Attendees included commissioners and housing associations from the BES islands. From Public Entity Saba, Commissioner Eviton Heyliger, Deputy Island Secretary Michelle van Duin and Senior Policy Advisor Lukas van der Steen were present.
The conference aimed to bring together the Public Entities and housing associations of the three BES islands, to learn from each other’s experiences and share their vision on social housing to promote collaboration.
The central theme was the new Housing Act BES. This new law is in the early stages of development, and the conference provided a first opportunity for the islands to learn about its contents and discuss the impacts on the islands together.
Representatives from the Miinstry presented on how the proposed law will work and how it will take account of local circumstances. Frank Kunneman of the Themis Institute for Governance and Leadership also shared about good governance for housing associations.
"Every Saban deserves a home that is affordable, safe, and dignified. At the Social Housing Conference, we raised our voices, our values, and our vision—for a housing market that works for our people," reflected Commissioner Heyliger.
During the stay on Curaçao, the delegation of Saba also met with several partners in the field of heritage and culture. This included a visit to the new heritage center of the Slavery Memorial Committee, a visit to the Kura Holanda Museum, and a meeting with monuments expert Michael Newton.
