CARIBBEAN, NETHERLANDS – Saba Package regulates specific cooperation between central government and Saba Today Commissioner Zagers (Public Entity Saba) and State Secretary Knops (Interior and Kingdom Relations) signed the Saba Package. This governmental agreement aims to anchor and extend the good cooperation between the central government and the public entity of Saba.
The Saba Package aims at a more targeted approach of the challenges and opportunities which are present on Saba and on which the central government and the public entity of Saba are working together.
State Secretary Knops is satisfied with the governmental agreement. “The Saba Package is perfectly in line with the ‘more for more’ approach that I advocate. It comes to preservation and practical cooperation in the field of social and economic development, good governance and public policy and security. The residents of Saba directly benefit from this. And I welcome that.”
Commissioner Zagers: ’’The signing of the Saba Package is a good example of when there is good cooperation between the local government and the national government. Because of our stable administration and strong financial management, we were able to negotiate such a package which allows for a different approach for Saba in numerous areas which directly impact our island and people. Creating such a package was complex but there was determination on both sides to make this document a reality.
Much has been done since we first initiated this package and as such we are thankful for the coordinating role of BZK and the ministries who supported the individual initiatives. Now it comes to putting this Package into practice. I see quick wins and topics that are on the table for some time now. It’s there where some breakthroughs are needed. I am positive about the joint future steps. Saba and the ministries proved before that working together leads to good results for the island’.
The governmental agreement was written at Saba’s request. It is a joint cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK). The coordination with the ministries in The Hague was taken care of by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom relations.
The Saba Package runs until 2022. It includes a detailed schedule for the
implementation that runs from January – December 2019. This includes concrete agreements for the current year. Each year, this schedule is updated and re-scheduled for the coming year, as a joint effort of Saba and the central government.
This keeps the goals and priorities clear and up to date, with tasks and
responsibilities described per ministry. BZK coordinates the process, in good cooperation with the public entity Saba.
The first progress report will be published in about half a year.
