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Between September 2026 and December 2026, Statistics Netherlands CBS will conduct the Labour force survey on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba (so-called BES is­lands). Interviewers will go to randomly selected households to administer the questionnaire. This is a sample survey conducted among households every two years. Through it, CBS measures labour market develop­ments in the Caribbean Netherlands. One of the most important results is the unemployment rate, i.e. the percentage of the labour force that is looking for a job. Others include labour participation rate, level of education, profession and working hours. To gain a better understanding of the labour market devel­opments on the three islands, a total of 1,233 addresses were randomly selected on Bonaire, 578 on St. Eustatius and 571 on Saba. CBS is obligated by law to process the collected informa­tion strictly confidentially. Therefore, various measures were taken to protect the collected information. All interviewers have a CBS badge and must identify them­selves upon request, so that everyone can be sure. Statistics Netherlands never provides identifiable data to third parties, not even to other government bodies. The Daily Herald.

On Tues­day, Budget Day (“Prinsjes­dag”) in The Hague, the ‘Tax Plan Act 2027 was sub­mitted to the Dutch Parlia­ment. This bill still needs to be approved by the House of Representatives and Senate, after which it will take effect on January 1, 2027. The Jetten Cabinet pro­poses two tax measures that are applicable on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba (so-called BES islands). The proposals regard kilometre allowances and fuel duty. The maximum amounts for car expenses, tax-free kilo­metre allowances and certain extraordinary expenses are increased from US $0.20 to $ 0.22 per kilometre. This also applies to the maximum tax-free allowance that em­ployers can reimburse to em­ployees. The increase applies with retroactive effect from 1 Jan­uary 2026. Employers are not required to pay the higher al­lowance. To limit the consequences of the higher fuel prices, it is proposed to temporarily reduce the duty on petrol in 2027: Bonaire: 5.5 dollar cents per litre; St. Eustatius and Saba: 4.19 dollar cents per litre. This temporary reduction is in place from January 1 up to and including 31 De­cember 2027. The proposed measures are part of the Tax Plan 2027 and still need to go through the further legisla­tive process. The Daily Herald.

The Netherlands’ draft 2027 budget, present­ed on Tuesday, contains a provision of thirty million euros to help reduce the cost of living in Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. Investments will be made to ensure lower rates for electricity, drinking water, and telecommunications in the long term. A total of 12 million euros will be available to produce more sustainable energy in Saba and St. Eustatius, while the seawater intake system in Bonaire, essential for turning salt water into drinking water, will be re­placed to the tune of eight million euros. Specifically for St. Eusta­tius, some 1.7 million euros will be allocated to replace leaking water pipes while 2.1 million euros has been earmarked to modernise the fibre-optic network. The three public entities may also receive additional funds in 2027 to provide financial assistance to par­ents who are unable to pay their share of childcare expenses. A total of 6.2 million euros has been re­served for these subsidies. “In 2027, we will take signif­icant steps to lower the cost of living. In doing so, we are continuing to implement the recommendations of the Caribbean Netherlands So­cial Minimum Committee,” said Dutch State Secretary of Kingdom Relations Eric van der Burg. He added: “Making elec­tricity and water produc­tion more sustainable pays off, as the current geopo­litical situation is driving up fuel and energy prices. Residents are already feel­ing the impact of these price hikes. A large portion of their wages goes toward water and electricity bills. The measures we are tak­ing must result in residents of Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba feeling the finan­cial benefits, both in the short and long term.” Dutch Minister of Social Affairs and Employment Hans Vijlbrief said: “On Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba, people are experi­encing increasing costs of electricity, water and inter-net. That is why we are now taking a major step to lower the cost of living, with sus­tainable solutions that will continue to deliver results from 2027 onwards.” The Daily Herald.

In 2027, the Dutch government will continue its efforts to strengthen and restore the unique natural environment and ecosystems in the Ca­ribbean Netherlands. A to­tal of 47.5 million euros has been made available for this purpose. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature LVVN announced this on Budget Day (“Prinsjesdag”). According to a release, the natural environment of Bo­naire, St. Eustatius and Saba is unique and indispensable, “for the people who live there, for the economy and tourism, but also for pro­tecting the islands against the effects of, for instance, climate change.” “As the natural environ­ment on the so-called BES islands is under pressure, the national government will continue its efforts in 2027 to strengthen and re­store the unique natural en­vironment and ecosystems. With an additional 40 mil­lion euros, bringing the total to 47.5 million for the sec­ond phase of the Nature and Environment Policy Plan for the Caribbean Netherlands, an important next step is be­ing taken in collaboration with the islands.” added the statement. Work is being carried out in collaboration with the is­lands on measures such as the restoration of vegeta­tion and coral, combating erosion and overgrazing, and reducing invasive spe­cies and water pollution. Consideration is also being given to how nature conser­vation and monitoring can be further improved. The aim is to create a natu­ral environment that is more resilient to climate change whilst also contributing to a healthy living environment and economy on the islands. The Daily Herald.

King Willem-Al­exander placed cooperation with Curacao, Aruba, St. Maarten and the so-called BES islands (Bo­naire, St. Eustatius and Saba) prominently in Tuesday’s 2026 throne speech, announcing that a summit between the four countries of the Kingdom of the Neth­erlands will become an annual event and closing this section in Dutch and Papiamentu with the words: “Nos to un Reino — wij zijn een Koninkrijk” (We are one Kingdom). The Caribbean passage was no­tably more extensive than in the previous year. The Dutch govern­ment intends to work closely with the autonomous countries as well as the three overseas public bod­ies known as Caribbean Nether­lands. A central development is the planned summit later this year. The Netherlands, Curacao, Aru­ba and St. Maarten are expected to discuss progress and oppor­tunities across a broad range of areas, including the economy, in come security, climate poli­cy and waste management. According to the king, this meeting will no longer be treated as a one-time initia­tive. The summit is to be­come an annual tradition, creating a recurring politi­cal forum for cooperation between the four govern­ments. For the Caribbean coun­tries that commitment could be significant be­cause several of the issues specifically identified in the speech -economic develop­ment, cost of living, climate resilience and waste man­agement- are areas in which the islands have repeatedly sought cooperation or fincial and technical sup­port within the kingdom. The speech, however, neither announced specific new funding for Curacao, Aruba or St. Maarten nor detailed new agreements in these areas. Instead, it established continued and more structured coop­eration as a policy objec­tive and identifies the an­nual summit as the forum through which progress and opportunities will be discussed. The king also connected present-day cooperation to the shared history of the kingdom. In November, the kingdom will commemo­rate the 250th anniversary of the salute fired from St. Eustatius in 1776 in rec­ognition of an American vessel — an event associ­ated with the Netherlands becoming the first country to recognise the newly in­dependent United States. The speech presented the anniversary as an example of the Caribbean islands’ historical importance and the kingdom’s long-stand­ing connections with the wider world. The Caribbean message came at the end of a broad­er section about improving government cooperation. The Jetten Cabinet wants government to become less bureaucratic, more efficient and more accessible, while strengthening cooperation between different levels of government. Elsewhere, the speech focused heavily on chal­lenges facing the European Netherlands, including housing shortages, migra­tion, healthcare, economic competitiveness, climate change, infrastructure, na­tional security and defence. Government warned that financial resources remain limited and that not every problem can be addressed simultaneously. Security also featured prominently. The cabinet plans additional defence spending in 2027 amid concerns about Russia, Ukraine and broader inter­national instability, while cyberattacks, disinforma­tion, terrorism and organ­ised crime were identified as growing threats. Although the speech did not specifically connect those security investments to the Caribbean, defence and foreign affairs are king­dom responsibilities, mak­ing international instability and security policy directly relevant to Curacao, Aruba and St. Maarten as well. Climate policy may simi­larly become an important point of discussion at the new annual summit. The king described climate ad­aptation and the transition toward cleaner and more secure energy supplies as major long-term chal­lenges, while the Caribbean section explicitly identifies climate as one of the areas for cooperation between the four countries. The strongest political message for the Dutch Ca­ribbean, however, was the decision to institutionalise high-level talks between the four countries. Rather than referring to Curacao, Aru­ba and St. Maarten only at the margins of Dutch poli­cy, the 2026 throne speech explicitly placed the rela­tionship within a recurring kingdom-wide framework. The Daily Herald.

King William-Alexander gave his annual speech to the States General on the third Tuesday in September. The king emphasized that solving political problems in the Netherlands takes time. “Not everything can be done at once,” he said on Tuesday during the speech from the throne, in which he announced the government’s plans for next year. King Willem-Alexander began his speech by insisting on the importance of community spirit and cooperation as an “antidote to polarization.” According to him, politics plays an important role in this. “One of the most important questions is whether people still have confidence in politics and government to solve the problems.” Nevertheless, the king emphasized that solving problems takes time. “The honest message is: not everything can be done at once,” he said. In doing so, the cabinet mainly encounters financial limits. “Because we should not saddle our children and grandchildren with an irresponsibly high national debt.” That is why the government is pursuing a budgetary policy “that does not postpone the bill.” One political problem is more of a priority for the cabinet than the other. For example, it is irresponsible to postpone or cancel efforts to address the nitrogen problem. Earlier this year, the cabinet presented a nitrogen approach, but it met with considerable resistance from right-wing parties. These plans also led to farmers’ protests in various places in the country. The cabinet will continue to discuss the plans with farmers and provinces. There is a lot of money available to help farmers adapt their business. The king acknowledges the pain and uncertainty of farming families in the vicinity of vulnerable nature. “Farmers deserve clarity and perspective.” The king also paid attention to the heated debate around asylum and migration. According to him, there should always be room in the Netherlands for people fleeing war and oppression. He discussed demonstrations earlier this year in Loosdrecht and Engelen, where an asylum seekers’ center was almost set on fire and houses and vehicles were destroyed and defaced. “It must be clear that threats and violence are unacceptable. Stricter controls at EU external borders and cooperation with countries outside the EU should reduce the influx. Getting a grip on migration is a topic that is about togetherness.” The king also discussed the importance of investments in defense and Ukraine, the threat of organized crime in the Netherlands, and the need for a pragmatic approach to the housing shortage. Cabinet still has to seek support for plans Each year, the prime minister writes the Speech from the Throne, which the king delivers on Budget Day. This year, Rob Jetten wrote it for the first time. Parliament still must approve the plans read out in the speech from the throne. This year, the minority cabinet will have to seek support to guide its plans through the Senate and House. The opposition has already criticized the leaked plans and the cabinet’s attempts to collaborate with opposition parties. That political game continues during the General Political Reflections on Wednesday and Thursday, when the House of Representatives debates the plans read out by the king.  

Collision between scooter and car On Monday, the 14th of September, at around 7:15 AM, the central control room received a report of a collision between a car and a scooter at the intersection of Pasture Street and Gray Bush Street. The driver of the scooter was injured and was taken to the hospital by ambulance for medical treatment. In accordance with the ‘botsen is blazen’ policy, a breathalyzer test was administered to the driver of the car, which showed no indication of alcohol consumption. Due to medical reasons, a breathalyzer testcould not be administered to the driver of the scooter. KPCN

A colorectal cancer screening programme will launch in Saba on September 28. The screening is intend­ed for men and women between 55 and 75 years old. “This is the first screening programme on Saba in which men are also eligible to participate,” national government service agency RCN said in a press release. “The colorec­tal cancer screening programme makes it possible to de­tect colorectal cancer at an early stage, giving everyone the best possible chance of receiving effective treatment.” Everyone in the target group will receive an invitation to participate in the colorectal cancer screening programme within a two-year period, RCN said. “Once they have received their invitation, they can reg­ister to participate. Residents between the ages of 55 and 75 who have not yet received an invitation but would still like to participate can contact the screening organisation on Saba directly from September 28, 2026. Participation is free of charge,” RCN said. The colorectal cancer screening programme will be car­ried out by Saba Cares. To ensure that follow-up examina­tions can be offered in the event of abnormal test results, Saba Cares is collaborating with Bonaire’s Fundashon Mariadal hospital. For more information, persons can contact Saba Cares at tel. 599-416-3288 or tel. 599-416-6033 (WhatsApp). Persons can also send an e-mail to info@sabacares.org. The Daily Herald.

Mental health issues among young people, bullying, and dan­gers originating from other countries are the primary concerns of children and youngsters in Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. This is according to the 2026 UNICEF Youth Advice, for which young people on the BES islands were surveyed for the first time. Alongside their concerns, young people express a clear wish: they want to be taken more seriously by policymakers. What is currently most on the minds of children and young people? UNICEF Netherlands asks this ques­tion every year to a repre­sentative group of children and young people (aged 10-18). Their concerns, ideas, and recommenda­tions form the UNICEF Youth Advice. For the first time, young people in Bonaire, St. Eu­statius and Saba have been included in this advice. On the islands, mental health issues, bullying and dangers from other countries make up the top three concerns. Mental health issues top the list, cited by 28% of re­spondents. Young people see their peers struggling with stress, feelings of gloom and loneliness, and they worry about the short­age of psychologists and therapists. They are calling for more accessible mental health support and for safe spaces where young people can talk about their feel­ings. Bullying follows closely in second place, with 27%. Young people state that bullying is widespread and often involves discrimina­tion; they also note a lack of clear instructions at school regarding how to address and report bullying. A 15-year-old girl from Saba comments: “Thera­pists could come from out­side the island, because I know most people don’t feel comfortable talking to people from Saba — people they see every day.” Ranking third is the issue of threats from other coun­tries. Young people from Bonaire and Saba, in par­ticular, fear that insecurity in neighbouring countries could impact the islands. They point out, for in­stance, that illegal weapons and drugs reach the islands relatively easily by sea. Young people were also asked whether they feel heard by policymakers. It turns out they do not: the Public Bodies receive a score of 5.4 for listening, while the Dutch govern­ment scores a 5.0. “We of­ten fill out surveys, but too little actually changes as a result,” says one of the young people. The Youth Advice is shared with politicians across all the islands, and the recommendations and insights are incorporated into the Child-Friendly Cit­ies programme. Research methodology Commissioned by UNI­CEF Netherlands, Ipsos I&O conducted research among young people aged 10 to 17. The study consist­ed of both quantitative and qualitative phases. A total of 113 young peo­ple across the BES islands completed a comprehen­sive questionnaire regard­ing social issues they con­sider important, their con­cerns about these issues, and potential solutions. The questionnaire first gave young people the opportu­nity to suggest social issues they felt deserved attention. Next, they could select the themes they deemed important from a broad list of topics. They were then asked to rank these topics by order of importance. In this way, the study identifies not only the issues young people mention but also those they prioritise most highly. In addition to the ques­tionnaire, a focus group was organised with young people from the BES is­lands to explore these top­ics in greater depth. As the world’s most in­fluential children’s rights organisation, UNICEF champions the rights of ev­ery child. UNICEF holds a unique mandate from the United Nations to ensure all children receive what they are entitled to — a mis­sion it has pursued for over 75 years, stated a release. “Thanks to our global presence, we can respond quickly whenever and wherever help is needed. We work systematically to improve living conditions by engaging governments, parents, and children them­selves. Together with part­ners, donors, and volun­teers, we ensure that every child can simply be a child — always and everywhere.” The Daily Herald.

The 11th meeting of the BES Summit was held on September 4th 2026, at the Corallium Conference Room in Bonaire. The summit brought together the island councils of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba to discuss matters of shared importance and to strengthen cooperation among the three public entities. Sint Eustatius currently chairs the BES Summit and will continue to do so until June 2027. One of the agenda items that was discussed during the summit was the results of a new study by the University of Curaçao on the choice between the current OCT status (LGO) and a possible status as an outermost region, UPG. The report was commissioned by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations and the researchers were tasks with an analysis of the pros and cons of a OCT or UPG status for the islands of the Caribbean Netherlands. As a focus of this study 4 of the 6 islands were included mainly Aruba, Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius. In a reaction to the findings of this study, the public entities had an exploratory session where each island took note of this research and the findings and exchanged their initial views on the matter. The island councils reaffirmed that, before considering a position relating to a possible change in status, they will explore relevant and objective expert information. Information is needed to provide the councils and communities with a clear understanding of the potential advantages, disadvantages, opportunities, and implications of a possible transition. The councils agreed that citizen participation must be a priority in any decision concerning the future status of the islands including whether the manner of association to the European union should be revised. Further due diligence will be pursued by each island as they commit to return to the discussion as soon as possible. During the summit concerns were also raised for a current topic that is being discussed in the second chamber. This relates to the 30 million allocated by the ministries to address the high cost of living on the BES islands. During the discussion, concerns were raised regarding the distribution and allocation of these funds that were allocated through the coalition agreement of the current government. The main purpose of these funds, which according to the coalition agreement is meant to lower the cost of living on the islands, is being distributed and allocated in a manner that merely keeps the cost of living afloat as opposed to lowering it. The councils agreed to prepare a joint letter outlining their concerns and seeking further clarification regarding the allocation of the 30 million and to direct this to the house of representatives. In a continuous effort to provide structural, efficient and sustainable mechanisms of cooperation, the summit also discussed the importance of documenting the developments, achievements, and ongoing goals of the BES Summit. In preparation for upcoming elections and possible new councilmembers, the importance of transition and transfer documents was emphasized. The proposed transfer document would serve as a guide for incoming island councils, providing them with an understanding of the purpose of the BES Summit, its history, the issues addressed, and the work that remains ongoing. The summit also raised the importance of establishing an overview that captures the developments of the BES Summit to date and identifies which goals and action points have already been accomplished. The importance was also raised that the eventual transfer document should include the history and reasons behind the establishment of the BES Summit, ensuring that future councils understand its origins, purpose, and continued importance. As a continuation of the previous BES Summit, a dedicated section was included for the petit committees, which were specifically tasks with priority issues and action points of shared importance to the islands. During the meeting, the petit committees on healthcare, education, and the establishment of a BES Representative provided updates on their progress and made agreements on the way forward. Education The petite committee on education explored the joint principles that the education system on the islands need to be guided by. To this end a proposal was presented for a joint motion on education, aimed at encouraging and strengthening cooperation between the islands and establishing stronger on island organizational capacity with the intention to address the challenges facing each island’s education system. The proposed motion will be reviewed by the respective island councils, with the intention of having it formally ratified on each island and work towards structural improvement. BES Representative The petite committee working on the establishment of a BES Representative provided an update on the steps being taken to secure financing for the position. The committee also discussed a proposed profile and detailed description of the position. Agreements were made regarding further actions and a timeframe, with specific follow-up points assigned to each island. Healthcare The healthcare petite committee is working toward establishing a more structured and documented approach to gathering information directly from the communities. The goal is to better identify and highlight challenges and experiences within the healthcare system. To this end the committee is reviewing a collective data gathering process that will be launched across all three islands. The results of this process will give strategic data markers to be presented to the policy makers and law makers that better suit the needs of the people of the island. The next BES Summit will take place in December The island councils remain committed to continued cooperation, open dialogue, and joint action on matters that directly affect the communities of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba and look back on a successful summit. PES.