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THE HAGUE:--- Stichting WeConnect and Pakhuis de Zwijger are organizing the networking event 'Diaspora Dialogues' in Amsterdam on October 10th. The goal is to let members of the Caribbean diaspora come together to have a dialogue on who they are, their experiences as a student or professional in the Netherlands, how they experience their connection with their birth island, and in what way they engage with the community on the islands.

Involvement
The inspiration for this dialogue comes from the Caribbean community itself Read more

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SABA:--- Two motions were presented to the Island Council by Island Council Members Elsa Peterson and Vito Charles, both of the WIPM party, one motion addressing the continued urgency to establish the social minimum and a second motion on the minimum salaries of the Public Entity Saba with a cost-of-living adjustment.

Peterson and Charles submitted their motions during a meeting of the Island Council to handle the 2022 Year Report and the first 2023 budget amendment. Petersons motion instructed the Executive Council to take a number of actions Read more

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SABA:--- The Executive Council looks back at a good working visit to the Netherlands. From May 22 to June 1, Commissioners Bruce Zagers and Eviton Heyliger visited a number of ministries and entities and spoke with several members of the Second Chamber and members of the Dutch Government about Sabas challenges, needs, and its development.

Plans were presented and discussed to build a new high school campus which includes, academic classrooms, technical classrooms, a new gym, and an auditorium Read more

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SABA/THE HAGUE:--- The Saba delegation on Friday, September 16 concluded a successful working visit to the Netherlands with the securing of various commitments that will benefit Sabas community.

The delegation had meetings at ministries, and with dignitaries and government organizations. A highlight was the establishing of the Task Force that will look at solutions for long-time issues such as banking, connectivity, real estate, and notary services among other things. Commissioner Zagers signed the Task Force document on behalf of the Public Entity Saba Read more

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BONAIRE:--- DCNA has been actively promoting a nature-focused agenda both within The Netherlands and internationally.  Whether its championing the Yarari Marine Mammal and Shark Sanctuary, establishing new partnerships or pushing for a Climate Action Plan, 2022 has been a banner year for improved nature conservation efforts within the Dutch Caribbean.

One of the many goals of DCNA is to promote policy and advocacy work, both within The Netherlands and internationally. Together with DCNA board members, the conservation network organization has been actively engaging politicians and policymakers in order to stress the importance of nature conservation within the Dutch Caribbean Read more

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 THE HAGUE/SABA:--- The Saba Island Council is currently in the Netherlands for a series of meetings, work visits, and the year congress of the Association of Dutch Municipalities VNG. Commissioner of Social Affairs, Public Health, and Housing Rolando Wilson is also in the Netherlands and joins part of the program of the Island Council, in addition to his own program.
The Island Council delegation, consisting of Chairman and Island Governor Jonathan Johnson, Island Council Members Carl Buncamper, Vito Charles, Eviton Heyliger, Esmeralda Johnson, Hemmie van Xanten and Island Registrar Akilah Levenstone, started its working visit on Monday, June 20 and returns to Saba on Sunday, July 3.
The program includes meetings with the Permanent Committees for Kingdom Relations of the First and Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament, State Secretary of Public Health, Wellbeing and Sport Maarten van Ooijen, and Vice-President of the Council of State Thom de Graaf.
The main topics that were discussed with the First Chamber (on Tuesday, June 21) and the Second Chamber (on Thursday, June 23) included: healthcare, connectivity, cost of living, the notary and banking issue, the number of seats in the Island Council, the Kadaster and the modernization of the Opium Law Read more

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SABA:--- The Executive Council has submitted a letter to the Dutch Parliament in which it expressed serious concerns about the deficient curative healthcare for Saba residents. Saba is calling for direly needed changes to the healthcare system to ensure good curative care for the people. The two recent deaths of patients on St. Eustatius underscore this need.

As you know, our neighboring island Statia was shaken in recent weeks by the unforeseen death of two residents. These events have a huge impact on all those directly involved, on Statias general population and also affected the people on Saba, it was stated in the letter to the members of the First and Second Chamber who recently visited Saba on Monday, May 2 Read more

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SABA:--- A delegation of 10 members of the First and Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament visited Saba on Monday, May 2. Besides the formal part meeting with the Executive Council and Island Council, the program included a presentation session on topics such as poverty, public health, tourism, and economic development, as well as a meet and greet and various site visits.

The delegation arrived with a Winair charter from St. Maarten in the morning and was welcomed by Island Governor Jonathan Johnson, Island Secretary Tim Muller, and Government Advisor/Second Acting Island Secretary Gerald Simmons-de Jong.

Members of the management team of the Saba Electric Company (SEC) Dexter Johnson, Mark Zagers, and David Leonce met with the delegation right after arrival to give information on the investments in renewable energy, the Saba Energy Strategy 2020-2030, and the ambition of 100 percent sustainable energy, and the challenges such as the steep increase in the cost of importing fuel for the generators.

Continuous challenges

At the Eugenius Johnson Center, a meeting took place with the Executive Council where Commissioners Bruce Zagers and Rolando Wilson spoke about the continuous challenges that Saba faces, for example, the problematic referral of patients abroad, the high cost of living and doing business, governments difficult financial position, and the lacking connectivity Read more

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SABA:--- Commissioner Bruce Zagers and Island Secretary Tim Muller recently met with several members of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament during their visit to The Hague.
Among the Members that Zagers and Muller met with was Chairperson of the Second Chambers Permanent Committee for Kingdom Relations Marille Paul. The meeting was of an introductory nature since Paul, who is a member of the liberal democratic VVD party, took up her new position as Committee Chairperson some three weeks ago Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- On Thursday, December 9, 2021, the 31st Congress and Trade Mission regarding Ten Years after the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles, continued at the Nieuwspoort in The Hague in which a delegation of the Parliament of Sint Maarten is currently participating. Today the Congress started with a presentation by Ms. Gerlien Croes, Member of the Parliament of Aruba, who discussed the strengthening of our Kingdom relations based on European values and standards. She mentioned that we are small islands with big challenges and brought forward that change requires support and that the EU offers an alternative Read more

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THE HAGUE/SABA:--- Commissioner Bruce Zagers and Island Secretary Tim Muller during their visit to the Netherlands met with Members of the First and Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament. Issues of importance to Saba including the free allowance, poverty, connectivity, banking, and infrastructure were discussed. 

Even though the meetings at the various ministries were the focal point of the visit, Zagers and Muller found it important to meet with the First and Second Chamber on Tuesday, July 6 Read more

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SABA/THE HAGUE:--- The delegation of the Saba Island Council during the meetings in the Netherlands was able to point out the matters that are important to Saba, such as increasing the structural funding, establishing a social minimum, a better banking system, investments in education, social development and infrastructure.

Island Council Members Esmeralda Johnson, Carl Buncamper, Vito Charles, Eviton Heyliger and Hemmie van Xanten, and Island Council Registrar Akilah Levenstone visited the Netherlands from June 24 to July 2 during which the delegation attended two pieces of training and had a number of meetings with various organizations and members of the Permanent Committee for Kingdom Relations of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament.

It was a successful visit and the general conclusion was that overall, the support for Saba is growing Read more

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SABA:--- A total of 446 valid votes were cast during the Second Chamber elections on Saba on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Raymond Knops (CDA) was the biggest vote-getter with 180 votes. The only candidate from Saba in these elections, Lysanne Charles (BIJ1) amassed 105 votes.
The elections went well. I am content with the high turn-out, said Chairman of the Main Voting Bureau Island Governor Jonathan Johnson. In these elections the voter turn-out was 49.6%. Saba has 907 eligible voters Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- On Friday, March 12th, 2021, the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary in the Hague hosted an Election debate with Candidates of six political parties. The parties which were represented in this debate were BIJ1, represented by Ms. Lysanne Charles, UBUNTU (UCF), represented by Mr. Carlos Lopes, DENK, represented by Ms. Isaura Carillho, D66, represented by Drs. Jorien Wuite, Christen Unie, represented by Mr Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- March 8, 2021, marked International Women's Day 2021. This day was celebrated around the world in recognition of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women and also brought awareness to areas that need improvement for gender equity and inclusion. This year, International Womens Day was themed Choose To Challenge.

As part of the global celebration, the University of St.Martin (USM), TelEm N.V and the Produce Wealth Revolution (PWR) Agency came together in a collaborative effort to produce Oualichi Politics - a virtual panel discussion highlighting seven (7) of the islands most influential women in the political arena Read more

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~In celebration of International Women's day, Local Women in Politics are Recognized~

PHILIPSBURG:--- On March 8, 2021, six (6) influential women in the political arena, representing the Dutch and French side of the island will be keynote speakers in the 2021 event: Oualichi Politics. Oualichi is one of the indigenous names given to pre-Columbian St.Martin meaning strong women. These women of the island have done exceptionally well in their contribution to politics but to St.Maarten/ St.Martins culture for years.

In what is expected to be a historical event of 2021, these dynamic women will share publicly their journeys and vision for an equitable, sustainable, and democratic society Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The United Democratic Party (UDP) is thrilled by the confirmation of its member and former Minister contesting the Dutch election in March 2021 on the slate of D66. While Jorien had to resign from the UDP, we support her all the way with this courageous endeavor.
Jorien Wuite in our opinion will be an asset to the D66 Read more

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Creative Industries Forum Event To Be Hosted By Ministry Of Ecy.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Jorien Wuite, has announced that the ministry will be hosting a Creative Industries Interactive Exchange Forum, CIIEF, on March 21st, 2018 with an aim to encourage and fuel sensitization of the arts as a valuable contributor to the socio-economic sphere as well as to recognize and stimulate the role of the arts in the healing process of the island- especially amongst its young people.

The forum, consisting of workshops, presentations, as well as a panel discussion, targets key stakeholders in the field to facilitate open communication between the involved ministries and those directly executing and involved in the creative industries Read more

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Information Session On Housing Opportunities For Teachers Organized.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Jorien Wuite invites all teachers, administrative and management staff desirous of exploring the possibility of owning their own home to an information session organized in collaboration with the General Pension Fund (APS) on Thursday, March 1st from 3-4: 30 pm at the Belair Community Center Read more

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Unesco Donates $50,000 To Public Schools.

PHILIPSBURG:--- UNESCO has approved $50,000 for the purchasing of learning materials for Public Education that was damaged by Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria.

The learning materials that are being referred to are: textbooks, workbooks, and physical education materials. The learning materials are from the different subject areas from the national curriculum such as: English and Dutch language arts, science, and physical education.

The reasons why the texts books are needed was that the damaged books and materials were in used for over a 12-year period Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- It seemed like not only a delicious 3-course meal was on the menu, but also laughter and music were served last Saturday at the Holland House.

DJ Jansen and Joost de Jong were hosting an evening called “Diner Chantant” together with the fabulous staff from the Holland House. The two Dutch musical entertainers flew in a few weeks ago to help the people of St. Maarten in the aftermath of hurricane Irma.

They started at the beginning of February teaching free musical theatre classes at NIA (National Institute of Arts) and cooking free plant-based lunches and sharing them out on the streets to the people in need.

The couple raised funds in Holland to be able to buy the groceries and to allow the children to join the musical theatre classes for free Read more

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Minister Wuite Meets With Aps Regarding Teacher Benefits.

PHILIPSBURG – On Friday, February 9th Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Jorien Wuite met with representatives of the General Pension Fund (APS). The meeting was scheduled in follow-up to concerns expressed to the Minister in matters related to the physco-social well-being of teachers after the passing of hurricane Irma in September Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- In line with the vision of recovery, Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Jorien Wuite informs that repairs to the Melford Hazel Sports Center along with several basketball courts in various districts on the island have been signed off on to be executed within the coming weeks. The National Sports Institute (NSI) will be the executing agency to oversee the repairs with funds made available through the approval of a subsidy by the Government of St Read more

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Cba And Oranje School Can Re-Open Friday.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin in an update regarding the Pond Island landfill fires on Thursday said based on assessments and discussions with the Minister of Education Jorien Wuite, the two remaining schools that were closed on Thursday can re-open on Friday.
The two schools are the Charlotte Brookson Academy (CBA) and the Oranje Primary School Read more

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