Saba News News and Information from Saba Island, Dutch Caribbean
Tomorrow, Carnival begins, and this year, we celebrate fifty years of tradition on our island. Fifty years of music, costumes, food shared among neighbors, and the joy that has passed from one generation to the next. Let us honor this Carnival tradition by celebrating fully and in good spirits. Our police officers will be present throughout the celebrations. They are there to help keep everyone safe. While enforcing the law is part of their responsibility, their primary goal is to ensure that everyone can enjoy Carnival and return home safely at the end of each day. I encourage everyone to work with them and treat them as partners in making this a safe and successful celebration. My message is a simple one: Enjoy Carnival. Spend time with family and friends, make new memories, and let those memories be of the music, the food, the laughter, and the celebrations. Let us mark this 50th Carnival with joy, not with incidents or accidents that could have been prevented. Let us mark this 50th Carnival with no incidents or accidents. That is how we honor fifty years of tradition, not with something we regret. To our visitors joining us from off-island, we welcome you to Saba. We are pleased to have you celebrate with us. To the people of Saba, let us continue to show the warmth and hospitality for which our island is known by welcoming our guests with kindness, good company, and the spirit that makes Saba special. Enjoy Carnival, Saba. Celebrate fully, celebrate safely, and celebrate together. Jocelyn Roberto Levenstone, Gezaghebber of Saba
Prices on Saba up by 2.3 percent compared to Q1 On Saba, consumer prices were 2.3 percent higher on average in Q2 compared with Q1. On Saba, as on the other islands, this rise in prices was mainly due to higher transport prices. Petrol was 20.9 percent more expensive than in the previous quarter, and air fares were 9 percent higher. Food products and non-alcoholic beverages were 2.9 percent more expensive. This was largely because fresh vegetables, frozen meals, and coffee have become more expensive. Prices on Saba in Q2 were 5.0 percent higher year-on-year and 2.3 percent higher quarter-on-quarter. Prices on Bonaire in Q2 were 3.3 percent higher year on year, and 1.8 percent higher quarter on quarter. Prices on St Eustatius in Q2 were 5.2 percent higher year on year and 1.5 percent higher quarter on quarter. CBS
- July 23, 2026
Funtopia Living Statue introduced to Saba youth
The Funtopia Youth Initiative Foundation, in partnership with the Child Focus Foundation, introduced children in Saba to the art of living-statue performance during the 2026 Summer Cultural Exchange Programme. The mini—Living Statue Presentation formed part of the programme’s activities, giving children the opportunity to demonstrate the skills they had developed throughout the week while introducing the art form to a new generation on Saba. Students learnt character development, controlled breathing, concentration, facial expression, statue poses, slow-motion movement and techniques for engaging audiences without speaking. They also painted and prepared their own costumes before presenting their characters. The workshop was led by Quair Hodge, a Funtopia performer, youth leader and cultural ambassador who has been involved in preserving and promoting the art form for more than a decade. Hodge gained regional recognition in 2011 after placing second in the Caribbean Living Statue Presentation in St. Maarten, an event hosted by Beyond Kultura Events Foundation President Loekie Morales. Since then, he has continued performing with Funtopia while appearing at cultural exhibitions, community events and festivals in St. Maarten, Saba, St. Eustatius and Dominica. The Foundation said the workshop reflects its commitment to preserving Caribbean cultural traditions by training young people in the performing arts. Several of Funtopia’s current instructors first participated in the organisation’s youth programmes before returning as performers, mentors and cultural ambassadors. Funtopia Founder and Creative Director Lucinda “La Rich” Audain said the presentation demonstrated how cultural knowledge can be passed from one generation to the next through structured training and mentorship. The Foundation said the Living Statue Presentation marked another step in expanding the art form throughout the Dutch Caribbean while encouraging young people to explore cultural expression through performance. Living-statue performance by Funtopia Youth Initiative Foundation. The Daily Herald.
- July 22, 2026
Cove Bay Playground Reopend
The newly renovated Cove Bay Playground officially reopened on Saturday with a Family Fun Day, welcoming children, families, and community members to celebrate the project’s completion. The new playground has been transformed into a nautical-themed play space that complements its seaside location. Children can climb aboard a pirate ship, enjoy the dolphin spring riders, balance on the octopus seesaw, and make use of the new swings and slides. One of the day’s biggest attractions was the hillside slides, where children spent the afternoon laughing and racing one another to the bottom. In addition to the new play equipment, the project also focused on creating a more comfortable and welcoming space for families. More shaded seating areas have been added, including two new picnic tables built by students of the Saba Comprehensive School Technical School together with their teachers. Located beneath a large shade sail, the picnic area provides a comfortable place for parents and caregivers while children enjoy the playground. During the official reopening, Acting Governor Shamara Nicholson reflected on the project’s journey from concept to completion. She noted that the project began in July 2025, followed by brainstorming sessions with children in August to hear what they wanted to see in their new playground. A preliminary design was presented to the children in October 2025 before a community town hall was held in November to gather additional input. The old playground was removed in April 2026, construction of the new playground began in May 2026, and after months of work, the community was finally able to celebrate the reopening together. In her remarks, Nicholson noted that the playground represents much more than a place to play. It is a space where children can use their imagination, families can spend quality time together, friendships can grow, and people can make lasting memories. The National Postcode Lottery and Jantje Beton provided the funding that made this project possible. Their generous support has helped create a vibrant and inclusive recreational space that Saba’s children and families will enjoy for years to come. The Public Entity Saba extends its sincere appreciation to everyone who contributed to bringing this project to life. Special thanks go to the students and teachers of the Saba Comprehensive School Technical School for designing and constructing the new picnic tables and to the Cove Bay Foundation for its valuable input throughout the design process and its support in organizing the reopening celebration. Appreciation is also extended to all contractors, project partners, and everyone who contributed behind the scenes to the successful completion of the project. The Public Entity Saba thanks everyone who attended Saturday’s celebration and looks forward to seeing the Cove Bay Playground continue to be a place where children can play, explore, and create lasting memories. PES
Van Drumpt will become director of Saba Cares. “My first reaction was: ‘Huh, I’m 72? This is great!'” says the seasoned healthcare director. The role suits him perfectly. “I stopped working at 63, and after nine years, this suddenly came along.” Ernst is already known for being an excellent diver and hiker. And a good cook, too. Now Ernst van Drumpt (72), from the Dutch village of Zelhem, is preparing for a new adventure: he’s set to run a hospital and care center in the Caribbean. Van Drumpt starts his new job on August 1. He has signed a two-year contract and will be responsible for the overall management of the facility, as well as new construction for the clinic and care center. “It’s all very small-scale. We only have limited capacity, about fifteen beds.” For the first few weeks he’ll work remotely from Zelhem before relocating to Saba. Van Drumpt has had a long career in healthcare, starting out as a 17-year-old nursing trainee. Later, he led the care organization Elver (formerly known as Fatima) in Nieuw-Wehl. He has also spent many years volunteering in healthcare in Suriname, and between 2018 and 2020 — before the pandemic — he carried out several healthcare projects on St. Eustatius, Saba’s neighboring island. Written by Anneke Liebrand, De Gelderlander
- July 21, 2026
Funtopia concludes Summer Cultural Exchange programme
On July 17, the Funtopia Youth Initiative Foundation, in partnership with the Child Focus Foundation, concluded its 2026 Summer Cultural Exchange programme in Saba with a final presentation celebrating African and Caribbean culture, creativity and youth leadership. Throughout the week, children between the ages of four to 12 participated in a series of cultural workshops featuring African mask-making, djembe drumming, Afro-Soca dance, a living-statue performance and a beginner and advanced stilt walking class. The final showcase allowed the children to demonstrate the skills, confidence and cultural knowledge they developed during the programme before presenting their completed routines to an audience. The younger participants performed African-inspired rhythms, displayed their handcrafted masks and an Afro-Soca dance. The older group demonstrated their progress through living-statue movement and a stilt-walking presentation, with individual participants receiving opportunities to perform solos to display their newly developed abilities. The programme was led by a young team of Funtopia instructors, several of whom began their own journeys as children participating in Funtopia’s youth-development programmes. They have since grown into trained performers, instructors and cultural ambassadors. The instructional team included Denise Edward, who led Afro-Soca dance and African mask-making; Quair Hodge, who facilitated advanced stilt walking and living-statue performance; Amanda Smith, who taught djembe drumming, AfroSoca and mask-making; and Zora Eeswijk, who assisted with beginner stilt walking, living-statues, drumming and creative activities. Their leadership reflected the long-term impact of investing in the youth and creating opportunities for former participants to return as mentors for the next generation. Funtopia Youth Initiative Foundation extends its appreciation to the Child Focus Foundation for its continued partnership, hospitality and commitment to the children of Saba. The foundation also thanked the participating families, staff members, volunteers and community supporters who contributed to the success of the exchange. The 2026 Summer Cultural Exchange programme concluded not only with a presentation but with new friendships, confidence and a deeper appreciation for the shared cultural traditions that connect Saba, St. Maarten and the wider Caribbean. The Daily Herald.
- July 21, 2026
BES libraries to be strengthened
The libraries of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba (so-called BES) will receive additional support to carry out their statutory duties. This is stated in a bill that Dutch State Secretary Judith Tielen of Education, Culture and Science has sent to the Second Chamber of Parliament (House of Representatives) regarding the strengthening of libraries in the European and Caribbean Netherlands. According to the proposal, all residents of the Netherlands must have access to a library within a reasonable distance of their home. Furthermore, municipalities and public bodies must have at least one library that fulfils all five main functions, namely the provision of information and knowledge, the promotion of reading, offering opportunities for development and education, the organisation of meetings and an introduction to art and culture. “On all three islands, a library branch with a collection and a few staff members was already present. In recent years, additional investments have been made in library services in the Caribbean Netherlands. In this context, the public bodies received contributions to strengthen library facilities. For instance, a new library branch opened on Bonaire in 2025, where all five library functions can be performed,” wrote the VVD state secretary. The library on Saba will become part of a multifunctional centre that is to be built. Discussions are being held with St. Eustatius regarding the further professionalisation of its library. After the implementation of the law, the islands will be given a year to develop a multi-year plan. After three years, they must comply with the duty of care, according to Tielen. The National Representative will supervise this, she replied to questions from the PRO faction. The state secretary is offering the islands related assistance. Together, they receive an annual contribution of 385,000 euros for professionalisation. Eventually this will become part of a discretionary allocation which the islands can spend at their own discretion. “In the long term, a similar working method will apply to the three libraries in the Caribbean Netherlands as to the European Netherlands, where policy freedom is the starting point,” stated Tielen in response to questions from PVV. In addition to the financial contribution, there is support in the form of knowledge and expertise. Just as in the European Netherlands, this is facilitated through a so-called provincial support institution (POI). A pilot project has been running since 2023. Due to the limited number of inhabitants and libraries, one single POI has been chosen for all three islands, Tielen replied to a question from Christen Unie. The three islands will be involved in the selection of which POI will provide support. The Daily Herald.
Makana Ferry Service has temporarily withdrawn its vessel “Makana” from service after a mechanical problem caused visible smoke as the ferry approached Fort Bay Harbor on Wednesday morning. According to the company, the smoke resulted from a malfunction involving one of the vessel’s turbochargers and was not caused by a fire. The ferry arrived safely at Fort Bay Harbor without incident. Following an inspection and consultation with the relevant authorities, passengers were given the option of re-boarding the vessel for its scheduled departure. Those who decided not to continue their journey received full refunds. As a precaution while repairs are carried out, the “M/V Samantha II” will operate the scheduled ferry service in place of the “Makana”. “The safety of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority,” the ferry company said in a statement, acknowledging that the sight of smoke had caused concern among passengers and members of the public. Makana Ferry Service thanked passengers for their patience, understanding and continued support while repairs are completed. Makana Ferry Service has temporarily withdrawn its vessel “Makana” from service after a mechanical problem caused visible smoke as the ferry approached Fort Bay Harbor on Wednesday morning. According to the company, the smoke resulted from a malfunction involving one of the vessel’s turbochargers and was not caused by a fire. The ferry arrived safely at Fort Bay Harbor without incident. Following an inspection and consultation with the relevant authorities, passengers were given the option of re-boarding the vessel for its scheduled departure. Those who decided not to continue their journey received full refunds. As a precaution while repairs are carried out, the “M/V Samantha II” will operate the scheduled ferry service in place of the “Makana”. “The safety of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority,” the ferry company said in a statement, acknowledging that the sight of smoke had caused concern among passengers and members of the public. Makana Ferry Service thanked passengers for their patience, understanding and continued support while repairs are completed. The Daily Herald.
According to figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the median purchasing power on Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba increased in 2024. On Bonaire, households gained 13.7 percent, on St Eustatius 10.8 percent and on Saba 10.4 percent. Single-parent families and households reliant mainly on benefits saw the largest increase. Purchasing power fell for around a quarter of the population, for example due to personal life events. On the advice of the Social Minimum Commission, the government has introduced a number of measures to improve purchasing power from 2023 onwards to strengthen the sense of economic security in the Caribbean Netherlands. For example, the government increased the Statutory Minimum Wage (WML) twice in 2024. Benefits under the General Old Age Pension (AOV), the General Widows’ and Orphans’ Act (AWW) and income support were also increased. These measures led to a rise in purchasing power for both people in employment and recipients of benefit. On Bonaire, the median purchasing power for households reliant on benefits as their main source of income improved by the most, by 21.8 percent. On St Eustatius and Saba, it increased by 17.1 percent and 10.7 percent, respectively. As a result of the increase in benefit payments, the situation for nine out of ten people in households reliant mainly on benefits for their income has improved. On Bonaire, the purchasing power of people in employment rose by 13.2 percent, on St Eustatius by 10.5 percent and on Saba by 10.2 percent. Over 90 percent of residents of the Caribbean Netherlands are members of households that derive their income primarily from work. Single-parent families gained the most In 2024, the median purchasing power rose for all households, but particularly among single-parent families. On Bonaire, purchasing power for this group improved by 19.0 percent, partly due to the increase in child benefit. On St Eustatius and Saba, single-parent families saw their position improve by 18.4 percent and 15.9 percent, respectively. On St Eustatius, one-person households saw the smallest increase, at 5.6 percent. Increase in purchasing power across all age groups In 2024, purchasing power among households rose across all age groups. Among residents of Bonaire with a main breadwinner aged below 40, the largest increase in purchasing power reached 16.1 percent. They are more likely than average to work in sectors where wages are around the minimum wage level and therefore benefit from increases in the minimum wage. On St Eustatius, young people saw their position improve by 11.6 percent, and on Saba by 12.0 percent. Among older people, purchasing power rose mainly due to the increase in the General Old Age Pension (AOV). Largest increase among low income-households The biggest improvements were seen among lower-income households. On Bonaire, purchasing power rose by the most among low-income households, by an average of 19.4 percent. On Saba, low-income households in particular also benefited from the 16.1 percent increase in purchasing power. Purchasing power also improved among other income groups, but to a lesser extent. CBS
Carnival is one of the highlights of the year on St. Eustatius and Saba. A time to celebrate culture, enjoy music, and come together as a community. To help ensure that everyone can enjoy the festivities safely, the Caribbean Netherlands Police Force (KPCN) is asking residents and visitors to celebrate responsibly and look out for one another throughout the Carnival season. During Carnival, police officers will be present at events across both islands to maintain public order, assist residents and visitors, and respond quickly whenever necessary. While KPCN is committed to providing a safe environment, everyone has a role to play in making Carnival a safe and enjoyable experience. To help keep the celebrations safe, KPCN asks everyone to keep the following in mind: Zero tolerance for violence: Fighting and misconduct will not be tolerated. Violators face immediate arrest. No weapons allowed: It is strictly illegal to possess weapons or any objects that can be used to cause harm. Do not use glass bottles: To prevent accidental injuries, please choose plastic or other safe alternatives. No driving under the influence: Driving under the influence of alcohol is illegal. Offenders will be arrested, fined, and risk losing their driver’s license. Avoid noise disturbances after the events: Loud music and shouting are prohibited after events. Sound equipment may be seized if rules are violated. Follow police instructions: Officers are on-site to maintain order and guide emergency responses. Compliance with their instructions is mandatory. KPCN will act against anyone whose behavior threatens the safety of others or disrupts public order. By respecting the rules and looking out for one another, we can all help make Carnival a celebration that is remembered for the right reasons. KPCN.
