‘Saba Package’ to Achieve 10 Concrete Goals for Island

ST. EUSTATIUS/SABA—Dutch State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops and Saba Commissioner Bruce Zagers signed the Saba Package, a comprehensive administrative agreement to further Saba’s development.

The signing took place at the end of a meeting in St. Eustatius between the three islands and The Netherlands represented by State Secretaries Raymond Knops and Tamara Van Ark.   

The agreement aims to secure and further improve the good cooperation between the Dutch Government and the Public Entity Saba. Through the Saba Package, the two governments agree to address the challenges and opportunities on Saba, and commit to work on these together.

The Saba Package contains four main themes: social development, economic development, public order, safety and disaster management, and good governance. These four themes consist of 10 ambitions: eradicating poverty, strong social facilities, lowering the costs of doing business, economic impulses, investments in the physical domain and consolidation thereof, solutions for the various public order and safety issues, solutions for the various disaster management issues, different division of tasks whereby several tasks are transferred from the National Government to the Public Entity Saba, a service minded and solid government organization, and healthier government finances.

Commissioner Zagers said on the occasion that he was positive about the joint future steps. “This is a big moment for us. Saba and the ministries proved before that working together leads to good results for the island. When you have a good cooperation, you can achieve more in the best interest of the people, to improve their livelihood and their security. I look forward to the continued cooperation with the ministries.”