The Bottom, Saba -Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Cora van Nieuwenhuizen visited Saba on Monday afternoon, May 6 and Tuesday morning, May 7, to see how the infrastructural projects that are being financed through the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (I&W) are doing.

At Fort Bay Harbor, Harbor project manager Ton van der Plas updated the minister through a presentation. The harbor, built in the 70’ies with the addition of the small pier in the 90’ies, is currently only able to provide basic services: roll-on roll-off for cargo, the off-loading of fishing boats, and the off- and on-loading of the ferries and dive boats. The current harbor is also very exposed. Extending the main pier will reduce the wave exposure. “The conditions are now far from ideal,” said Commissioner Zagers after the presentation by Van der Plas.

Investment of nearly 30 million Euros

The project to upgrade the harbor, which will cost close to 30 million euros involves the construction of a new, larger pier further west from the location of the current small pier, the extension of the current main pier and improvements at the shoreline and on-land infrastructure. It will be by far the biggest project for Saba ever, money and size wise. The project, financed by Holland, is in full preparation and the intention is to appoint a contractor by the end of this year. It will concern a design and build contract. Construction will start in 2020.

After the visit to the harbor, the delegation went to the location of the landfill where the commissioner explained the workings of the recycling facility and the waste burner. On Tuesday morning, the minister and her delegation met with members of the Island Council and Commissioner Rolando Wilson, before proceeding to the airport for the flight to St. Eustatius.