Saba News News and Information from Saba Island, Dutch Caribbean
- June 23, 2026
Integrity violations reports BES to be taken seriously
Government must take action when there are reports of possible integrity violations in the Caribbean Netherlands. This is stated by Transparency International in its “The Indispensable Link” study. The conclusions and recommendations align with an earlier report by the Scientific Research and Data Centre WODC. After the summer, the Dutch government will announce its plans in this area. “Civil society organisations know how to find their way to existing reporting channels well. However, they observe that insufficient action is taken regarding their signals or reports of misconduct. This has diverse and complex causes, such as a lack of coordination and political-administrative blockades. Solutions require a decisive government that dares to make decisions, and not a government that simply refers people elsewhere,” states the document. Transparency International conducted the research commissioned by the Ministry of Justice and Security. They specifically examined the role of civil society or ganisations, for example in the areas of the environment, the LGBTQ+ community, consumer rights and employee or employer interests. Two of the 12 interviewees wished to remain anonymous. That in itself is a signal that improvements are needed, wrote Transparency International. In the interviews, patronage — also known as cronyism — is frequently cited as a form of integrity violation. “In this context, civil society organisations on Bonaire pointed to political elites within the political system who are able to grant favours to “the ordinary Bonairean” who in exchange supports the political party of those elites. They emphasise that the occurrence of clientelism and patronage is an open secret. The small scale and mutual financial interdependence are seen as a cause of integrity violations, but also as a reason why individual citizens are reluctant to report incidents. There is a culture of silence and distrust, according to the researchers. Reports are often made through the larger organisations. “Consider, for example, the waste problem raised by Pro Lagun,” the researchers wrote. Transparency International advises the Dutch government and the Executive Councils of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba (BES islands) to take reports seriously. There should also be a form of structural consultation between government and civil society organisations. “Too many civil society organisations do not feel represented by politics, neither at the local nor at the kingdom level,” the report stated. Additionally, there is a need for financial support to the organisations. Minister of Justice David van Weel responded positively. The three islands will each receive a legal aid desk this year for legal assistance and equal treatment, he writes. In addition, work is being done on anti-corruption policy in cooperation with the Ministry of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations BZK and the National Service Caribbean Netherlands RCN. The recommendations may be incorporated into this. “I will inform you about the progress of this after the summer recess,” Van Weel told Parliament. The Daily Herald.
Arrest for Burglary On Saturday, 20th of June, around 5:20 PM, a 33-year-old man with the initials I.D.R. was arrested on Thais Hill Road on Saba for burglary and vandalism. On Thursday, the 30th of April, the suspect must have broken into a building on Matthew Levenstone Street and stolen cash, among other items. The investigation into the case is ongoing. Arrest for Threats On Saturday, 20th of June, around 1:20 PM, a 41-year-old man with the initials E.A.H. was arrested at the police station on Saba for making threats. The case is under investigation. KPCN
- June 22, 2026
Parliament asks action on BES energy prices
Members of the Dutch House of Representatives (“Tweede Kamer”) expressed concern over high energy prices in the Caribbean Netherlands and are calling for measures. State Secretary Eric van der Burg for Kingdom Relations is asking for a little more patience, including regarding education and UNICEF The VVD cabinet member is willing to talk with the governments of Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba (BES islands) about emergency preparedness and to create a plan for ferry connections. These topics were mentioned during a brief follow-up debate on the Caribbean Netherlands. “I know that the state secretary was on Saba this weekend for Mr. Johnson’s farewell. I also know that electricity prices there are constantly rising and that in July the price will even reach 05046 euros per kilowatt-hour. What role do you envision in this to see what we can do?” asked D66 MP Heera Dijk. MPs Mikal Tseggai of PRO and Don Ceder of CU concurred. Van der Burg replied that there will be clarity after the summer regarding the allocation of 30 million euros reserved for vensuring livelihoods on the three islands. After the summer, government will also make a decision regarding the possible extension of Child Friendly Cities, a project of the UN children’s rights organisation UNICEF, he told Dijk. Theggai of PRO, the new name for GroenLinks-PvdA, will also have to be patient a little longer. She wanted to know what the government is doing with the recommendations of the Education Council and the National Coordinator against Discrimination and Racism regarding education in the Caribbean Netherlands. Together with CU MP Ceder, Tseggai submitted a motion with that request. Van der Burg promised that government would respond before the summer, so the motion was postponed. Three motions received a positive assessment. Theggai and Ceder asked the state secretary to consult with local authorities regarding emergency stockpiles in the event of a potential crisis. The same MPs also called attention to the improvement of the breakwater in the port of St. Eustatius. The Daily Herald.
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Fight Ends in Stabbing In the night of Friday, the 19th of June, around 2:00 AM, an argument broke out between several people near Fort Bay Harbor on Saba. This escalated into a fight, during which one person was injured with a weapon. The victim was taken to the hospital in a private car for medical treatment. A 43-year-old man with the initials S.G.S. was arrested for assault with a weapon. The case is under further investigation. KPCN
A newly established working group on collections from a colonial context has held its first in-person meeting on Saba, marking an important step toward strengthening Caribbean involvement in decisions regarding cultural artifacts acquired during the colonial period. The working group was created following a decision by the ministers of the Four-Country Ministerial Consultation to ensure that museums and heritage institutions in the Caribbean region have a stronger voice in the management, preservation, and potential return of cultural objects, based on the principle of equal partnership. Hosted by the Saba Heritage Center and the Eugenius Johnson Center, the meeting focused on developing recommendations to be presented to the Four-Country Ministerial Consultation in November 2026. Discussions addressed key themes including collection management and preservation, digitization, professionalization of the heritage sector, climate-resilient infrastructure, community engagement, knowledge sharing, and regional cooperation. The gathering brought together government representatives and heritage experts from Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Saba, Sint Eustatius and the Netherlands, alongside external advisors. The collaborative structure is designed to combine policy expertise and practical museum experience from both the Caribbean and European parts of the Kingdom. As part of the program, participants explored Saba’s cultural heritage through visits to local museums and historical sites, highlighting the island’s contribution to preserving and sharing Caribbean history. The working group will continue developing recommendations on the return of cultural items and the future management of museum collections, with support from consultancy firm Scriptis. The final advice is expected to help shape a more inclusive and cooperative approach to heritage management across the Kingdom. RCN
The Commission Supervision Personal Data Protection BES (CBP BES) has concluded that the Immigration and Naturalization Service Caribbean Netherlands (IND-CN) must take additional measures to better protect citizens’ personal data. Following an investigation into IND-CN’s handling of personal data and its compliance with the Personal Data Protection Law BES (Wbp BES), CBP BES found that while the organization understands its legal responsibilities and has a privacy statement in place, important shortcomings remain in the areas of data security, storage, access control, and data management. The Commission identified particular concerns regarding the Foreign Management System (FMS), which external parties largely manage. IND-CN currently lacks sufficient oversight of the system’s security and management. In addition, personal data is sometimes stored outside the system, increasing the risk of unauthorized access. CBP BES is especially concerned about the handling of sensitive information such as criminal record files and judicial data. The report stresses the need for clear rules governing access, storage, retention periods, and deletion of these data. The investigation also found that the information provided to citizens could be improved. The current privacy statement is only available in Dutch and may be difficult for many people to understand. CBP BES recommends that the statement be made available in the official languages of the Caribbean Netherlands and rewritten in plain language. The Commission is urging IND-CN to give priority to improvements in data security, governance, storage, access management, retention, and deletion practices. While IND-CN has already taken some steps, CBP BES warns that failure to implement the recommended measures could leave citizens’ personal data at risk and make it difficult for the organization to demonstrate compliance with privacy laws. CBP BES expects IND-CN to develop a clear implementation plan and complete the necessary improvements within established timeframes. The Commission will actively monitor progress through regular reporting and follow-up assessments. CBP BES
The Law Enforcement Council has identified significant risks in the screening and re-screening of justice personnel, concluding that current practices do not always comply with applicable laws and regulations. In a recently published report, the Council found that while all justice organizations require a Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) for employment, some organizations are deviating from established screening procedures. In addition, mandatory security screenings are not always conducted or renewed on time, creating potential integrity and security risks. The Council notes that some organizations have expressed concerns about the limited information available through the current VOG process and have resorted to informal methods to gather additional background information on applicants. While recognizing the need for reliable screening, the Council emphasizes that all organizations must operate within the legal framework and warns that informal practices can themselves create integrity risks. The report also highlights shortcomings in the implementation of security screenings. Some positions are ineligible for screening because they lack formal designation as positions of confidence, and legally required five-year re-screenings are inconsistently conducted. The Council is urging immediate action to bring several organizations into compliance, specifically the Coast Guard, the Immigration and Border Protection Service (IGD), and the Sint Maarten Police Force (KPSM). It also notes that the formal designation of confidential positions within the Coast Guard remains outstanding. To strengthen integrity and reliability across the justice sector, the Council has issued four recommendations aimed at improving compliance with screening requirements and safeguarding public trust. Law Enforcement Council
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Two Arrests After a Brawl On Monday, the 15th of June, around 12:20 PM, the central control room received a report of a brawl at a restaurant in The Bottom on Saba. Upon arrival of the police, it appeared that a fight had indeed taken place inside the restaurant, leaving several broken glass bottles on the floor. Following a further investigation, two suspects were arrested on charges of assault. They are a 34-year-old man with the initials E.A.L. and a 41-year-old man with the initials E.A.M.U. Both suspects were injured during the fight and received medical treatment. The case is under investigation. KPCN
Public Notice The Central Committee of the Public Entity Saba hereby cares to inform the public that there will be a Central Committee meeting on Tuesday June 23rd, 2026 at 9:00 am at the Government Administration Building. You may also view the Central Committee meeting on the Saba Island Council website and the Saba Government YouTube page. The agenda is as follows: 1. Opening 2. Approval of the agenda 3. Approval of the minutes 4. Citizens right to speak on agenda points 5. Oral Question round: concerning announced questions from the Island Council incoming and outgoing correspondence list during the period April 11th, – May 15th, 2026 (Article 18) 5.1 Island Council incoming and outgoing correspondence -EC letter 136.26 ICM – Proposal for 2026 Budget Amendment; Monuments Council and Monuments Fund -Letter from Top Tier Rentals – Concerns Regarding Access to Airport and Harbour for Car Rental Services -Letter from Mr. Otto DeVries – Formal Submission Documentary Record Template, the Case for Differentiated Treatment of Saba within the BES Framework 5.2 Executive Council decision list -EC Decision list – April 14th, 3.0.1, building permit Troy Hill Road 24-26 The Bottom -EC Decision list – April 14th – 3.0.3, visit to ministers in The Hague and attending the IPDC conference, -EC Decision list – April 21st – 3.0.6 Provision building and road maintenance -EC Decision list – April 28th, 3.1.0, Assistance monitoring and start up rainwater management 5.3 Written questions to the Executive Council (article 35) 5.4 Answers to written questions to the Executive Council (article 35) 6. Island Ordinance Audit Chamber Saba 7. Island Council Proposal 2026.1: Saba Language Policy 2026 – 2030 8. Island Council Proposal 2026.3: Annual Report 2025 9. Closing Looking forward to your attendance. Sincerely, The Island Registrar, A. M. Levenstone The Chairlady of the Central Committee, E.O.F. Peterson ======================================== PUBLIC NOTICE The Island Governor of the Public Entity Saba hereby cares to inform the public that there will be a Island Council meeting on Thursday June 23rd, 2026 at 2:00 pm at the Government Administration Building. You may also view the Island Council meeting on the Saba Island Council website and the Saba Government YouTube page. The agenda is as follows: 1. Opening and announcements 2. Approval of the agenda 3. Approval of the minutes 4. Oral Question time (article 36) 5. Incoming and outgoing correspondence and announcements from May 16th, – May 29th, 2026 5.1 Island Council incoming and outgoing correspondence 5.2 Executive Council decision list 5.3 Written questions to the Executive Council (article 35) 5.4 Answers to written questions to the Executive Council (article 35) 6. Island Council Proposal 2026.1: Saba Language Policy 2026 – 2030 7. Island Council Proposal 2026.3: Annual Report 2025 8. Motions 9. Closing Sincerely, The Island Governor, J.G.A. Johnson M. Ed.
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PUBLIC NOTICE The Island Governor of the Public Entity Saba hereby cares to inform the public that there will be a special Island Council meeting on Thursday June 25th, 2026 at 10:00 am, at the Government Administration Building. You may also view the public meeting on the Saba Island Council website and the Saba Government YouTube page. The agenda is as follows: Opening Approval of the agenda Address by Island Governor Mr. J.G.A. Johnson Words of appreciation Token of appreciation Closing Sincerely, The Island Governor, J.G.A. Johnson M.Ed.
