Island Government of Saba

Official Dutch Release:

Dinsdag 8 december 2009

Persbericht bezoek minister van Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties.

Herstel zendmast hulpdiensten

Minister Ter Horst en Gezaghebber Johnson van Saba hebben vandaag op de top van Mount Scenery (het hoogste punt van het Koninkrijk) een contract getekend om de zendmast opnieuw in werking te stellen.

De hulpdiensten kunnen dankzij de zendmast beter met elkaar communiceren. Bereikbaarheid van en snel reageren door de hulpdiensten levert een belangrijke bijdrage aan de veiligheid op de eilanden. Het herstel van de zendmast is tevens een belangrijke stap naar de ingebruikname van de gezamenlijke meldkamer. Dit maakt onderdeel uit van het transitieproces waarin de BES-eilanden openbare lichamen van Nederland worden.

De minister legt deze week een werkbezoek af aan de BES-eilanden waar ze onder meer de brandweer en politie bezoekt. Ze heeft zich daar laten informeren over de verbeterplannen. Op Saba en Sint Eustatius heeft ze eveneens kennis gemaakt met de kwartiermakers van de Koninklijke Marechaussee die de politiekorpsen op deze eilanden komen versterken. In gesprek met Gezaghebber Johnson merkte de minister op de eilanden als bijzondere gemeentes, een verrijking voor Nederland te vinden.

English Translation Summary:

Minister Ter Horst and Lieutenant Governor Johnson of Saba hiked today to the summit of Mount Scenery (the highest point of the Kingdom) and signed a contract to put the communications tower back into operation.

The emergency services upgrade will lead to better communicate with each tower. Accessibility and rapid response of emergency services makes a significant contribution to safety on the island. The restoration of the tower is also an important step towards the deployment of the joint control room. This is part of the transition process of the BES-islands public entities of the Netherlands.

The Minister is paying a working visit to the BES-islands which will include the fire and police meetings. She informed them of the improvement plans. On Saba and St. Eustatius she was also introduced to the quartermasters of the Royal Military Police.  In conversation with Lieutenant Governor Johnson noted the minister on the island as special municipalities and an enrichment for the Netherlands to find.

Left Photo Caption:  (LtoR) Lars Walrave, Ivo van Kollem, Minister Guusje Ter Horst, Dick Schoof, Jean Fransman, Jonathan Johnson, Herman Mensen, Serge Wennen, James Jonson

General

The Saba Health Care Insurance office that is currently located in the Administration Building in The Bottom will be move.  The move will commence this Friday and the facilities will not be open during this time.  Any emergencies will however still be handled.  The Saba Health Care Insurance office will reopen on Monday in its new location with regular working offices in the old UTS building next to Limetime Restaurant.

Photo Caption: New Location in The Bottom

Source: Government Information Services

General, Health

Subject: Zagers delivers eco-bags to Department Heads

December 2, 2009 (SGIS) – The Bottom, Saba:

With Saba Day festivities commencing on Friday, December 4^th 2009, Commissioner Zagers honored the upcoming events by distributing Eco-Bags to his Department Heads. Initiating the distribution of these bags before Saba Day was done in honor of this year’s theme: “Making Strides to preserve our Unspoiled Queen”.

The launching of the eco-bag program features safe reusable grocery bags that the community will be able to use in place of plastic bags. This distribution of bags follows GeBes original initiative to distribute environmentally safe shopping bags.

Hendrick Hassell of Public Works was the first Department Head to receive bags from Commissioner Zagers. Mr. Hassell was appreciative and looked forward to handing out the bags to his workers. Each civil servant will be given two bags and after that, the rest will be distributed to the community stores. In total 1500 bags were ordered. Furthermore, this year there are Saba Flags being handed out to the community at the Administration Building as well as the Tourist Bureau.

Commissioner of Environmental Affairs, Bruce Zagers urged the community to, “Please come out and enjoy the festivities. Show your colors and your Saba Flag. I look forward to everyone having a fun filled and very safe Saba Day weekend”

Source: Saba Government Information Services – gis@sabagov.com

Photo caption: Bruce Zagers & Hendrick Hassell

Environmental Affairs, General

Dear Readers,

We have issued a tax information page with downloadable information files for the community.  You can find it at the top of this sites menu or http://media.sabagovernment.com/tax-information/

Finance, General