Saba News News and Information from Saba Island, Dutch Caribbean
Students from the Saba Comprehensive School have safely arrived in the Netherlands, marking the next step in their educational study trip. The group, consisting of Form 4 Academic and Vocational students, travelled via St. Maarten and Paris before landing at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol earlier this week. The trip is aimed at giving students first-hand exposure to tertiary education opportunities, helping them make informed decisions about their future studies. School representatives expressed appreciation to supporting organizations, including the Saba Lions Club and ICS Saba, for their contribution to the initiative. The BES-Reporter.
On April 16, eleven participants successfully obtained their certificates for the tailor-made Training Programme for Dementia Case Manager Caribbean. This intensive thirteen-month programme brought together healthcare professionals from Saba, Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius and Bonaire with the aim of strengthening dementia care in the region. The training focused on three key roles. Participants were trained as dementia experts, with attention to medical, psychosocial and ethical knowledge, as well as communication and person-centred care. They were also prepared for the role of network coordinator, with a focus on connecting care and welfare organisations. Finally, they were developed into advocates who contribute to raising awareness of dementia within society. The group consisted of professionals from a wide range of backgrounds, including social workers, day care staff and nurses from hospitals, nursing homes and home care services. This diversity contributed to a broad exchange of knowledge and practical experience. The programme was developed by Marieke Dooremalen and Saskia Danen of the Dementia Academy, in close collaboration with a project group of commissioners from the four islands. In total, the training comprised 21 teaching days, spread across eight in-person sessions on Saba and Bonaire, nine online teaching days and a four-day working visit to the Netherlands. The BES-Reporter.
- April 15, 2026
Central Committee and Island Council Meetings on April 21st
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 April 21 st, 2026 at 2:00 pm at the Government Administration Building. You may also view the Central Committee meeting on the Saba Government YouTube page. Agenda: 1.0pening 2.Approval ofthe agenda 3.Approval of the minutes 4.Citizens right to speak on agenda points 5.0ral Question round: concerning announced questions from Island Council incoming correspondence list during the period October 4th, – October 31st, 2025 (Article 1 8) I Island Council incoming and outgoing corespondence list -EC letter#343/2025 Island Council Motion – strengthening local public health role in healthcare referral monitoring. 5.2 Executive Council decision list -October 2 1 st 2025, 3.1.2, Integrity Summit 6.1 sland Council Proposal 2026.1 : Saba language Policy 7.Closing Looking forward to your attendance. Sincerely, The Island Registrar, Akilah M. Levenstone The Chairlady of the Central Committee, E.O. F Peterson Note: The general public is allowed to examine the documents on the agenda for the abovementioned Central Committee meeting, at the Office of the Island Registrar which is located in the Government Administration Building. If you have any questions, please free to contact the Island Registrar (Akilah M. Levenstone) at akilah.levenstone@sabagov.nl or call 416-3311 ext 202. If you want to make use of the opportunity to speak to the members of the Central Committee at this meeting you have to inform the Island Registrar at least 48 hour before the meeting in order for the Registrar to explain the rules of the meeting and process your request. The general public is welcome to attend the meeting as an observer. PUBLIC NOTICE The Island Governor of the Public Entity Saba hereby cares to inform the public that there will be an Island Council meeting on Tuesday April 21st, 2026. The Island Council meeting will commence immediately after the Central Committee meeting is adjourned. You may also view the public meeting on the Saba Government YouTube page. The agenda is as follows: Opening and announcements Approval of the agenda Approval of the minutes Oral Question time (article 36) Incoming and outgoing correspondence and announcements from November 1st, 2025 – April 10th, 2026 5.1 Island Council incoming and outgoing correspondence list 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) Island Council Proposal 2026.1: Saba Language Policy Motions Closing Sincerely, The Island Governor J.G.A. Johnson M. Ed.
- April 14, 2026
Edge II Ferry Sold — Saba Service Ends After 33 Years
The Edge II ferry has been sold, effective April 11, 2026, bringing an end to ferry service between St. Maarten and Saba. Because the sale took effect immediately, no farewell voyage was possible. All outstanding Edge II bookings have been canceled, and passengers will be contacted individually to arrange next steps. Since 1993, Edge Ferry Services has been a vital link between the islands, weaving itself into the fabric of Saba’s tourism economy through longstanding partnerships with local taxi operators, hotels, and dive shops. “We thank the Edge and its crew for everything they have done for Saba,” said Commissioner Zagers. “Over the years, the ferry brought countless day-trippers to our shores and played a meaningful role in sustaining our tourism sector. For an island as remote as ours, that additional connection was truly invaluable.” The Commissioner moved to address concerns about future access directly: “This does not mean we are standing still. We are actively taking steps to ensure that reliable connections remain available.” PES
- April 13, 2026
Education Council: Children in the Caribbean Netherlands Must Receive Better Education
Education in the Caribbean Netherlands must improve. That is the conclusion of the Education Council following an analysis of the education system on Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius. The Education Council advises the government and parliament on policy and legislation relating to education. Schools on the three Caribbean islands have been part of the Dutch education system for about fifteen years. However, this system does not adequately align with the circumstances on the islands, the Education Council notes. Education on the islands is organized on a much smaller scale. And due to the great distance from the Netherlands, schools on the islands receive less support. The Education Council advises the Ministry of Education to take greater account of the situation on Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius. More funding is also needed, according to the body. Further Education Children and young people on the Caribbean islands go in very different directions after their schooling. Some pursue further education in the Caribbean; others go on to study in the Netherlands. The Education Council believes they should be better prepared for these different possibilities. The Council states that proficiency in the Dutch language on the Caribbean islands must be improved. This would allow young people to more easily transition to further education in the Netherlands. Additionally, it should become easier to pursue further education on other Caribbean islands, such as Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. At present, these options are often unknown or financially difficult to access. Teacher Rotation Pool The Education Council also notes that there is a high turnover of teaching staff on Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius. It therefore proposes establishing a rotation pool of teachers from the Netherlands. Other possible solutions include an orientation program for new teachers on the islands and more intensive cooperation between educational organizations on Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius. Education administrators and school leaders should receive more guidance in their work, the Council believes. Furthermore, the circumstances on the three islands should be taken into account earlier when developing new laws or regulations. The Minister of Education could, for example, consult more with the island governments. You can check out their advice here. (in Dutch). Onderwijsraad.nl
Secondary school students from the three Dutch Windward Islands competed in the so-called SS S School Games in Saba over the weekend, with St. Eustatius emerging on top in dodgeball and Saba narrowly edging out St. Maarten in the soccer final. Girls’ teams took the court at Princess Juliana Sports Field for the dodgeball competition on Saturday. St. Eustatius took the first game against Saba, winning three sets to none (3-0) in the best-of-five match. St. Maarten beat St. Eustatius 3-1 in the second match and beat Saba by the same 3-1 score in the third, setting up the final between St. Maarten and St. Eustatius. In the final, St Eustatius bounced back from its loss earlier that morning to beat St. Maarten 3-0. It was not smooth sailing for the girls from the Golden Rock, however, coming back from behind in the first set with their last two players eliminating four from St. Maarten. The boys’ team took the field at Johan Cruyff Court for Sunday’s soccer competition. St. Maarten beat St. Eustatius 10-2 in the first match, while the second match between St. Maarten and Saba became a tale of two halves. Saba raced away to a 4-0 lead by the end of the first half, only to see that lead evaporate by the last minutes of the second as it looked increasingly unlikely that the hosts would hold on. However, Saba scored the go-ahead goal moments before the final whistle, making the match 5-4. Saba beat St, Eustatius 7-0 in the third match, securing a place in the final against St. Maarten. Both sides went toe-to-toe in the nail-biting final, with no team ever taking a lead greater than one goal, St. Maarten opened the scoring, but Saba equalised shortly after that. The sides traded goals, but St. Maarten ended up having the 3-2 advantage at half-time. Saba tied the score early in the second half and followed that with a go-ahead goal. It was now St. Maarten’s turn to chase the scoreboard. The team equalised twice after that, but could not answer Saba’s sixth goal. With this, Saba secured its 6-5 victory. The SSS School Games move to St. Maarten next, with athletics and track and field events, according to a social media post by the Saba Government’s Department of Public Health and Sports. The Daily Herald.
- April 9, 2026
Discrimination complaints can now officially be submitted to the National Institute for Human Rights
As of this month, residents of the Caribbean Netherlands who believe they have experienced discrimination can officially file a complaint with the National Institute for Human Rights. This marks an important step in the implementation of the Equal Treatment Legislation for Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, which entered into force on 1 January 2026. Submitting a discrimination complaint can easily be done via the Institute’s new website for the Caribbean Netherlands. Staff members of the Institute are on all three islands from April 2nd until April 10th to engage with residents about discrimination, their rights, and the steps they can take. Mediation or a judgment in discrimination cases Residents who feel they have been treated unequally, for example, at work, at school or in the provision of goods and services, can now submit a complaint to the Institute. This may concern discrimination on the grounds of, for example, ethnicity, gender, age or disability. The Institute can formally assess whether discrimination has taken place or offer mediation if this is more appropriate. Cooperation with Legal Desk and Lokèt Hurídiko Later this year, a legal desk will be established on Sint Eustatius and Saba, and a Lokèt Hurídiko on Bonaire. Residents who may have experienced discrimination can also turn to these services. The Legal Desk and Lokèt Hurídiko will listen to residents’ stories, provide advice and explore possible next steps. They can also assist in submitting a discrimination complaint to the Institute. Residents can approach these desks with other legal questions as well, such as employment disputes, rental issues or family matters. Launch of complaint form, website and Facebook page The form for submitting discrimination complaints is available in Dutch, English and Papiamentu. The Institute is currently looking into implementing a Spanish version. For questions or assistance with completing the form, residents can contact the Institute via WhatsApp at +31 6 25182759 in all four languages. The Institute’s legal advisor responds to questions there on Tuesdays from 12:00-14:00 (Caribbean time) and on Thursdays from 07:00-09:00 (Caribbean time). In addition to the new website in Dutch, English and Papiamentu (www.humanrightsincn.nl), the Institute has also launched a Facebook page for the Caribbean Netherlands (www.facebook.com/humanrightsincn). Both platforms provide further information on key human rights topics in the Caribbean Netherlands, equal treatment, and the work of the Institute. Mensenrechten.nl
The Netherlands’ State Secretary Eric van der Burg is advancing legislation (the Verhogingswet) to increase the number of island council members and commissioners on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba, with the goal of having it in effect before the March 2027 island council elections. Key points: The legislation will tie council sizes and commissioner numbers to population size, mirroring the system used in mainland Dutch municipalities. Island councils and executive councils have expressed general support for the expansion, though they raised concerns about housing costs and administrative support. A new civic engagement initiative by ProDemos and the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) will launch on the islands to encourage aspiring local politicians. The State Secretary is open to addressing the financial/housing impact of the bill on the islands. A formal memorandum on the plan was sent to the House of Representatives’ Committee on Kingdom Relations on April 9. The overarching goal is to strengthen democratic representation and governance capacity across the three BES islands. RCN
This morning, the helicopter to be used for the Mount Scenery Tower project by the Ministry of Defense landed on Saba. Beginning early next week, the helicopter will be moving various items to and from Mt. Scenery. These operations will not cause any disruptions to regularly scheduled flights; however, there may be noise associated with the use of the helicopter. Certain trails will also be closed during this period of helicopter operations and throughout the project timeline, which we will keep the public informed about. Thank you for your understanding. To read more about the project and the town hall meeting in February, visit https://www.sabagov.nl/…/public-entity…/february-2026 Kai Wulf, the Parks Manager of the Saba Conservation Foundation, communicates: The upcoming refurbishment of the communication tower at the summit of Mt. Scenery, scheduled to commence on 13 April 2026 will continue for approximately 12 weeks. These works will involve helicopter operations and temporary access restrictions on sections of the trail network. While mitigation measures are in place, public safety remains our top priority, and we kindly ask for your support in sharing this information and encouraging compliance with all posted guidance. In summary: • The trail to the communication tower and Windwardside Lookout will be closed throughout the works • The summit trail will be temporarily closed during helicopter operations • All other trails remain open • Conditions and schedules may change depending on operational requirements Further details are provided in the attached advisory. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or require additional information. Kai Wulf.
- April 8, 2026
State Secretary van der Burg visits Saba
On April 7, 2026, State Secretary for Kingdom Relations and Internal Affairs Eric van der Burg was welcomed to Saba by Island Governor Jonathan Johnson. The delegation also included Director of Kingdom Relations, René Bagchus. A meeting was held between the delegation and Island Governor Johnson, Commissioner Bruce Zagers and Acting Island Secretary Nicole Johnson. During their meeting, the group discussed pertinent topics such as connectivity, its impact on tourism and the economy, and the need for capacity building and cooperation with other stakeholders. With the increase in the councils planned for 2027, suggestions were raised that appropriate space and funding should also accompany this change. Additionally, emphasis was placed on the importance of recognizing the differences across the BES islands, and continuing open dialogue to work out challenges that remain. Following lunch with members of the Executive Council and Island Council, an island tour was given, beginning at the Black Rocks Harbor. Peter Biemond, Project Manager, provided an overview of the project including the ongoing construction of the breakwater, and preparations for the incoming X-blocs. The group also visited St. Johns school campus, where the new gym, Enrichment center and technical education center will be built. Projects such as the gym and the Enrichment center will also serve as a hub for the wider community, creating spaces for cultural and sporting events. With a focus on sustainability and food security, the Saba Reach garden and the Hydroponics Farm were also visited. At Saba Reach, the delegation learned more about the organization’s role as a social workplace, as well as its organoponic gardening practices. The team at the Hydroponics farm then provided insight into their operations and their contribution, alongside the Hell’s Gate farm, to strengthening local food production and possible plans to expand and upgrade their hydroponic systems to increase efficiency and output. Lead farmer Sam Frederick also shared on his ongoing efforts to preserve the Saba cabbage through particular methods of propagation. “We value the conversations surrounding safety and connectivity, and it was important for us to see that it’s possible to grow our own food on Saba, not only related to the cost of living, but also to enhance availability for the people on the island,” shared State Secretary van der Burg. The State Secretary will continue his working visit, onward to Sint Eustatius. PES.
