Recent posts on Saba News

“Tone-Deaf” WINAIR Campaign Sparks Outrage on St. Eustatius and Saba, Forces Public Apology

Regional carrier WINAIR is facing mounting criticism from residents and political leaders on Saba and St. Eustatius after a social media campaign about airfare pricing triggered widespread backlash and forced the airline to issue a public apology. The controversy erupted after WINAIR on Monday morning posted a promotional reel highlighting the challenges of operating flights to Saba and Statia, including difficult weather conditions, specialized pilot training and operations at Saba’s famously short runway. However, the campaign quickly drew anger because of captions in the reel suggesting that residents of Saba and St. Eustatius expected to pay little or even “zero” for flights to the islands. Many residents interpreted the wording as mocking long-standing complaints about high airfare prices and unreliable service to the two islands, where air transportation is widely viewed as an essential public lifeline rather than a luxury. Within hours, criticism spread rapidly across Facebook and other social media platforms, with dozens of residents accusing the airline of being dismissive toward communities that depend heavily on WINAIR for medical travel, education, government business and family connections. One of the most widely shared reactions came from Saba resident Laura Boatswain, who wrote that while she appreciated the skill required to operate flights into Saba, the message gave the impression that the airline did not value residents “as customers whatsoever.” Another heavily liked response described the campaign as “tone deaf,” arguing that residents already support the airline despite “high fares, inconsistent service, delays, cancellations, and years of having limited alternatives.” Several commenters also questioned how the reel had been approved in the first place. One resident called the campaign “very unprofessional and disrespectful,” while another stated that the apology appeared to have been issued only because of the scale of the public backlash. As criticism intensified, WINAIR later removed the reel and issued a public apology. “Winair acknowledges the concerns raised regarding a recent social media post involving Saba and Statia,” the airline stated. “We sincerely apologize to the communities of Saba and Statia.” The airline added that it values its longstanding relationship with both islands and remains committed to “listening, learning, and serving our communities responsibly.” Despite the apology, criticism continued throughout the day, with many residents saying the issue went beyond a single social media post and reflected broader frustrations about the affordability and reliability of regional air travel. Political response The controversy also prompted a political response on Saba. The Party for Progress, Equality and Prosperity (PEP) faction in the Island Council announced that it had formally alerted the Kingdom Relations Committee of the Dutch Second Chamber about the incident. In a public statement shared by Island Council Member Julio Every, the faction said it considered the message “inappropriate,” particularly given the essential nature of air connectivity for Saba and St. Eustatius. The council members further linked the incident to ongoing discussions about affordability, reliability and public-service standards for air transportation within the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. BES-Reporter.

Public auction of immovable properties: July 7th

At the request of: Maduro & Curiel’s Bank (Bonaire) N.V., registered at the Bonaire Chamber of Commerce and Industry under number 0130, a legal entity established in Bonaire, with office address Bulevar Gobernador, Nicolaas Debrot #70, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands; hereinafter to be referred to as “Creditor”, who elects in this matter domicile at the notary office of M.D. Bouterse LL.M, civil law notary of the Public Entities Sint Eustatius and Saba, having offices at Coble Stone Road #3-A, The Bottom, Saba, Caribbean Netherlands, hereinafter referred to as “civil law notary”; have I, Marisol Angelique Anselma Bernabela as deputy of Bonaire, process-server for Civil matters at the Court of First Instance of  Aruba, Curaçao, Sint-Maarten, Bonaire, St. Eustatius en Saba and the Court of First Instance of Bonaire, St. Eustatius en Saba, Station Bonaire, residing in Bonaire and and having offices at  Kaya Industria 17a (South Beach Plaza) te Bonaire, Served notice to: Mr. B.I. Caldwell, the heirs of Ms. S.A. Shah Caldwell, the heirs of Ms. K. Pendleton and the heirs of W.A. Caldwell, currently of no known address or place of residence on Saba, Caribbean Netherlands, or anywhere else. This notice shall be published op Saba News. Therefore, I am serving my writ to the Public Prosecutor at the Court of First Instance, sitting in Bonaire, who signed the original writ as read. This notice shall be published in de Staatscourant. a parcel of land, situated on the island Saba, Caribbean Netherlands, in the district of Windwardside at Over the Peak, having an area of seven hundred and eighty-six square meters (786m²), described in Certificate of Admeasurement number 009 of nineteen hundred and eighty-two (C/A 009/1982), with the thereon-standing building and all appurtenances belonging thereto; and a parcel of land, situated on the island Saba, Caribbean Netherlands, in the district of Windwardside at Over the Peak, having an area of five hundred and fifty-six square meters (556m²), described in Certificate of Admeasurement number 006 of two thousand (C/A 006/2000), with the thereon-standing building and all appurtenances belonging thereto. the date of the public auction of the aforementioned immovable properties will then be held in the presence of Ms. Marcia D. Bouterse, civil law notary of the Public Entities Sint Eustatius and Saba, or her deputy on July 7th, 2026 on the address of Notary Office St. Eustatius and Saba at Coble Stone Road 3-A, The Bottom, Saba, C.N.    Note that interested Buyers are allowed to provide a private bid before June 14th, 2026.The Process-Server aforementioned. De Deurwaarder, Marisol A.A. Bernabela

Support for BES in case of low stocks

Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba can count on support in the event of a cri­sis. In addition, the three public bodies can also make use of their regular stocks in an emer­gency situation. Minister Pieter Heerma of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations BZK wrote this in response to an investiga­tion by the Dutch General Au­dit Chamber. Last week the chamber pub­lished an investigation into the Caribbean Netherlands’ preparations for disasters. The so-called BES islands have a relatively large regular stock of medicines and fuel, but no specific emergency stock for a potential crisis. Apart from medicines and fuel, this also concerns drink­ing water and food. An added risk is the dependence on im­ports from Curacao and St. Maarten. Heerma confirms that there are no strategic reserves. “On the other hand, there are regu­lar stocks on the islands from which they can draw. You also endorse this regarding fuel and medicines.” “In addition, various systems have been established in the event of crises to support and assist the islands if necessary,” he wrote, also on behalf of State Secretary Eric van der Burg for Kingdom Relations. There are also food stocks on the islands sufficient for sev­eral weeks to months. More­over, the ministry supports food production projects, partly to limit dependence on imports. The supply of drinking water is indeed limited, partly be­cause it is produced from sea­water. The Human Environ­ment and Transport Inspec­torate monitors compliance with legal requirements. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives (Second Chamber of Parliament) wants an explanation from government regarding Bo­naire, St. Eustatius and Saba’s preparations for a potential crisis. The reason for this is the report concerning a lack of emergency supplies of drink­ing water, food, medicines and fuel in the Caribbean Nether­lands. GroenLinks-PvdA MP Mikkal Tseggai received sufficient support for a so-called thirty-member debate. “Recently, there has been a lot of talk about emergency packages, food supplies and gas reserves in the European Netherlands. It is time we also discuss the Caribbean Netherlands.” “The Audit Chamber re­cently concluded that there are hardly any supplies in the Caribbean Netherlands in the event of disasters. On Saba, for example, there is drinking water for only one day. Incidentally, that is also contrary to European rules,” said Tseggai, who also men­tioned the higher risk of nat­ural disasters. Most MPs felt that a sepa­rate debate in the short term was not necessary. The sub­ject can also be discussed next Wednesday during the planned general debate on the Caribbean Netherlands, said Christen Unie MP Mirjam Bikker. However, Tseggai did receive support from MPs in her own party group as well as from D66, PvdD and Denk. That is enough for a thirty-member debate normally scheduled for the longer term. The Daily Herald.

Formal Search Concludes for Erik Matthijsen

Over the past week, several teams have worked tirelessly to coordinate and carry out our search for Mr. Erik Matthijsen, who went missing while hiking on Wednesday May 13. He was last seen in the Well’s Bay area. Despite extensive and intense efforts, searchers have not found him. In consultation with the crisis team, we have made the difficult decision to conclude the search for Erik. “This is not the outcome that any of us have wished for,” said Island Governor Jonathan Johnson. “Our thoughts and sympathy remain with Erik’s family, friends, and colleagues and all those who know him. While the search as of today is concluded, we hope that in due time, there will be a final closure to this tragedy.” We also extend our gratitude to everyone involved in the search, including the USAR.NL team, the police department, the fire department, the Saba Conservation Foundation, the Ministry of Defense, the Dutch Marines, the Ministry of VWS, the fire department of Saint Martin, the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard, the Ministry of Justice and Security and the National Crisis Center, the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, the Recherche Samenwerkingsteam, Hanab Connectivity Solutions and all its subcontractors working on the Mt. Scenery Tower Project, and all the local volunteers and partners. Out of consideration for Erik’s loved ones, we ask for your understanding and respect during this difficult time. If at any point in time, you or someone you know comes across anything related to or believed to be related to Erik Matthijsen, we urge you to reach out to the local police at 911 immediately.  Timeline 13 May – Local authorities received reports of a missing hiker: Erik Matthijssen. He had last been seen at around 11 a.m. in the Wells Bay area and did not return to his accommodation. Matthijssen is a medic on the team of the contractor hired by the Ministry of Defense to work on the Mount Scenery Tower project. Initial searches were made in the evening on the roads from Fort Bay towards Well’s Bay, as well as with thermal imaging drones. The use of the drones carried on well into the night and restarted in the early morning of the next day. 14 May – 4 ground teams (consisting of 6 people each) went along trails in the identified search area. Drones were extensively used to check areas that the ground teams could not cover. At the same time, a Coast Guard team that had been stationed in Sint Eustatius began searching coastal areas from their boat along with drone assistance. Additionally, the Coast Guard flew over with the DASH patrol airplane to get a better aerial view. The helicopter of the Mt. Scenery Project did the same. Marines from the Detachment on Sint Maarten arrived in the afternoon and immediately proceeded onto the trails to support the search. 15 May – At around 5:15 a.m., Marines continued the search using thermal drones in identified areas with support of local teams. Search efforts continued throughout the day, including with support from the helicopter from the Mt. Scenery Project and the medical evacuation helicopter. 16 May – Searches continued in the early morning. In the afternoon two dogs and handlers arrived on the island from the French Fire Department based on Saint Martin. Combined searches by teams with the assistance of these dogs were conducted until sunset. 17 May – Teams from USAR.NL arrived on Saba, with the first team being deployed in the afternoon to conduct searches with specially trained dogs. Searches were led with the assistance of local experienced hikers of the Saba Conservation Foundation. 18 May – Early in the morning, USAR.NL teams set out again on the search for Mr. Erik Matthijsen along the trails. 19 May – Teams were deployed again early in the morning with the guidance of local hikers of Saba Conservation Foundation and assistance of USAR.NL with specially trained dogs. A drone search was also conducted. 20 May – This marked one week since Erik Matthijsen was last seen. Ground teams continued on trails, with the assistance of specially trained dogs of the Netherlands Urban Search and Rescue (USAR.NL). The Coast Guard also did another round of coastal checks in the afternoon. 21 May – The search continued with the help of the Coast Guard, USAR.NL and divers from the Saba Conservation Foundation. Despite best efforts, Erik has not been found. The decision was then taken for the formal search to be concluded. PES

Law enforcement in the Caribbean Netherlands is under structural pressure: structural strengthening is necessary

In its new State of Law Enforcement in the Caribbean Netherlands 2025, the Council for Law Enforcement warns that law enforcement on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba remains structurally vulnerable and, without substantial reinforcement, is not future-proof. According to the Council, capacity, border control, information exchange, detention, forensic care and the approach to juvenile crime remain under continued pressure. At the same time, security risks in the Caribbean region are increasing due to subversive crime, geopolitical tensions and growing social pressure on the islands. The Council notes that the Ministry of Justice and Security is taking important steps and endorses the Council’s earlier analysis, but that on crucial points too few concrete measures are yet visible. As a result, the risk remains that structural problems will be resolved only partially or too slowly. There are particular concerns about the situation on Saba and Sint Eustatius. According to the Council, the criminal justice and security chain there operates with structural limitations and gaps. Capacity problems, the lack of local facilities and dependence on Bonaire lead to unequal access to justice for residents of these islands. The Council also explicitly draws attention to the continuing absence of central coordination for intelligence-led operations within the maritime hub, the growing problem of juvenile crime, the inadequate digital infrastructure within the justice chain and the risks surrounding data exchange within the Kingdom. Finally, the Council emphasizes that protecting the rule of law in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom is no longer merely a local issue, but a strategic security issue for the entire Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Council therefore urgently calls on the ministers to sustainably strengthen justice organizations financially, organizationally and in terms of capacity, and to quickly translate policy intentions into concrete and executable measures with clear timelines. The State of Law Enforcement in the Caribbean Netherlands 2025 is available on the website of the Council for Law Enforcement: www.raadrh.com. Raad voor de rechtshandhaving.

Opinion: No Functioning Bank on Saba: Banking Is a Necessity, Not a Luxury

How does a bank send out “URGENT ACTION REQUIRED” emails threatening loss of access to accounts within 45 days if no compliance is completed, while at the same time temporarily closing the only branch on the island? Residents are being instructed to visit an RBC branch, contact their “relationship manager” or  notarize documents through third parties and send via couriers, while many customers report repeated requests for documents that were already submitted previously in the branch on Saba. Unfortunately, this is only one part of a much larger issue. Customers on Saba have been dealing with: • Wire transfers randomly failing • Local transfers bouncing back • Other online banking issues • Unexplained fees • Returned-funds charges when failures were not the customer’s fault, but online banking errors. • Phones rarely being answered in branch • Constant teller and management turnover • Branch hours non- consistent • Systems repeatedly failing • Eeports of documents being lost within the branch • Customers being told Saba “cannot help” and to contact SXM instead • business accounts being opened on Saba, yet business clients being unable to receive proper assistance on Saba afterward • Brand-new bank cards reportedly not functioning properly since distribution. • Businesses still waiting on new cards and no ETA. • Repeated compliance requests even after documents were already submitted Many residents and businesses rely on these accounts for mortgages, payroll, suppliers, automated payments, transfers, school expenses, and day-to-day living. Banking failures create real financial consequences for families and businesses attempting to operate responsibly. The reality is that RBC is currently the only bank operating on Saba. When services fail or become inaccessible, the island effectively has no fully functioning bank available to residents. Saba residents deserve reliable, accessible, and properly functioning banking services. Banking is not a luxury — it is a necessity. I hope this issue receives the public attention and accountability it deserves, because Saba deserves better. Regards, A concerned resident.

Central Committee meeting &  Island Council meeting on Tuesday My 26th, 2026

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 May 26th, 2026 at 2:00 pm at the Government Administration Building. You may also view the Central Committee meeting on the Saba Government YouTube page. The agenda is as follows: Opening Approval of the agenda Approval of the minutes Citizens right to speak on agenda points Oral Question round: concerning announced questions from the Island Council incoming and outgoing correspondence list during the period November 1st, 2025 – April 10th, 2026 (Article 18) 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) Island Council Proposal 2026.1: Saba Language Policy 2026 – 2030  Island Council Proposal 2026.2: 1st Budget Amendment and 1st Quarter Implementation Report 2026  Closing Looking forward to your attendance. Sincerely, The Island Registrar, A. 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 416-3311ext 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 a Island Council meeting on Tuesday My 26th, 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 during the period April 11th, – May 15th, 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) Island Council Proposal 2026.1: Saba Language Policy 2026 – 2030  Island Council Proposal 2026.2: 1st Budget Amendment and 1st Quarter Implementation Report 2026 Motions Closing Sincerely, the Island Governor, J.G.A. Johnson M. Ed. PES

Scenery Hotel Saba commissions solar energy system in sustainability push

Scenery Hotel Saba has taken a further step toward sustain­able operations with the commissioning of a new grid-tied solar energy sys­tem, aimed at reducing the property’s carbon footprint while maintaining its archi­tectural character. The installation was car­ried out by energy solutions provider Dynaf Group, which operates across sev­eral islands in the Carib­bean Netherlands, includ­ing Saba. The hotel, located in Windwardside, is owned by the Caribbean Netherlands Pension Fund (“Pensio­enfonds Caribisch Neder­land” PCN) and has posi­tioned itself as part of the island’s wider move toward environmentally respon­sible tourism. According to project de­tails. the system comprises 170 high-efficiency 360Wp solar panels with a total installed capacity of 61.2 kWp, supported by a 70kW inverter. The panels were specially finished in a ter­racotta colour to blend with the hotel’s distinctive red-roof design. Hotel management said the installation was de­signed to ensure energy efficiency without compro­mising the visual identity of the property, a key consid­eration in Saba’s protected built environment. Dynaf Group general manager Werner van de Zilver said the project dem­onstrates that renewable energy can be integrated into existing architecture without altering aesthetic value. “Sustainability does not have to come at the ex­pense of aesthetics,” he said. “On Saba, where visu­al character is so important, we ensured the solar panels blended seamlessly with the building’s design.” The hotel said the initia­tive also supports its con­tinued pursuit of the internationally recognised Green Key certification, which promotes environ­mentally responsible tour­ism practices. Beyond solar energy, Scenery Hotel Saba has also been expanding broad­er sustainability measures, including energy efficiency improvements, water con­servation efforts, waste reduction initiatives and community engagement in eco-tourism. Dynaf Group, which pro­vides power and energy sys­tems across the region, said the project is intended to serve as a model for other properties on Saba consid­ering renewable energy in­vestments. The Daily Herald.

Harry L. Johnson Museum Celebrates International Museum Day 2026.

On May 18th, 2026, the Harry L. Johnson Museum in Saba proudly celebrated International Museum Day for the very first time with a meaningful and heartwarming cultural event that brought generations together in the spirit of unity, heritage, and storytelling. The event was initiated and organized by Pamela Meijvogel-Whitfield of the Harry L. Johnson Museum and was held in observance of this year’s International Museum Day theme, “Museums Uniting a Divided World.” In keeping with the theme, the museum hosted an intergenerational storytelling afternoon that united seniors from the Life Center with children from the afternoon school program. Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Harry L. Johnson Museum grounds under the gazebo, the afternoon became a memorable cultural exchange where the older generation shared treasured memories and stories of life in Saba from years gone by. The seniors spoke about traditional ways of life, customs, culture, family life, community values, and their personal experiences growing up on Saba connecting the past with the present and future generations. The children listened attentively and engaged warmly with the seniors, creating a beautiful atmosphere of learning, appreciation, and togetherness. The event highlighted the important role museums play in preserving cultural heritage while also creating spaces where communities can connect, learn from one another, and strengthen bonds across generations. Mrs. Meijvogel-Whitfield hosted the gathering and helped create a welcoming and enjoyable environment for all in attendance. Mr. Glenn Holm, president of the Harry L. Johnson Memorial Foundation, was also present and expressed his pleasure in seeing such a meaningful event take place at the museum. Refreshments were served and both the seniors and children thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon’s activities. Mrs. Meijvogel-Whitfield described the event as a beautiful cultural experience, filled with warmth, laughter, storytelling, and community spirit. Mrs. Meijvogel-Whitfield said to be proud to have hosted this International Museum Day celebration and looks forward to continuing initiatives that preserve Saba’s heritage while bringing people together through culture, history, and shared experiences.

No strategic reserves in Caribbean Netherlands

No strategic reserves of (drinking) water, food, medicines, or fuel have been established for the in­habitants of Bonaire, St. Eu­statius and Saba. Despite the vulnerability of the Carib­bean Netherlands to natural threats, such as hurricanes or volcanic eruptions, and the tense situation in Venezuela, located less than 70 kilome­tres from Bonaire, the Dutch Cabinet has not set targets for a strategic reserve. In the event of a crisis, for example, the supply of drinking water on the so-called BES islands would be exhausted within a few days.   A strategic reserve is an extra stock of (essential) raw materials that is kept in reserve. This stock is not available for normal use and is only utilised when the sup­ply is interrupted by, for ex­ample, a crisis. The Dutch Audit Chamber previously conducted an in­vestigation into strategic re­serves in 2022. At that time, they looked at the European part of the kingdom. Under European Union (EU) regulations, the Neth­erlands has obligations to maintain certain strategic reserves. However, these do not apply to the Caribbean Netherlands. Because the chamber de­termined that no strategic reserves was established, the presence of regular stocks of (drinking) water, food, medi­cines and fuel on the islands has been mapped out. Re­garding medicine and fuel, the islands possess a relative­ly large regular stock. Saba and St. Eustatius have a regular stock of medicines sufficient for one to two months. For Bonaire this is three to six weeks. Regarding regular stocks of food and (drinking) water, the picture is very different. St. Eustatius has a reserve of drinking water sufficient for seven days and Bonaire for only three to four days. On Saba, a water shortage already arises if the supply is interrupted for longer than a day. The regular stocks in the Caribbean Netherlands are dependent on imports by commercial companies and are structurally vulnerable to disruptions in the inter­national logistics chain. The consequence of this is that in a crisis, private parties and commercial considerations determine what happens to the regular stocks of (drink­ing) water, fuel, medicines, and food. Virtually all goods for Bo­naire, St. Eustatius and Saba are supplied via the two “hubs” Curacao and St. Maarten. In a crisis situation, this quickly creates the ad­ditional risk that the islands will start competing with each other for supplies. No targets have been set by government for strategic reserves in the Caribbean Netherlands. As a result, there are no clear agree­ments between the central government, private parties, vital sectors and public bod­ies about who is responsible for what. Where formal agreements regarding responsibilities do exist, such as for fuel, there is uncertainty regarding the division of roles in practice. If an island does not possess sufficient strategic reserves, this can have major societal consequences because short­ages quickly arise that can directly affect daily life. The Jetten Cabinet must therefore determine what level of strategic reserves is desirable in the Caribbean Netherlands, record this and indicate who is responsible for what. This study is a pre-publica­tion of the 2025 Accountabil­ity Audit by the Netherlands Audit Chamber, which will be published on this coming May 20 with “Safety of the Netherlands” as theme. The Daily Herald.