Recent posts on Saba News

Saba has maintained its QualityCoast Silver Award status from Green Destina­tions following its latest sus­tainability assessment and audit, reaffirming the island’s commitment to sustainable destination management. The QualityCoast Award is part of the Green Destinations Awards and Certification Pro­gramme and recognises des­tinations for their efforts and progress towards more sustain­able and responsible destina­tion management. Maintaining Silver status re­flects Saba’s ongoing efforts to balance tourism development with the protection of the is­land’s natural environment, cultural heritage and the well­being of its community. Comprehensive assessment Maintaining the QualityCoast recognition involves an exten­sive assessment of sustainabil­ity across the destination. As part of the latest audit, Saba provided detailed information and supporting documentation covering destination manage­ment, nature and scenery, en­vironment and climate, culture and tradition, social well-being, and business and communica­tion. The assessment extends be­yond tourism and considers how sustainability is incorpo­rated into the management and development of the island. It requires input from different sectors and organisations and provides an opportunity to as­sess progress, identify areas of strength and determine where further improvements can be made. “This renewed Silver status is a welcome recognition of Saba’s continued commitment to sustainability,” said Director of Tourism Courtney Hassell. “Maintaining this recognition requires ongoing work across many different areas. The audit gives us an opportunity not only to demonstrate what Saba has accomplished, but also to identify where we can continue to improve. Sustainability is an on­going process, and the recom­mendations received will help us determine our next steps.” Collaborative effort Saba Tourism thanked the or­ganisations, partners and indi­viduals who provided informa­tion, documentation and input during the audit. The contributions of stake­holders across the island helped provide a comprehen­sive picture of Saba’s efforts and progress in the areas as­sessed. Their cooperation also highlights the importance of collaboration as Saba contin­ues to strengthen its approach to sustainability. With its Silver Award status, Saba will continue to be fea­tured in the Green Destina­tions Collection, providing in­ternational visibility alongside other destinations committed to improving sustainability and responsible tourism practices. The Daily Herald.

Commissioner of Fi­nance Bruce Zagers says the structural thirty million euros for the Caribbean Netherlands should pay for new measures that lower electricity bills and fund a broad public service ob­ligation (PSO) for connectivity, rather than becoming the struc­tural way of financing subsidies that already exist. Zagers made the comments in a video message following talks in the Netherlands last week between representatives of Bo­naire, St. Eustatius and Saba and the relevant Dutch minis­tries on how the money should be used. Before travelling, Zagers sent a letter to the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament calling for political action on Saba’s high cost of living, electric­ity rates and connectivity. Two motions have since addressed points in his letter: one on the gap between electricity rates in the Caribbean and Euro­pean Netherlands, and another, which was adopted, calling for the 30 million euros to be used for measures in addition to what already exists. “I was genuinely happy to see the three islands sitting at one table with the ministries on such an important topic,” he said. He warned that if much of the new money is used to fund exist­ing subsidies, the islands would mainly be maintaining the status quo. “The existing measures are important and should con­tinue; the question is whether this new money should become the structural way of paying for them.” Zagers compared Saba with Ameland, Vlieland and Win­terswijk, saying nobody first asks how much those places contribute compared with Amsterdam or Rotterdam be­fore deciding on government’s responsibility towards them. “They are part of the Nether­lands, but so are we.” On electricity, he noted that the Dutch government has esti­mated it would cost more than 36 million euros a year to bring Caribbean Netherlands prices in line with those in the Europe­an Netherlands. He called the figure extremely high, particu­larly without a clear breakdown, and said continued investment in renewable energy is welcome but does not lower the bills peo­ple pay today. On connectivity, Zagers said the legal basis for a PSO is now in place, but funding is not. He argued the PSO should support connectivity as a whole rather than only residents, pointing to what he calls “the RCN econ­omy”: the concentration of the National Government Depart­ment for the Caribbean Neth­erlands RCN and much of the Kingdom presence on Bonaire, which generates employment, trawl, accommodation and conference spending that Saba and St. Eustatius do not have. “It is not simply about cheaper airline tickets. It is an invest­ment in the accessibility and economic development of our islands,” he said. Zagers said he will keep ask­ing one question: what became structurally better and more affordable for Saba’s people be­cause the additional 30 million euros existed? The Daily Herald.

Island Governor Joc­elyn Levenstone and Commis­sioner of Culture Eviton Hey­liger have been in the Nether­lands for a series of meetings, with Heyliger travelling on to Ireland for an island exchange programme. Levenstone’s working visit be­gan on Monday, September 28, with a meeting at the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations BZK alongside Gov­ernors John Soliano of Bonaire and Alida Francis of St. Eusta­tius. The three governors visited National Programme Rot­terdam South NPRZ to learn about its long-term approach to social and economic challenges in the area, and took part in a programme hosted by Rotter­dam Mayor Carola Schouten, who as a former minister was involved in matters concerning the social minimum for the Ca­ribbean Netherlands. They also met Joyce Sylvester, Chair of the State Commis­sion against Discrimination and Racism, and Rick Law­son, President of the Neth­erlands Institute for Human Rights. Sylvester presented the governors with the report “Discriminatie Doorbreken” (Breaking Through Discrimi­nation), based on four years of research into structural discrimination within govern­ment. On September 29 and 30, Levenstone attended the annu­al congress of the Association of Netherlands Municipalities VNG in the Achterhoek, which drew some 3,000 municipal ad­ministrators and professionals. There, the three governors met Hubert Bruls, Chair of the Safety Council and Mayor of Nijmegen, on cooperation between Dutch safety regions and the BES islands (Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba), includ­ing climate safety. Levenstone and the Execu­tive Council also joined discus­sions with BZK and represen­tatives of Bonaire and St. Eu­statius on the 30-million-euro fund to help reduce the cost of living. The visit continued in Texel, with meetings with mayors of the Wadden Islands. Heyliger said in a video mes­sage that it had been an hon­our to meet the Saba Lace Ladies and to sign the Saba ar­chives agenda 2026-2030 with representatives of Bonaire and St. Eustatius, and called it “an important step in preserv­ing our history”. He also at­tended the VNG congress and the BZK talks and joined the Texel visit. From October 5 to 9, Hey­liger is taking part in an Island Exchange in Ireland, visiting Dublin, Westport, Achill Island and Clare Island to meet poli­cymakers, local government and island communities and explore the historical connec­tion between Saba and Ireland. `As your Commissioner of Culture, I look forward to building new relationships and bringing back new ideas and opportunities for Saba,” he said. The Daily Herald.

The Executive Council of Public Entity Saba was in Amster­dam to support the Saba Lace Ladies, who carried one of the island’s oldest traditions to an internation­al audience at craft festival “Ambacht in Beeld” this past weekend. The festival was held on Saturday, September 26, and Sunday, September 27, at the NDSM Loods in Amsterdam-Noord. For its twelfth edition, the festival again turned the hall into a large working craft space, with more than one hundred workshops, masterclasses and demonstrations. This year’s festival had a special focus on the Caribbe­an. Organisers invited craft­speople from the Caribbean Netherlands islands Saba, St. Eustatius and Bonaire, from Aruba, Curacao and St. Maarten, and from Suriname to share their skills with the public. The organisers said that many of these crafts rely on local materials and knowl­edge handed down through generations, and that fea­turing them helps make this intangible heritage more vis­ible and better preserved.   Saba was represented by Saba Lace Ladies Alma Peggy Barnes, Miranda Sim­mons and Madelyn John­son. Barnes and Simmons demonstrated the craft and met visitors who wanted to learn about the tradition, while Johnson sold Saba Lace books and items at the stand and photographed the delegation’s activities. Festival-goers could also try the craft themselves. Barnes and Simmons led two-hour, beginner-friendly Saba Lace workshops on both days of the festival, in which they taught participants how to prepare the linen, make a traditional hemstitch border and create a classic web bor­der, and explained the his tory and precision behind the craft. No previous sewing or embroidery experience was required. Participants were provided with linen, Saba Lace thread, a needle and a pattern guide, and each took home a small handmade Saba Lace sample along with the remaining materials. Barnes has practised the craft since childhood, learn­ing from her mother and other master lace makers, and has spent decades cre­ating, demonstrating and teaching Saba Lace at work­shops, community events and cultural exhibitions. Sim­mons, known on the island as Teacher Miranda, is a life­long educator, culture teach­er at Sacred Heart School and museum curator, and has played an important role in sharing Saba’s traditions with younger generations. “A real pleasure” In a video released by Pub­lic Entity Saba, the three women spoke about what the experience meant to them. “It has been a real pleasure to be here at the Ambacht in Beeld Festival and to rep­resent Saba and our Saba Lace-making tradition. See­ing people so curious about Saba Lace and willing to try it themselves has been very rewarding,” said Johnson. “Saba Lace is something that connects us to our his­tory and to the women who have carried this tradition forward. Being able to share that story here in Amster­dam is something I’m very proud of.” Simmons described the trip as “a wonderful experience”, given the chance to share Saba Lace with people from many different backgrounds. “It’s special to see people taking an interest in the craft and wanting to learn more about where it comes from,” she said. “For me, sharing Saba Lace is about more than demonstrating a skill. It’s about sharing a part of Saba’s history, culture and identity, and helping to keep this beautiful tradition alive for generations to come.” Barnes said being in Am­sterdam meant a lot to her personally. “This is a tradi­tion that has been passed down for many generations, and I’m happy to have the opportunity to show the people how special it is and where it comes from,” she said. “To see people inter­ested in learning about the craft and trying it themselves is wonderful. I hope that by sharing Saba Lace here, we can help keep this important part of Saba’s heritage alive for generations to come.” “A proud moment” Commissioner of Culture Eviton Heyliger visited the festival as part of a work­ing visit to the Netherlands, during which he has been at­tending meetings and official engagements on behalf of the island. “It’s especially meaningful to see Saba and our cultural heritage being represented here, and to see Saba Lace being shared off-island,” Heyliger said. “Opportunities like this provide much-needed exposure for our culture and allow others to learn about our traditions, our skills and our stories ­all things that make Saba unique.” The Commissioner praised the three lace makers for embracing the opportunity. “They are not only represent­ing themselves, but also car­rying a piece of Saba and its cultural heritage with them,” he said. “Seeing people from different backgrounds take an interest in Saba Lace, ask questions and try the craft for themselves has been truly special. Moments like these show the value of opening our traditions to others and creating new connections through our culture.” Heyliger also thanked the Community Development and Culture Department, the Saba Tourist Bureau, the Sea & Learn Foundation and the Saba Heritage Center for their support in preserv­ing, promoting and sharing. The trip began with an in­vitation. Earlier this year, Wendy van Wilgenburg of Stichting Ambacht in Beeld invited the Saba Heritage Center to send craftspeople from Saba to the festival. With backing from the Saba Tourist Bureau, the Depart­ment of Community Devel­opment and Culture, and the Sea & Learn Foundation, Saba was able to send three representatives instead of one. “Seeing Saba represented here in Amsterdam is a proud moment,” Heyliger said. “Our island may be small, but the traditions and knowledge we carry have a place far beyond our shores.” A craft with deep roots Saba Lace, also known as drawn-thread work or “Span­ish Work”, has been part of island life for about 150 years. The craft came to Saba in the 1870s through Mary Gertrude Hassell Johnson, whose par­ents sent her to study at a con­vent in Caracas, Venezuela, where the nuns taught her the needlework. When she re­turned home, she passed her knowledge on to a few women, and a cottage industry was born. At first the women made the pieces and the men sold them on trips to nearby islands. The work demands great patience. The lace maker […]

The Board of the Harry L. Johnson Museum is pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs. Pamela Meijvogel‑Whitfield as Museum Manager. The new role marks an important step in the continued growth and development of the museum, which plays a vital part in preserving and sharing Saba’s cultural heritage. Pamela Whitfield is known in the community for her dedication of sharing Saba’s history, culture, and heritage with others through her work at the museum. She has distinguished herself through her enthusiasm, professionalism, and genuine passion for Saba’s history. Her commitment has provided countless visitors with memorable and educational experiences, helping to foster a deeper appreciation for the island’s unique story. In her expanded role as Manager/Guide, Pamela will take on additional responsibilities, including daily operations, visitor services, program coordination, and the ongoing development of initiatives that enhance the museum experience for both residents and guests. “We are delighted to welcome Pamela to this expanded role,” said Mr. Glenn Holm, president of the museum board. “Her knowledge, dedication, and commitment to excellence make her the ideal person to help guide the museum into the future while preserving the legacy entrusted to our care.” The Harry L. Johnson Museum remains committed to safeguarding Saba’s cultural heritage and ensuring that future generations can learn from and appreciate the island’s remarkable history. The Board looks forward to continuing its close collaboration with Pamela as the museum grows and serves the community.

With the introduction of the first elevator and new assisted living facilities, Saba marks a significant milestone in senior care. The demolition of the 46-year-old structure that housed the Honorable Henry Carlyle Every Home for the Aged since the 1980s marks the official start of a major turning point in elder care in Saba. Since 2024, the island has been a hive of construction activity. A large infusion of heavy machinery, supplies, and labor has arrived to construct a cutting-edge institution that meets the needs of Saba’s aging population. Why the Modification Was Required The constraints of the prior building became evident as the island’s community grew older. The facility, which dates back to the 1970s, was no longer able to meet the demands of contemporary care, and the living areas had grown too small to suit inhabitants. The Assisted Living Apartments Provide Comfort During Transition Residents have moved into temporary, fully furnished Assisted Living Apartments while the new Home for the Aged is being built. Recently, Caribisch Netwerk visited the area, which offers a good mix of comfort, freedom, and safety: Personalized Touches: To make it easier for residents to identify their house, each apartment entrance door has a unique hue. Community Spaces: Locals have access to a shared balcony with views of The Bottom, the capital village. Historic Accessibility: The building is proud to have Saba’s first elevator, which makes it easier for residents to move between floors. Saba Cares’ Care Coordinator, Sophie Coffie, stressed that during this shift, residents’ well-being will always come first. The improvement coincides with a larger initiative on the island to promote preventative care.   In order to help Sabans as they age, local health officials emphasize that contemporary facilities must work in tandem with community education, emphasizing healthy lifestyle choices and early identification. Hazel Durand

The Executive Council joined the Saba Lace Ladies in Amsterdam to showcase traditional Saba Lace at the Ambacht in Beeld Festival. The Ambacht in Beeld Festival brought master craftspeople from around the world to the NDSM Loods in Amsterdam on September 26 and 27. Visitors at the event explored rare techniques through hands-on masterclasses and live demonstrations. Representing the Dutch Caribbean, the Saba Lace Ladies shared the delicate, thread-by-thread art of Saba Lace with international audiences. Members of the Executive Council attended the showcase to support the artisans and celebrate the island’s vibrant history. Preserving Traditions for the Future Commissioner of Culture Eviton Heyliger stressed the importance of protecting local craftsmanship. He noted that passing down these historic skills keeps the identity of Saba alive across generations. The showcased sessions let participants dive into the artistry behind the craft, learning the patience and precision required to make the lace. The island community extends a heartfelt thank you to the dedicated lace makers who traveled abroad: Alma Peggy Barnes, Miranda Simmons, Madelyn Johnson. Their efforts successfully introduced a treasured piece of Caribbean heritage to the Netherlands. PES  

State Sec­retary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations BZK Eric van der Burg may send his proposed amendment to the Acts “Wet openbare lichamen Bonaire, St. Eustatius en Saba (WolBES)” and the “Wet fi­nancien openbare lichamen Bonaire, St. Eustatius en Saba (FinBES)” to the Council of State for advice. These two laws govern the administration and finances of the so-called BES islands and set out their relationship with the Netherlands. They are be­ing adjusted to improve and strengthen the relationship between the three public enti­ties and the Dutch Kingdom and to provide better services to residents. The amendments are to help the local governments and the central government do what is right and necessary for the islands and their resi­dents. The WolBES and the FinBES help them carry out their duties properly and pro­vide the necessary democratic oversight. This should lead to better services to the resi­dents, businesses and civil so­ciety organisations. Examples include stronger oversight by the Island Council, setting up a local audit chamber and keeping the National Repre­sentative. This legislative proposal retains the latter position, though the role is being re­structured. National Rep­resentatives focus on good governance and are respon­sible for inter-administrative oversight. They can also raise issues in The Hague that are receiving insufficient attention from the central government. In doing so, they stand along­side the island’s residents and administrators. To better align financial su­pervision with the unique characteristics and develop­ment of Bonaire, St. Eusta­tius and Saba, a system of tiered supervision is being introduced. This allows for a tailored approach for each island, ensuring supervision is light where possible and rigor­ous where necessary. Loan options for the island administrations are also being expanded to better enable Bo­naire, St. Eustatius and Saba to effectively carry out their duties. Like municipalities in the Netherlands, they will be permitted to take out loans from banks. For instance, such borrow­ing is restricted to the execu­tion of island-level tasks, like improving roads and energy infrastructure. Conditions will be attached to this borrow­ing, and the island’s borrowing activities will be subject to oversight, thereby limiting financial risks. In addition to this legislative proposal, supporting policies and other initiatives are be­ing deployed to promote good governance and strengthen administrative capacity. For instance, the special assistance (“bijzondere uitkering”) to the islands is being increased to strengthen the capacity of the offices of the Island Governor and Secretary. The multi-year support programme for the island administrations is also be­ing continued. Through this programme, people holding political office have been of­fered coaching, training and educational courses since the autumn of 2024. Finally, citizenship education and democratic awareness among the population are be­ing strengthened in collabora­tion with ProDemos and the Netherlands Institute for Mul­tiparty Democracy (NIMD). The Daily Herald.

The Council of Ministers has approved the nomination of Mr. Jonathan Johnson as acting Kingdom Representative for the public bodies of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba. Mr. Johnson succeeds Jan Helmond, who had held this position since November 2017. The appointment takes effect on 1 January 2027 and will be formalized by Royal Decree. Mr. Johnson (50) was born on Saba and served as Island Governor of Saba from 2008 to 2026. In this role, he was responsible for matters including public order and safety, crisis management, the quality of public administration, and representing Saba. Prior to that, he served as, among other things, the principal of the secondary school on Saba. Mr. Johnson has also held various civic positions. Mr. Johnson is being appointed as acting Kingdom Representative because the Public Bodies Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba Act (WolBES) is currently being revised. The proposal for the WolBES Revision Act stipulates that the office of Kingdom Representative will be retained but restructured. Appointing an acting Kingdom Representative ensures continuity of the office during this period. The (acting) Kingdom Representative plays a connecting role between the central government and the public bodies, with responsibilities including good governance and inter-administrative supervision. Rijksoverheid.nl

Two suspicious packages were found near the beach at Cave of Rum Bay on Saba on Tuesday, September 22. The discovery was reported to the police immediately, and officers seized the packages. An initial field test indicated that the contents tested positive for cocaine. The narcotics have been seized for further investigation and handed over to the detective department. The Caribbean Netherlands Police Force (KPCN) thanked the observant citizens who reported the find without delay. What to do if you find something suspicious The KPCN urges residents and visitors who see suspicious packages on the beach or along the coastline to: Not touch them Contact the police immediately via 911 Or use the anonymous tip line via 9310 KPCN