon of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, during the transition period until a succes­sor is named. The Vatican has appointed Gordon as apostolic administrator. Secco has officially been Bishop of …

Effective January 1, 2025, significant enhancements have been made to the Deposit Guarantee Scheme for the Caribbean Netherlands (DGS BES). These updates include an increased coverage limit, the removal of residency requirements, and the introduction of a funding mechanism. The changes aim to bolster financial stability and enhance consumer protection. …

With the conclusion of the Saba Conservation Foundation’s (SCF) ReLeaf Saba reforestation project, the responsibility for monitoring and maintaining the out-planted trees and those in its tree nursery has been transitioned to the Public Entity’s reforestation project. This step ensures the trees’ survival and extends the impact of SCF’s efforts. …

Collision Saba On Sunday, the 5th of January, a collision between a car and a motorcycle occurred on Gray Bush Street on Saba. The driver of the car lost control of the steering wheel for reasons still unknown and first crashed into a wall, after which the car crashed into the parked motorcycle. The …

Meet Cassandra Labasti-Schmidt (52). She is the (senior) social-psychiatric nurse for Mental Health Caribbean (MHC) on Saba. She has been on the island for two years and is known as ‘the mental health nurse’ or ‘the Aruban lady’. In an interview on the website Carecaribbean.nl Cassandra tells about her work …

In the first half of 2025, Hyacinth House, a traditional Saban cottage located in the heart of Windwardside, will undergo extensive renovations and restorations. Owned by the Public Entity Saba (PES), this historic building had remained untouched during the development of the nearby parking lot to preserve the area’s heritage …

Dear residents of Saba. As we embark upon a new year let us look back at the past and be thankful that we have had no major setbacks or problems. Yes, there have been challenges but we have faced them and are grateful for a new year. Looking ahead let …

WINAIR is pleased to announce the reintroduction of its code-share agreement with Air France, further enhancing connectivity for travellers. This development fol­lows the successful revival of WINAIR’s code-share partnership with Royal Dutch Airlines KLM in November, providing trav­ellers with more convenient options for reaching Carib­bean destinations. Under this renewed agree­ment, …

The site DossierKoninkrijksRelaties reviewed the book ‘Komt een land bij de dokter’ (A country calls on a Doctor), written by general practitioner/street doctor Michelle van Tongerloo (41). She devoted a chapter to her experiences on St. Eustatius, where she worked at the Queen Beatrix Medical Center in 2019-2020. Working as …

Legislation to change tax rates in Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba was approved by the Dutch Senate last Thursday, which has paved the way for the new measures to go into effect on January 1, 2025. With this last legal hurdle now passed, workers in the Ca­ribbean Netherlands will see …

A last minute U-17 6v6 round of Friendly matches, hosted by Oualichi FC with the support of the St. Maarten Football Federation over the last weekend, brought some exciting football action to Emilio Wilson Park. With teams from St. Maarten and a visiting team from Saba showcasing their skills, the …

The Social Safety at Sacred Heart School needs improvements The social, mental, and physical safety of students and staff at Sacred Heart Primary School is currently insufficient. Ongoing Concerns The issue is not limited to isolated incidents but reflects a persistent pattern of neglect that has sustained an unsafe environment …

Last month, Minister of Justice on Sint Maarten, Nathalie Tackling, formerly the provider of Legal Desk services on Saba, made a courtesy visit to the Public Entity Saba and met with Island Governor Jonathan Johnson, Commissioner Bruce Zagers and Department Head of Legal Affairs Devi van Groningen. Attorney Emmely de …

On Saturday, December 14th, Public Entity Saba hosted its annual World Food Day event, celebrating food security and local agriculture. The event featured various speeches, a tour of the hydroponics farm, and a diverse range of local vendors. Local vendors included Saba Reach, which offered fresh produce and local meat; …

The Black Rocks Harbor Project is set to commence initial site preparations in early 2025. Associated road access construction will follow shortly thereafter, within the first quarter of the year. Preliminary activities, including design planning, surveys, logistics, quality assurance and Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) checks, have been underway since …