Recent posts on Saba News

Public Entity Saba has taken note of RBC Royal Bank’s announcement that it will permanently close its physical branch on Saba in January 2027. While the eventual departure of RBC was not entirely unexpected given the ongoing developments of its own operations and surrounding the intended arrival of ING, the Public Entity is disappointed by the abrupt manner in which the announcement was made, without prior consultation on the potential implications for the community. Improving banking services on Saba has been a priority of Public Entity for many years. Residents and businesses have long faced challenges with limited banking options, access to services, and the practical difficulties associated with operating in a small island economy. These concerns have been consistently raised with the relevant authorities in the Netherlands and have been central to the efforts that ultimately led to ING exploring the feasibility of introducing banking services on Saba. Commissioner of Finance and Economic Affairs Bruce Zagers, who has been closely involved in these efforts, acknowledged the concerns raised by RBC’s announcement while expressing confidence in the developments ahead. “While RBC’s eventual departure may not come as a complete surprise, the way this decision was communicated is disappointing. Banking is an essential service, and decisions of this nature have real consequences for our residents and businesses. We would have expected the opportunity to discuss those implications beforehand and work together on a coordinated transition. At the same time, we should not lose sight of the progress that has been made after years of advocating for improved banking services on Saba. We remain confident in ING’s intentions that it will bring meaningful improvements, and our focus now is to work with all parties involved to ensure that the transition is as smooth as possible, with the least disruption to our community.” Public Entity Saba remains in close contact with all relevant partners, before and now after the announcement of RBC. Importantly, the closure of RBC’s physical branch does not mean that its banking services will cease. Existing banking services are expected to continue, just like those of MCB, through alternative channels, although customers will no longer have access to a local branch. Public Entity Saba recognizes that the transition raises practical concerns, particularly for businesses that rely on cash deposits and access to change for their daily operations. Ensuring that alternative arrangements are available before RBC closes its physical location will therefore be an important priority in the discussions ahead. Dialogues with ING and the other relevant partners will continue to explore opportunities for a coordinated transition and to minimize any disruption to residents and businesses. Cooperation with RBC during the remaining months of its physical operations will also be important in achieving this objective. While the announcement has understandably created uncertainty, Public Entity remains confident that the ongoing efforts to strengthen banking services on Saba will ultimately result in improved accessibility and more banking options for the community. Further information will be shared as discussions progress and more concrete details become available. PES.

Representatives of the Dutch Caribbean Hospital Alliance (DCHA) visited Saba on October 6th as part of a regional roadshow on healthcare cooperation. Acting Governor Shamara Nicholson and Executive Assistant Jayaira Windfield-de Groot welcomed them. Local healthcare professionals, government representatives, and the delegation used the visit to exchange information and discuss how care is delivered on the island. Why regional cooperation matters for Saba The DCHA brings together the general hospitals of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and Bonaire, plus the medical centers on Sint Eustatius and Saba. Founded in 2022, the alliance aims to strengthen care through collaboration, knowledge sharing, and economies of scale. With its small population and remote location, Saba cannot offer every specialized service locally, so some patients must travel to other islands or outside the region for treatment. Access to care a key priority Getting specialized or acute care often means air or sea transport, coordination with specialists, available hospital beds, and sometimes favorable weather. Participants stressed the need for healthcare providers to know where expertise and capacity exist in the region and to have clear communication and referral processes in place before an emergency happens. Areas for closer collaboration The DCHA highlighted several focus areas: Access to specialized and acute care Education and training for healthcare professionals Regional procurement and resource management Telehealth and telemedicine Coordination of patient referrals Sharing knowledge, expertise, and capacity Concentrating highly complex care within the region For Saba, telemedicine, better referral coordination, and stronger regional networks could connect local professionals and patients with specialists elsewhere. A shared responsibility Governments, healthcare providers, insurers, regulators, and professionals all have a part to play. Differences in legislation, financing, and governance can complicate cooperation, but participants agreed that they could find practical solutions. Public Entity Saba emphasized that continued cooperation across the Kingdom is essential so that Saba’s specific needs are considered in regional healthcare policy and that transparency between institutions helps providers respond more effectively when patients need care off-island. PES

Electricity has been restored across Saba following the power outage on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. Saba Electric Company N.V. (SEC) has released further details on what happened and on the urgent repairs now being arranged at the power plant. What happened on Tuesday According to SEC, the outage began with a communication error involving the solar park system. The company’s first attempts to restore power using the transformer still in service were unsuccessful, so crews brought the second transformer back online. It remained operational despite an oil leak. That transformer had already been disconnected in preparation for repairs. Before it could be used again, the team had to reconnect it and top it up with oil. SEC says these extra steps added to the time it took to restore electricity across the island. Why two transformers matter The power plant has operated since 2016 and relies on two transformers, which normally share the load and each supply half of the island’s electricity. The design provides a backup: if one is unavailable, the other can supply the whole island. Demand has grown since 2016, and larger ongoing developments are adding to it. That puts greater strain on a single transformer when it must carry the island alone, which is why SEC stresses the importance of getting both back into normal operation. One transformer was recently taken out of service as a safety precaution after developing an oil leak. SEC described this as unexpected, noting that the units are designed to last well beyond ten years, particularly given the relatively low load each has carried while sharing demand. Repairs expected this weekend Fixing the oil leak is an urgent priority. SEC expects the necessary parts and specialist technicians to arrive this weekend. The company will issue another notice confirming: the repair schedule any expected interruptions to electricity supply any steps customers should take during the repairs SEC apologizes “We understand the disruption and concern this prolonged outage caused and apologize for the inconvenience,” SEC said in its statement. The company says its team is working to complete the repairs as quickly as possible and will keep the public informed, thanking residents for their patience, understanding and cooperation. Residents are advised to watch for SEC’s upcoming notice on the repair schedule. SEC

Cheryl Pantophlet-Valies, Country Manager for Sint Maarten & Saba, shared the decision in a notice to clients, stating that the move was not made lightly. Until the final closing date, the Saba branch will maintain its current operating hours on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and the on-site ATM will remain available for regular withdrawals and deposits. Here is what you need to know about how this transition affects your daily banking: What Remains Unchanged: RBC has confirmed that clients do not need to take any action regarding their existing accounts. The following services will remain fully active: Account details: All account numbers, debit and credit cards, and loans stay the same. Automated services: Standing orders, automatic payments, and Point-of-Sale (POS) merchant services will continue uninterrupted. Digital services: Clients will retain full access to RBC Digital Banking and the online Advice Centre. Electronic transfers: Online banking transfers to other RBC accounts, external banks, and bill payment services will remain fully functional. Accessing Banking Services After January 27, 2027 Once the branch closes, the local RBC ATM will be permanently removed. Saba clients can manage their funds through the following channels: Cash Withdrawals: Clients can use non-RBC ATMs locally in Saba, or access RBC and non-RBC ATMs in Sint Maarten and other regions. In-Person Banking & Deposits: For cash deposits and face-to-face services, clients must visit the fully equipped RBC branch located at 24 C.A. Cannegieter Street, Philipsburg, Sint Maarten. New Products: Applications for new financial products or services will be handled directly through the Sint Maarten branch under standard RBC terms. Transition Support RBC leadership emphasized its commitment to making this transition as seamless as possible for the Saba community. Local branch staff are available during remaining operating hours to assist clients with personal banking adjustments. For questions, support, or to discuss specific banking needs, clients can speak with a local staff member or contact the RBC Advice Centre directly at 1-721-546-7288. RBC

Representatives from the Caribbean pub­lic entities of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba (BES) and the five Wadden Is­lands Texel, Vlieland, Ter­schelling, Ameland and Schiermonnikoog gathered on Texel on October 1 and 2 for a two-day work pro­gramme. These eight islands are united in the so-called E8 partnership. E8 serves as the collective voice of the Dutch island communi­ties in dealings with gov­ernment and the political establishment. The group also meets regularly to exchange knowledge and work on shared issues. The programme began at the TESO ferry terminal in Den Helder, where officials were met by King’s Com­missioner for North Hol­land Arthur van Dijk, be­fore travelling to Texel. On arrival, the delegation was welcomed by Texel Mayor Mark Pol. The first day included a presentation and a visit to “De Zoete Toekomst” (The Sweet Future), an innova­tive approach to freshwater storage for agriculture on Texel. Participants learned about the challenges and opportunities associated with sustainable freshwater management for islands. The programme contin­ued with a thematic ses­sion on integrity and good island governance, led by Van Dijk. Representatives from the Wadden and Ca­ribbean islands exchanged experiences regarding ad­ministrative resilience, sub­versive crime, transparent and reliable elections, and the governance of founda­tions and semi-public or­ganisations. During the session Joc­elyn Levenstone, Island Governor of Saba, also gave a presentation on the upcoming 2027 elections and the use of proxy voting, followed by an exchange of experiences and viewpoints among the participants. John Soliano, Island Gov­ernor of Bonaire, gave a presentation on good gov­ernance within public and semi-public organisations. He addressed the complex environment in which these organisations operate, the role of the government as a shareholder, and the various roles and responsi­bilities within these organ­isations. The presentation highlighted how good gov­ernance can support organ­isations in achieving their objectives. On October 2, the pro­gramme continued with an excursion to De Slufter, organised in collaboration with the Texel Bird Infor­mation Centre and Staats­bosbeheer (State Forestry Service). The excursion covered Texel’s approach to nature management and the protection of vulner­able coastal areas. This was followed by an E8 working meeting, intro­duced by Michiel Schrier, Mayor of Vlieland and Chair of the E8. Represen­tatives from the Wadden and Caribbean islands re­flected on the partnership and discussed the substan­tive topics on which the E8 will collaborate in the com­ing year. Subsequently, the E8 welcomed members of the Dutch House of Represen­tatives, including members of the Standing Commit­tees on Infrastructure and Water Management and on Kingdom Relations. In her address, Statia Is­land Governor Alida Fran­cis outlined three key pri­orities that emerged from the E8 discussions: equal investment, stronger local implementation capacity, and increased climate ac­tion. She emphasised that equal treatment should not mean the uniform applica­tion of mainland policies to the islands; rather, fair outcomes must be achieved that take into account their unique size, logistical reali­ties and cost structures. Francis also highlighted challenges facing small is­land administrations — such as limited staffing and ac­cess to specialised expertise — and stressed the need to strengthen their capacity to implement policies effec­tively. Regarding climate resilience, she called for greater focus on implemen­tation, underscoring the need to look beyond strat­egies and “turn paper into practice”. To reinforce these shared priorities, Pol and Francis presented Member of Par­liament Heera Dijk with a board displaying the E8’s three key messages. She accepted the joint message on behalf of the delega­tion, along with colleagues Marieke Vellinga-Beem­sterboer, Luciënne Boels­ma-Hoekstra and Bjorn Schutz, thereby formally presenting the E8’s shared priorities to the House of Representatives. Schiermonnikoog Mayor Henri Meendering then ad­dressed the topic of water safety, including the role of natural systems — such as salt marshes — in coastal protection. The discus­sions also touched on the connection between the functions of coral reefs in the Caribbean and coastal protection measures on the Wadden Islands. The two-day programme concluded with a visit to De Schorren, led by nature con­servation organisation Natu­urmonumenten, after which the participants left Texel to travel back to Den Helder. The Daily Herald.

A floating silt curtain is being added at the Black Rocks Harbor construction site on Saba to stop fine sediment from spreading into surrounding wa­ters as work on the new harbour continues. According to project manager Peter Bieremond of Public Entity Saba, the project’s environmental impact was studied before con­struction began, and various mea­sures have been implemented to limit and compensate for that im­pact. Turbidity caused by excava­tion and breakwater construction is being followed closely and has mainly been contained within the project area, he said. Supervising engineer Luc Jor­dens of Dutch engineering com­pany Witteveen +Bos said silt­ation — fine soil particles — has been observed flowing out of the project area. “Though visible, the levels are low and kept within permissible limits,” he said. Turbidity is being kept to a minimum through adjusted work methods and the construction of temporary bunds. It is monitored daily by a fixed monitoring buoy, as well as by manual measure­ments taken twice a day at three different locations. If permitted levels are exceeded, work is sus­pended. Further restrictions apply during coral spawning season, including suspension of works, lower allow­able turbidity levels and more fre­quent measurements. As part of the project’s environ­mental measures, approximately 1,400 corals were relocated from the project area to an area near Hole in the Corner. The corals are being monitored regu­larly, and their survival rate has so far been very high. Other compensation mea­sures include the addition of three marine protected areas to the Saba National Marine Park. Public En­tity Saba has also allocated funds to Saba Conserva­tion Foundation (SCF) and Saba Research Center to further protect marine life. With work continuing and landside excavations sched­uled for the coming months, Bieremond said higher levels of turbidity may be expected. The silt curtain is being installed as an additional measure to further reduce the amount of fine material flowing into the surrounding waters. The yellow curtain will form a floating barrier around the work site. It is made of per­meable fabric, measures 220 metres long and 10 metres high, and has been custom­ised to the project’s specifi­cations. The buoys that will anchor the curtain have already been installed. The curtain has been prepared on land and will be towed into the water. The Daily Herald.

The Executive Council of the Public Entity Saba hosted a gathering for Sabans residing in the Netherlands on Saturday, October 3. Community members from across the country came together to reconnect and to meet with members of the Executive Council and Island Council. Island Council Member Vito Charles welcomed the attendees and thanked them for taking the time to join. The full Island Council delegation was present. In his remarks, Charles stressed the importance of community and of keeping strong ties among Sabans living in the Netherlands before handing the floor to Island Governor Jocelyn Levenstone. Governor Levenstone also thanked everyone for attending. Reflecting on his move into his new role, he said that while he once knew one Saba, he is now getting to know a different Saba as Island Governor. He noted that many Sabans living abroad have had a similar experience, having known a Saba that has changed over the years, and said that learning about and understanding the community is an ongoing process. After the Governor’s remarks, members of the Executive Council and Island Council mingled with attendees and heard about their experiences living in the Netherlands and their continued connections to Saba. The Public Entity Saba thanked everyone who took part in making the gathering a meaningful occasion and reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining strong relationships with Sabans living abroad and recognizing the important role they continue to play in the wider Saban community. PES

During their stay on Saba, representatives of the Maritime Historical Museum Curaçao visited the Harry L. Johnson Museum. During the visit, Michaela Kuckelkorn and Stephan Smeets of the Maritime Historical Museum Curaçao were given a wonderful and extensive tour by Pamela Whitfield. Michaela and Stephan were particularly impressed by the passion and enthusiasm with which Pamela shares the rich history of Saba. In a personal and welcoming way, the museum offers a fascinating glimpse into life on the island in earlier times and highlights the importance of preserving these stories, traditions, and cultural heritage for future generations. The visit was not only a wonderful introduction to Saba’s history, but also provided an opportunity to exchange experiences and ideas about the work that takes place behind the scenes at both museums. Harry L. Johnson Museum Saba and the Maritime Historical Museum Curaçao will remain in contact to continue sharing knowledge and experiences and, wherever possible, to support one another in preserving and presenting the historical heritage of our islands. Two islands, each with its own unique history, united by the same passion for keeping the past alive for future generations.

Restaurants and other food and beverage estab­lishments on Saba were found to be in good compliance during multidisciplinary inspections last week by Public Entity Saba Enforcers, together with Police, the Hygiene Department and the Fire Department. The inspections checked general safety, hygiene and fire safety requirements. A new establishment was also in­spected as part of the process for obtaining its operating licence. A few points requiring attention were found, and the es­tablishments concerned were given time to address them. All were cooperative, the Public Entity said. The inspections are held throughout the year as part of regular enforcement and prevention efforts. The Daily Herald.

The Dutch govern­ment has made 1.5 million euros available to subsidise ferry services between St. Eustatius, Saba and St. Maarten in 2027 while authorities explore how to add subsidised air travel in the future, Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Water Man­agement Vincent Karremans and Dutch State Secretary of Home Af­fairs and Kingdom Relations Eric van der Burg have told the Dutch Second Chamber of Parliament. In a letter to Members of Parlia­ment (MPs) on Monday, Karremans and Van der Burg described con­nectivity between the SSS islands as a “basic provision” for Saba and St. Eustatius residents, who depend on St. Maarten for access to health­care, educational institutions and essential services like banking. They argue that both air and sea connec­tions should exist alongside each other to safeguard predictable ac­cess to Saba and St. Eustatius. Karremans’ and Van der Burg’s position is a softening of the Dutch government’s long-standing reluc­tance to fund air travel, despite having subsidised the Makana ferry since late 2021. “As long as travel remains ex­pensive and unpredictable, eco­nomic activity, the labour market and tourism will remain small, and dependence on the central govern­ment will remain high. At its core, the cabinet sees two crucial roles for the connectivity of St. Eustati­us and Saba. Namely, connectivity as basic provision, and connectiv­ity as a catalyst for liveability and economic activity,” Karremans and Van der Burg wrote. “The framework for better safeguard­ing connectivity is equality. The aim here is to achieve an equivalent effect for resi­dents of St. Eustatius and Saba in relation to residents of the European Nether­lands. Tailor-made solutions remain possible, but must be transparently and carefully justified.” Karremans and Van der Burg argued that air and seaconnectivity complement each other and reduce un­predictability, especially in adverse weather conditions that can disrupt one of these modes of transportation. “A strong crosswind may result in flights having to be cancelled, while under those conditions ferry services can often continue. Conversely, flights may continue when long-period swells on the open sea make ferry opera­tions impossible or risky,” Karremans and Van der Burg said. Because St. Maarten is a central hub for connecting St. Eustatius and Saba, they said discussions will also be held with the St. Maarten government. “This concerns an exploration of a public service obligation (PSO) for air connections, and of ferry connections between the Windward Islands. Because of their inter-relationship, these will be approached in an integrated manner.” Between 2022 and 2025, the Makana ferry transported approximately 35,000 pas­sengers per year between the SSS islands, according to the letter. In almost five years of operation, it “has become clear that the ferry connec­tion is not economically vi­able without a government contribution,” Karremans and Van der Burg said. In July, the Dutch Parlia­ment passed an amend­ment to the BES Aviation Act, which created the legal framework for a public ser­vice obligation (PSO) on air routes to the Caribbean Netherlands. The legislation allows the Dutch govern­ment to set requirements for ticket prices, frequency and capacity and to compensate an airline selected to operate a PSO route. The Daily Herald.