News item | 14-05-2025 | 14:40
Achieve more noticeable results for residents. Measures to recruit and retain and prepare and prepare strategies for economic development. These agreements between State Secretary Szabó (Digitization and Kingdom Relations) and the island councils of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba are in the progress report about the administrative agreements that the State Secretary sent to the Lower House this week. The progress with Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba is discussed every quarter. The State Secretary keeps an eye on what goes well and does not go well and make this negotiable with the island boards.
State Secretary Szabó: “I consider the administrative agreements with Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba as important instruments to set priorities and achieve tangible results. In the coming period, my focus will continue to promote good governance, solid government finances and economic self -resistance. That is to be put in the asset of the assets of commodity in the Property in front of the Property in the Property in the Property of the Property in Primary of the Property in Primary of the Property in Primary and the Property in Primary of Property and the Property in Prim of the Property in Prim of the Property in Prim of the Property in Prim of the Property in Property in Primary and the Property in Before Propping. Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba and my colleagues in The Hague. “
Bonaire
Many actions from the administrative agreement are still being prepared on Bonaire. Szabó notes that little visible and noticeable results have been achieved for residents. In the administrative consultation with the Bonaire Executive Council, he expressed his care about this.
Yet positive steps have also been taken. For example, the Lieutenantry is working on strengthening good governance and the new library is opened that offers more services. The € 13 million for carrying out the Deal Bonaire region is also a positive step. Bonaire is currently elaborating the plans for this. The Deal region enables investments in area development (anthriol and nort’i saliña), public transport, logistics and the accessibility and sustainability of schools.
The State Secretary has agreed with the Executive Council that a number of cases will have to be picked up this year. This includes the realization of a container depot, an affordable and effective bus connection for residents, strengthening the implementing power, an improvement in the system for permits, supervision and enforcement and financial processes within the public entity.
Sint Eustatius
On Sint Eustatius there are currently major challenges in the number of vacancies and therefore also the implementing power. With the support of BZK, therefore, a plan is being worked on to speed up and improve the recruitment process with measures to be able to retain staff. That benefits the implementation power of the island. Positive steps were taken in 2024 in the field of financial management, housing, integrity and good governance. A start was also made with the Statia 2026 program, including resources from the Deal region. The projects from the regional album and the historic moment in November 2026 are unique opportunities to put Sint Eustatius on the map internationally, which benefits tourism and economic development. This requires a tight schedule to get the deadlines.
Before 2025 it was agreed that there will be a local economic development strategy with a long -term perspective. The administration and control system for solid public finances introduced in 2024 are guaranteed. Work is also being done to prepare and implement an island approach for good governance. The Executive Council will also start with the implementation of the plan to tackle the stray cattle.
Saba
In 2024, important steps were taken in the field of infrastructure and the physical living environment in 2024. For example, € 5 million has been awarded for the implementation of the Saba Deal region, the housing project ‘is’Under the Hill 2‘With 18 social rental homes completed and agreements were made about the realization of even more homes until 2030. In addition, the government has reserved € 40 million for the construction of a new hurricane -resistant port on Saba (Black Rocks Harbor), Of which the first tranche (€ 30 million) has recently been made available to SABA. The construction of the new port is a crucial project for the economy and self -reliance of the island and will start in the 4th quarter of 2025. Together with the SABA Executive Council and the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, Szabó monitors the progress of the project. Topics that require extra attention in 2025 are the preparation of an economic development strategy, setting up a local Court of Auditors and setting clear purchasing and tendering rules.
Purchasing power
To properly monitor the purchasing power on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, it has been agreed to view the purchasing power measures for 2026 with Prinsjesdag. Then, among other things, measures on, for example, taxes, (temporary) subsidies at the expense of living and income support are brought together. As many income effects and prognosis figures as possible are also calculated for a better insight into purchasing power on the islands.
State Secretary Zolt Szabó: “If we continue to focus on economic self -reliance, this helps to improve purchasing power considerably. “