From Tricia
on
IN THE HOT SEAT WITH BRANDON CAINES AKA SOCA-B
Brandon is the party!
He makes the room swing…sing/dance/watch! All fun with Brandon! Saba Rocks It with King D.J./ Host!
Band contributor many times over! Lead singer plus!
We are happy to party with him any where any time!
GO BRANDON GO!!!!,♨️
2023/09/04 at 3:31 pm
From Tricia
on
Saba Red Cross calls for new volunteers, board members
I am so glad Etsel stepped up to the plate!!!
This has been a great program since I moved here on island..and we experienced our first Saba Hurricane! I have been through Hurricanes in Florida….but we’re many resources there.
I am proud to see the work he will accomplish in this position and am here to assist! Cheers! All the best Etsel!
2023/09/01 at 8:58 am
From Tricia
on
Four special enforcement officers sworn in
How Nice…. For the extra safety precautions on Island Saba!
After all the police force can only be in so many places at once! And we have grown in number …..not from the medical school….permanent livers…..staying for a good while.
And I especially liked all the personal statements given by each representative. I find each to be respectful and thoughtful persons and are not the kind of person to abuse their positions either, This I am so excited for this Progress Forward!
2023/08/25 at 1:45 pm
From Kees Jansen
on
WINAIR DELIVERS STRONG FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE IN 2022
Winair should thank the Saba residents for paying so much money for each flight so that Winair as a company makes a good profit, the Board has a good income and the WINAIR employees enjoy high salaries ( and nevertheless bully passengers in SXM) .
(Shortened by Editor)
2023/08/18 at 5:03 pm
From Cris Hassell
on
Saba has surplus in second quarter
A Surplus on the Budget of 1.7 million is Great! But this Zagers and Johnson Dictatorship on Saba for 15 years just cannot work, this cannot go on! The Surplus of 1.7 million should be used to help the poorest families on Saba and not the richest not the Johnson Family and Zagers Family and whom they choose to help. Chapter 1 of the Constitution lays down the rights of all persons in the Netherlands. These ‘fundamental rights’ are principally human rights and democratic rights. They include freedom from discrimination, freedom of religion and expression and the right to privacy. Social rights, such as the right to housing and health care, are also laid down in the Constitution.
Since the Netherlands is part of NATO and the EU: The The European Union describes its values as being ‘Human Dignity, Freedom, Democracy, Equality, Rule of Law, and Human Rights’. Democracy is a cornerstone of the project that is the European Union and has been since its inception.
The Appointment of Governor Jonathan Johnson for 15 years and Commissioner Bruce Zagers 15 years is Against Dutch Democratic Constitutional Law and the European Union Constitutional Law and the United Nations. In the United States The governor holds the office for four years and can choose to run for reelection. The Governor is not eligible to serve more than eight years in any twelve-year period.
If democracy is to have breadth of meaning, it is necessary to adjust this inequity. It is not only moral, but it is also intelligent. We are wasting and degrading human life by clinging to archaic thinking.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Cristian Hassell Feliciano
2023/08/18 at 4:09 pm
From GiveFishermanCreditWhereItsDue.
on
Vessels in distress
Spirit of Saba, A SABAN vessel with Captain Nicholas Johnson towed the St.Kitts boat into the Saba Harbour after being notifed and saved those souls on the vessel named “Playboy”.
Please edit your story for the true facts.
Saban fisherman never get credit with the amount of rescues, tows etc they are always performing and the coast guard always seems to be able to take the credit and land the applause. It’s not fair. Give credit where it’s due. If it’s the coast guard, applause. If it’s a local island fisherman, applause… but give the credit where it’s due.
Nicholas Johnson has many rescues under his belt and deserves this recognition and willingness to always provide assistance.
God bless our fisherman!
2023/08/15 at 1:11 pm
From GiveSabanInstitutionsTheirName
on
Vessels in distress
This is the second time I’ve seen reports where Saban vessels are not given due credit. Ryan Hassell with the vessel Navigator and Nicholas Johnson with his vessel Spirit of Saba. Also the Saba Conservation Foundation has been involved multiple times in towing vessels in distress.
This is why the Dutch Caribbean coast guard continues to be referred to as ” calm weather flies”. No respect.
2023/08/17 at 11:13 am
From Cris Hassell
on
The Executive Council informs Island Council and the community actively about decisions
This is the Shameful and Unacceptable Response of Dictators on Saba to the Honorable Dutch State Representative Jan Helmond. The Wonderful People of Saba and the Wonderful Dutch People living on Saba as Residents are tired of this Johnson and Zagers Dictatorship: Governor Jonathan Johnson and Commissioner Bruce Zagers. Ninety-nine percent of the failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses. …
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Second Chamber, the Face of Democracy of the Mother Country the Netherlands need to step into this and Remove these Dictators who have been in office for more than 15 years. The Governor’s House does not belong to Jonathan Johnson or the Johnson Family (this is called Nepotism) ……The Government Building does not belong to Bruce Zagers: (This is called Dictatorship or Authoritarianism) I am certain that this is not the Democratic ideals of Netherlands, just currently the Government fill because of Democracy!
Lack of Transparency is the shameful behavior of Dictators. The Executive Council of Saba is out of Line and out of Touch with the wonderful People of Saba. This Governor Jonathan Johnson and Commissioner Bruce Zagers have been in office more than 15 years and have reserved a spot for No Democracy on the island of Saba this is Wrong! This cannot go on! Enough is Enough! Term Limits have to be made to avoid Dictatorship!
Distinguished island Council Members Saskia Levenstone and Hemmie Van Xanten are valuable in standing up for the People living on Saba! They are working for the people!
The PEP party need to reach out to the Second Chamber in the Mother Country the Netherlands who are the Face of Democracy such as Attje Kuiken, Jesse Klever, Peter Omtzig, Marjolein Moorman; to prevent these two individuals Governor Jonathan Johnson and Commissioner Bruce Zagers to continue to rob children of their future and the progress of the People living on Saba by their inaction and failed policies and lack of transparency.
In United States The governor holds the office for four years and can choose to run for reelection.
the Governor is not eligible to serve more than eight years in any twelve-year period. This Democratic standard for Governor
in the United States can be also upheld in the Netherlands Soley to prevent Governors from becoming Dictators in the respective Dutch Islands.
Also in the Dutch Kingdom having the Ministry of Foreign Affairs set up the Standards of who is Eligible or Qualifies to Democratically run for the
office of Governor. As Per the Executive Council Commissioners should be given only and 8 year Term for the same for the same forementioned reasons.
I think also that Democracy serves best the very idea of it as that more citizens get to serve and participating by having a voice in the leadership of the country.
This is the absolute beauty of Democracy participation, Inclusion and opportunity for all.
Democracy is never a final achievement. It is a call to an untiring effort. Freedom has many difficulties and democracy is not perfect, but we have never had to put up a wall to keep our people in. There is an old saying that the course of civilization is a race between catastrophe and education.
President John F. Kennedy
Cristian Hassell Feliciano
2023/08/04 at 9:50 am
From Radio Rich
on
Saba’s PEP Fraction reacts to the Executive Council’s counterstatements about the lack of transparency.
“It sometimes took 7 months before I received a reply to written questions, which should have been answered within 14 days, based on the law.”
=
Lazy and useless. And these guys actually get paid money to sit around in their cheap suits!
2023/08/02 at 8:53 pm
From Cris Hassell
on
Saba’s PEP Fraction reacts to the Executive Council’s counterstatements about the lack of transparency.
He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else. … That is why I hope that Independent MP Peter Omtzigt who is trying to accomplish Government Reform in the Netherlands does the same on Saba and in the Dutch Kingdom. The main concern on Saba is the Zagers and Johnson Government Dictatorship. Peter Omtzigt is favored to win Majority Seats in the Netherlands in Parliament.
Peter Omtzigt stated that: The Netherlands needs a new culture of governance because we are “lurching from crisis to crisis,” Omtzigt said in a video on social media. That includes a change in the way MPs are elected with the introduction of some form of regional representation and a constitutional court. He is heavily supported by Caroline Vander Plas. I hope that they can address the concern of lack of democoracy in the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, such as appointing Jonathan Johnson to a third consecutive term and Bruce Zagers to also a third Executive term on Saba. This is unconstituional and undemocractic.
I hope that his party Nieuw Sociaal Contract, may serve Rich and poor, black or white, native or immigrant and that Human rights and equality can be upheld.
Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority, still more when you superadd the tendency or the certainty of corruption by authority.
Lord Acton
If democracy is to have breadth of meaning, it is necessary to adjust this inequity. It is not only moral, but it is also intelligent. We are wasting and degrading human life by clinging to archaic thinking.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Cristian Hassell Feliciano
2023/08/21 at 5:40 pm
From Chris Meijvogel
on
Saba’s PEP Fraction reacts to the Executive Council’s counterstatements about the lack of transparency.
Mr. Hassell,
allow me to react on your submitted letter.
Neither the governor nor the commissioner are appointed by, as you wrote, the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations.
You also wrote that both appointments are unconstitutional.
My question is: can you indicate on what basis you think these appointments are unconstitutional. Obviously with reference to relevant law(s) and articles.
Thank you in advance.
Chris Meijvogel.
2023/08/24 at 11:50 am
From Cris Hassell
on
Saba’s PEP Fraction reacts to the Executive Council’s counterstatements about the lack of transparency.
Mr. Chris Meijvogel I do appreciate your concern: As in the Case with Jonathan Johnson, hence,The island Governor of Saba is the representative on Saba, an island of the Netherlands, of the Dutch head of state (King Willem-Alexander), under responsibility of the minister of the interior and kingdom relations. The governor is appointed by the monarch for a period of six years. (Wikipedia)
In the Case of Bruce Zagers he ran for office under the WIPM party and got the most votes due to that he was running with the winning party but he has been serving for more than 15 years in the same position in the Executive Council and Jonathan Johnson too. If the WIPM party supports Dictatorship that is for their own self-fish and greedy benefits but it is not right!
*** To answer your question: This is Unconstitutional because it is NOT DEMOCRATIC. Giving one man so many years to head a Government and a people is Not Democratic! This is called Authoritarianism and Dictatorship and the Netherlands is in the European Union, the EU stands for Democracy, as well as NATO!
The The European Union describes its values as being ‘Human Dignity, Freedom, Democracy, Equality, Rule of Law, and Human Rights’. Democracy is a cornerstone of the project that is the European Union and has been since its inception.
Limit the commissioners Terms to only 8 years and term for Lieutenant Governor 12 years. This is to ensure that there are more opportunities for other Sabans and Dutch citizens residing on the island to be able to also have an opportunity to serve in the Leadership of the island Dutch territory and a say in its future.
Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority, still more when you superadd the tendency or the certainty of corruption by authority.
Lord Acton
They have also been called out by the Honorable Dutch State Representative Jan Helmond for Lack of Transparency in the Executive Council and No transparency this is the shameful behavior of Dictators, this is Unconstitutional. The Executive Council of Saba is out of Line and out of Touch with the wonderful People of Saba. This Governor Jonathan Johnson and Commissioner Bruce Zagers have been in office more than 15 years and have reserved a spot for No Democracy on the island of Saba this is Wrong! This can not go on! Enough is Enough! Term Limits have to be made to avoid Dictatorship!
The wonderful people in the Netherlands are against this!
This objective of imposing Term Limits is good also to avoid Dictatorship (individuals serving more than 15 years as Lt. Governor and another individual as Commissioner on Saba, it is Wrong! This is not Democracy!
In United States The governor holds the office for four years and can choose to run for reelection.
The Governor is not eligible to serve more than eight years in any twelve-year period. This Democratic standard for Governor
in the United States can be also upheld in the kingdom of the Netherlands Soley to prevent Governors from becoming Dictators in the respective Dutch Islands.
I think also that Democracy serves best the very idea of it as that more citizens get to serve and participating by having a voice in the leadership of the country.
This is the absolute beauty of Democracy participation, Inclusion and opportunity for all by imposing Term Limits on the Lt. Governors office and Commissioner’s Office.
Also in the Dutch Kingdom having the Ministry of Foreign Affairs set up the Standards of who is Eligible or Qualifies to Democratically run for the office of Governor.
Democracy is never a final achievement. It is a call to an untiring effort. Freedom has many difficulties and democracy is not perfect, but we have never had to put up a wall to keep our people in. There is an old saying that the course of civilization is a race between catastrophe and education.
President John F. Kennedy
If democracy is to have breadth of meaning, it is necessary to adjust this inequity. It is not only moral, but it is also intelligent. We are wasting and degrading human life by clinging to archaic thinking.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Cristian Hassell
2023/08/25 at 4:19 pm
From Chris Meijvogel
on
Saba’s PEP Fraction reacts to the Executive Council’s counterstatements about the lack of transparency.
Quote: “Unconstitutional because it is not democratic.” unquote.
That’s a nice find but complete nonsense.
Writing a lot of text, venting your ideas, does not mean that what you write is right or true.
Unfortunately you don’t answer my question.
As a final remark: Dutch constitutional law is not based on Wikipedia. Luckily not.
Chris Meijvogel.
2023/08/26 at 6:19 pm
From Cris Hassell
on
Saba’s PEP Fraction reacts to the Executive Council’s counterstatements about the lack of transparency.
Lack of Transparency is the the shameful behavior of Dictators. The Executive Council of Saba is out of Line and out of Touch with the wonderful People of Saba. This Governor Jonathan Johnson and Commissioner Bruce Zagers have been in office more than 15 years and have reserved a spot for No Democracy on the island of Saba this is Wrong! This can not go on! Enough is Enough! Term Limits have to be made to avoid Dictatorship!
Distinguished island Council Members Saskia Levenstone and Hemmie Van Xanten are valuable in standing up for the People living on Saba! They are working for the people!
The PEP party need to reach out to the Second Chamber in the Mother Country the Netherlands who are the Face of Democracy such as Attje Kuiken, Jesse Klever, Peter Omtzig, Marjolein Moorman; to prevent these two individuals Governor Jonathan Johnson and Commissioner Bruce Zagers to continue to rob children of their future and the progress of the People living on Saba by their inaction and failed policies and lack of transparency.
“The very word “secrecy” is repugnant in a free and open society; and we are as a people inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths and to secret proceedings. We decided long ago that the dangers of excessive and unwarranted concealment of pertinent facts far outweighed the dangers which are cited to justify it.”
President John F. Kennedy
Cristian Hassell Feliciano
2023/07/31 at 5:48 pm
From Emiel
on
Goat Removal in designated hunting zones
Hi, I’m a bit confused by this announcement ???
But, then I am not a native English speaking guy, nor long enough on this beautifull Saba Island.
Thus, already two times we could NOT walk the trail we wanted. Because of the shooting going on. It’s going on, here it says throughout the week and weekends. BUT trails will NOT be closed to the public. Any day of the week!?
Still we encountered clear signs saying the trail is totally closed during the week for public, but open in the weekend as there is then NO shooting going on.
So????
Today we where at the beginning of the Sandy Cruz trail at Upper Hell’s Gate. And there is a sign, saying shooting is going on and the trail is closed for public. But, I think I have this feeling Upper Hell’s Gate is nót in the Designated Areas.
So???
Anyone can translate this Public Notice 62 for me in plain English?
Greetings, Emiel
PS: is this Carnival Monday included in the weekend?
Saba News News and Information from Saba Island, Dutch Caribbean
From Tricia on IN THE HOT SEAT WITH BRANDON CAINES AKA SOCA-B
2023/09/04 at 3:31 pmFrom Tricia on Saba Red Cross calls for new volunteers, board members
2023/09/01 at 8:58 amFrom Tricia on Four special enforcement officers sworn in
2023/08/25 at 1:45 pmFrom Kees Jansen on WINAIR DELIVERS STRONG FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE IN 2022
2023/08/18 at 5:03 pmFrom Cris Hassell on Saba has surplus in second quarter
2023/08/18 at 4:09 pmFrom GiveFishermanCreditWhereItsDue. on Vessels in distress
2023/08/15 at 1:11 pmFrom GiveSabanInstitutionsTheirName on Vessels in distress
2023/08/17 at 11:13 amFrom Cris Hassell on The Executive Council informs Island Council and the community actively about decisions
2023/08/04 at 9:50 amFrom Radio Rich on Saba’s PEP Fraction reacts to the Executive Council’s counterstatements about the lack of transparency.
2023/08/02 at 8:53 pmFrom Cris Hassell on Saba’s PEP Fraction reacts to the Executive Council’s counterstatements about the lack of transparency.
2023/08/21 at 5:40 pmFrom Chris Meijvogel on Saba’s PEP Fraction reacts to the Executive Council’s counterstatements about the lack of transparency.
2023/08/24 at 11:50 amFrom Cris Hassell on Saba’s PEP Fraction reacts to the Executive Council’s counterstatements about the lack of transparency.
2023/08/25 at 4:19 pmFrom Chris Meijvogel on Saba’s PEP Fraction reacts to the Executive Council’s counterstatements about the lack of transparency.
2023/08/26 at 6:19 pmFrom Cris Hassell on Saba’s PEP Fraction reacts to the Executive Council’s counterstatements about the lack of transparency.
2023/07/31 at 5:48 pmFrom Emiel on Goat Removal in designated hunting zones
2023/07/28 at 8:33 pm