News item | 18-04-2025 | 16:12
In recent years, important steps have been taken to improve existence on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. To continue this deployment, the government reserved € 9 million a year at the end of last year to support the purchasing power of residents on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. In addition, the government is structurally allocating € 4 million to improve work for people with a distance to the labor market on the islands. This is stated in the spring memorandum that the cabinet has published.
State Secretary Nobel (Participation and Integration): “Despite the difficult financial puzzle that the cabinet had to lay, we have an eye for the poverty issue on the islands and in the coming years we will continue to improve existence on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba.”
Purchasing power measures
The government is committed to reducing the costs of living for all households by making the utilities and the costs of the internet cheaper. For example, additional energy and drinking water subsidies for households that had ended on January 1 of this year are (partly) extended. And also in 2025 and 2026, households will receive an additional subsidy for the use of internet worth $ 15 per connection per month. The cabinet has an eye for the poverty issue in the Caribbean Netherlands. That is why, just as in recent years, households with a low income in 2025 and 2026 can be eligible for an energy allowance of $ 1,300 USD per year. In the coming two years, a total of € 1 million will go to local initiatives to combat child poverty.
In this way, the government will take measures in the short term to further strengthen existence on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. In addition, the government is currently exploring the possibilities for an income -related child scheme. Insights from the Social Minimum Caribbean Netherlands Committee show that in particular families with children need extra financial support. For this allowance, the government is structurally reserving € 10.8 million.
Support for people with a distance to the labor market
The cabinet is also structurally released € 4 million for people who are at a distance from the labor market on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. This gives this group the certainty to also get support in finding suitable work in the future. If possible with a regular employer, and otherwise in a sheltered workplace. In recent years, the cabinet has always made money available for this. With the new measure, this provision is now being made structurally.