This visit is a significant opportunity for the Council to engage with various Dutch institutions and participate in key conferences and training sessions.
The agenda for the visit firstly includes important discussions with the Association of Audit Institutions regarding the future of Saba’s Audit Chamber.
A presentation to the Council will be given by Avex, who will be providing the much-needed upgrade to the audiovisual equipment used in the Island Council Meeting room. This will allow the public to view live Council meetings with better sound and video quality. As part of the upgrade, the Council will launch its IBabs platform, in an effort to improve communication and transparency with the community by keeping them informed of Council meetings.
The group will also visit the Second Chamber, where they will meet with members of the Kingdom Relations Committee to address issues related to connectivity, healthcare, banking, WolBES/FinBES agreements, taxation, strengthening continuity and relationship building, and the current situation at SZW.
Additionally, the Council will attend the 100th edition of the Annual Congress of the Association of Dutch Municipalities in Eindhoven which will be opened by His Majesty King Willem-Alexander. The jubilee edition of the congress is dedicated to the theme ‘Together we make the future’ where municipalities can focus on how they strengthen each other and collaborate on creative solutions.
The Island Council will also participate in training sessions with the Association of Dutch Municipalities focused on enhancing debating skills and understanding roles and responsibilities. This is a part of the Memorandum of Understanding which was signed in December 2024 between BZK and the BES Islands.
On Friday 13 June 2025, the Council Day will take place in Tilburg City Hall, organized in collaboration with the municipality of Tilburg and the Association of Registrars. The theme of the day includes the state of democracy, the attractiveness of the office and the upcoming municipal elections.
The BES Summit is also scheduled for June 16th, where the representatives of Saba, Sint Eustatius and Bonaire will convene for the official signing by the Island Governors and Island Registrars of the Memorandum of Understanding which was recently ratified in the Island Council meetings of the three councils. Conversations will also center around the WolBES/FinBES, Audit Chamber and Health care.
The Island council plans to visit the Municipality of Zouterwoude as well, where they will have the opportunity to view a live council meeting and network with partners in the Zouterwoude City Council and Registrar’s office.
Meetings are also arranged with the VSO ABB, the association for governance, management and participation in public and generally accessible education in the Netherlands. The Island Council will be able to learn more about their role in public education during this visit.
Lastly, the Island Council will meet with Necker, a specialized agency for public administration who supports local governments with research, advice and interim capacity. Necker has developed the RegistryFIT to quickly and easily map out what is needed in a municipality for an optimal fit between council and registry. The Island Council will discuss its Fit Registry report by Necker and the possible steps, aimed at a future-proof registry.
These visits aim to strengthen relationships and explore pathways for continuity between the Island Council and Dutch entities. The Saba Island Council looks forward to a productive and insightful visit that will contribute to the development and prosperity of Saba.
