The Bottom, Saba — September 18, 2025 — Public Entity Saba welcomed a three-member delegation from Guadeloupe and St. Barths for a one-day working visit focused on waste management and regional cooperation under the EU’s INTERREG Caribbean Programme.
The delegation included Dominique Biras, President of SYVAD, the entity responsible for waste management in Guadeloupe; Fabrice Davaed, SYVAD and Programme Coordinator for Zero Waste in the Caribbean; Fred Questel, Operational Manager on St-Barth of waste management company PAPREC. The group was received by Commissioner of Infrastructure and Waste Management Bruce Zagers, Head of Sanitation Roxanne Simmons, and Nature and Environment Policy Plan (NEPP) Project Leader of the Policy and Project Bureau, Beth Chafin.
The program began with a comprehensive tour of Saba’s Waste Facility, led by Facility Supervisor Patrick Hassell. He provided an overview of the day-to-day operations, explained the functions of the various sections and machinery, and outlined the process of storing and exporting waste off-island. Hassell also highlighted challenges such as machinery wear and tears, which small-island facilities frequently encounter.
In the afternoon, discussions continued at the Policy and Project Bureau, focusing on opportunities for cooperation between Saba, Guadeloupe, and St. Barths within the framework of the Zero Waste in the Caribbean Programme. Key topics included knowledge exchange, the potential for regional collaboration, and addressing shared challenges faced by small islands in waste management.
The visit concluded with a field tour featuring several key sites, including Wells Bay where illegal dumping has been a concern, the Hells Gate Gut, and the Solar Park.
Commissioner Zagers thanked the delegation for their visit and emphasized the value of small islands working together to achieve sustainable solutions.
