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  • Saba and St. Eustatius are two small islands in the Caribbean. Within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, they share the status of “special municipality” together with Bonaire. The history of Saba and St. Eustatius goes back thousands of years, and much of this past can still be seen in the landscape. Experts from Saba and St. Eustatius, from the wider Caribbean, and from the European Netherlands have researched and documented this cultural heritage. On 19 February 2026, they will present their findings at a symposium organized by the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE) and the Public Entities of Saba and St. Eustatius. On Saba, The Unspoiled Queen of the Caribbean, people have continually adapted to changing circumstances. Its nature is pristine, and the island is renowned for its cloud forest on the volcano and the coral reef of the Saba Bank. St. Eustatius, The Historical Gem of the Caribbean, has a very different history. It was once the center of Caribbean trade. Goods from all over the world were traded here, and it was also an important port in the trade of enslaved people. Today, both islands have their own distinctive architecture, landscapes, celebrations, and traditions. For the first time, the landscapes and heritage of Saba and St. Eustatius have been brought together in two books and in digitally accessible maps. This is necessary, as the spatial challenges are significant. Tourism, housing development, demographic changes, and climate change threaten the character of both islands. A live connection will be established on this day between St. Eustatius and Amersfoort, allowing residents of both the Caribbean Netherlands and the European Netherlands to learn about the shared histories of Saba and St. Eustatius. When: Thursday, 19-02-2026,  local time 10:00 – 14:00 Registration Participation is free of charge. However, registration is required for attendance in Amersfoort and for online participation. You can register via the button below. For questions about the symposium, you can contact Gertjan de Boer (g.de.boer@cultureelerfgoed.nl). For participation on St. Eustatius, registration via this page is not necessary. Please send an email to Shandra Rouse at getit@duobrandits.com. Register Program (St. Eustatius time) Time Activity 09.45 Walk-in 09.50 Digital walk-in 10.00 Welcome by moderators Raimie Richardson (Public Entity St. Eustatius) on St. Eustatius and Henk Baas (Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands) in Amersfoort 10.15 Presentation on the concept ‘landscape biography’ and European-Caribbean cooperation in the field of heritage Gertjan de Boer (Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands) 10.30 Interactive moment between the Caribbean and European Netherlands 10.45 Break with photo compilation of St. Eustatius 11.00 Introduction to the Landscape Biography of St. Eustatius and conversation with islanders and authors Raimie Richardson (Public Entity of St. Eustatius) 11.45 Introduction to the Landscape Biography of Saba and conversation with islanders and authors Sharifa Balfour (Saba Heritage Center) 12.30 Break with photo compilation of Saba 12.45 Presenting landscape biographies and launch of heritage atlases, followed by closing remarks Raimie Richardson (Public Entity of St. Eustatius), Sharifa Balfour (Saba Heritage Center) 13.15 Shared lunch Participants are cordially invited to lunch with other participants and authors after the symposium. Dinner will be served simultaneously in Amersfoort. During the meal, the locations remain connected via the livestream.

  • At the moment, there is no benefit in the Caribbean Netherlands (CN) for employees who lose their job. In the run-up to a structural Unemployment Act for the CN (Werkloosheidswet BES; WV BES), the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW) is currently working on a Temporary Unemployment Benefit BES regulation. With the Temporary Unemployment Benefit BES regulation, there will be a benefit of a maximum three months for employees in the CN who become unemployed through no fault of their own. On the 17th of February 2026, an internet consultation starts for the draft of this Temporary Unemployment Benefit BES regulation, to which all interested parties can react. Temporary Unemployment Benefit BES regulation The Temporary Unemployment Benefit BES regulation is meant for all employees on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba who are qualified as employees under the Wages and Salaries Tax Act BES. An exception to this applies to civil servants in the public sector. The Severance Pay (Civil Servants) Act BES applies to them and consequently not this new scheme. The immediate income consequences of job loss can be eased with the benefit under the Temporary Unemployment Benefit BES regulation. The conditions to qualify for the benefit are: The employee must lose their (entire) job; The employee cannot become unemployed through their own fault’. In the ten calendar months prior to the last day in employment, the employee worked at least one hour in 26 calendar weeks. An application for an Unemployment social benefit can be submitted to the RCN unit SZW once the temporary regulation has entered into force. Internet consultation The Ministry of SZW attaches great value to the contribution of interested parties and other stakeholders to the realisation of legislation and regulations. That is why an internet consultation for the Temporary Unemployment Benefit BES regulation starts on the 17th of February 2026. This internet consultation continues up to and including the 17th of March 2026. The input from the internet consultation will be used to improve and supplement the legislative proposal, where required. Anyone can react from 17 February up to and including the 17th of March 2026 (6:59 PM local time) to the internet consultation via: https://www.internetconsultatie.nl/tijdelijkeregelingwerkloosheidsvoorzieningbes . RCN  

  • Arrest for assault. On Thursday, the 12th of February, around 6:50 PM, a 36-year-old man with the initialsJ.C.W. was arrested on Samuel A. Charles Street on Saba for assault and robbery withviolence. The investigation into this case is ongoing. KPCN

  • The Saba Tourist Bureau partnered with Diamond PR and Breeze Travel Solutions on February 5 to unveil plans for the island’s tourism development in 2026, including a new booking platform launching soon on the Saba Tourism website. Diamond PR outlined its North American PR strategy, positioning Saba as a quiet nature escape offering authentic, culturally immersive experiences. The approach emphasizes sustainable tourism and meaningful connections with local traditions. The firm noted Saba’s growing international recognition, including exposure through the International Media Marketplace and its recent feature in The New York Times’ “52 Places to Go in 2026” as an environmentally conscious destination. Breeze Travel Solutions will manage the new booking platform, designed to streamline trip planning and expand Saba’s reach across additional markets. Launch details will be announced soon. The initiatives reinforce Saba’s brand as a destination for nature-focused, authentic travel experiences. Tourist Bureau

  • Care and Youth Caribbean Netherlands (ZJCN) reports 6,971 medical referrals in 2025, up from 6,787 in 2024. Referrals occur when residents of Bonaire, St. Eustatius, or Saba need specialist care unavailable locally. Referrals peaked in 2023 at 7,088, with an unusually high 25% for non-emergency treatments compared to the typical 7%. Numbers stabilized around 7,000 in 2024-2025 after gradually recovering from pandemic-era travel restrictions. Nearly half of the referred patients are aged 40-65, with women comprising 51-57% of cases. St. Eustatius has the highest referral rate, largely due to kidney dialysis needs. Referrals from St. Eustatius and Saba increased over the past two years, while Bonaire’s decreased. Most patients from Saba and St. Eustatius go to St. Maarten; Bonaire residents typically travel to Curaçao or Aruba. Radiology represents the largest specialty category, while gynaecology, surgery, and internal medicine saw higher referral rates in 2020. ZJCN will continue monthly monitoring and publish data at zorgenjeugdcn.nl to inform policy and strengthen partnerships with regional care providers. RCN

  • Customs Caribbean Netherlands made a strong impact in 2025, registering 35 enforcement findings aimed at combating crime, strengthening border security, and protecting public health and nature. Illegal Cash Flows Under the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Prevention) Act BES (WWFT BES), 14 violations were recorded — all on Bonaire. Customs detected USD 209,545 in undeclared cash carried by travellers. Most cases resulted in administrative fines for failing to meet declaration requirements. Drug Seizures Customs established 11 narcotics-related findings under the Opium Act BES 1960. Seized substances included cannabis, hashish, and XTC: Bonaire (9 cases): 2,770g cannabis, 59g hashish, 7.44g XTC St. Eustatius (1 case): 96g cannabis Saba (1 case): 0.25g cannabis Weapons and Ammunition A total of 7 findings were registered under the Firearms and Ammunition Act BES. Confiscated items included stun guns, pepper sprays, lipstick guns, knuckle dusters, and ammunition, with cases spread across all three islands. Public Health and Environmental Protection Customs also acted to safeguard health and biodiversity: 4 pharmaceutical violations, including products containing diclofenac and 192 sildenafil pills. 186.4 kg of pork intercepted under animal product import controls. 440 kg of queen conch (karko), a protected species, seized on Bonaire. Looking Ahead Through targeted inspections, modern detection tools, and close cooperation with partner agencies, Customs Caribbean Netherlands effectively managed border risks in 2025. The organisation will continue this focused enforcement approach in 2026 RCN

  • The Dutch cabinet will not take immediate action to lower high airfares between Sint Maarten and the islands of Saba and Sint Eustatius (Statia), Minister Tieman (Infrastructure and Water Management) told Parliament in response to questions from CDA MPs. Although the government acknowledges that the air links serve an essential public function in a small market with only one provider and few alternatives, it plans to wait for the possible introduction of a Public Service Obligation (PSO). A PSO would allow the government to regulate ticket prices and flight frequency, but requires an amendment to the BES Aviation Act, submitted to Parliament on December 1, 2025. Implementation would take at least two years and funding has not yet been secured. Estimated annual subsidy costs range from $3.8 to $7.6 million, with updated figures expected in the second quarter of 2026. In the meantime, no measures will be taken to reduce ticket prices. The ferry service between the islands will receive €1.5 million in government support for 2026 and 2027, but funding beyond that period is uncertain. Essential services such as medical care are covered through separate arrangements, including dedicated medical flights.

  • Rapidly rising airfares between St. Maarten and the islands of Saba and St. Eustatius are putting daily life under severe pressure. That is according to Island Secretary Bram Strepel, who raised the alarm in a LinkedIn post. “The now unaffordable connectivity (more than $400 for a 12-minute flight) directly affects Saba and Statia in terms of quality of life, tourism, economy and healthcare.” The quote was prominently displayed alongside a photo accompanying Strepel’s post. Political attention, but little urgency so far The issue has now reached The Hague. Members of Parliament Heera Dijk (D66) and Tijs van den Brink (CDA) have submitted formal questions to the cabinet about the situation. They are pressing the government on how it intends to safeguard accessibility for the islands, particularly as the air connections fulfil a vital public function. Strepel, however, says that despite this growing political focus, the sense of urgency remains insufficient. According to him, residents depend on these flights for access to medical care, education and work. Visit bij Kingdom Relations committee planned Attention in Parliament is expected to increase further in the coming months. The standing committee for Kingdom Relations has scheduled a visit to Saba in the near future. The soaring cost of air travel will almost certainly be discussed during meetings with island officials and local organisations. Pressure on liveability and the economy For the small Caribbean islands, air travel is often the only realistic way to reach hospitals, government offices or family members. High ticket prices also deter tourists, with direct consequences for hotels, restaurants and other local businesses. Island authorities have therefore been calling for temporary measures while longer-term solutions, such as a public service obligation scheme or other forms of financial support are still being developed. Whether the cabinet will announce concrete steps in the short term remains unclear. In the meantime, pressure on residents and businesses continues to mount. Bes-Reporter.

  • Dear Residents and Community of Saba, We’re celebrating a milestone—the 50th Anniversary of Saba Carnival—and we want YOU to be part of shaping this historic event! The Community Development and Culture Department invites you to share your ideas, memories, and suggestions to help make this celebration truly unforgettable. Your voice matters, and we’re excited to hear from you. Please take a few minutes to complete our survey: https://forms.gle/zDAZTumkGpG8NSnPA The survey closes on [date], so don’t wait! Thank you for helping us honor our culture and create a celebration worthy of this special anniversary. PES

  • Join us to discuss the results of the recent survey on possible spatial upgrades to The Bottom, and to give your input on design aspects related to traffic, vegetation, amenities, and facilities. We encourage everyone to attend, especially residents who live in The Bottom. February 24, 2026 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Queen Wilhelmina Library PES

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