SABA/SINT EUSTATIUS - The Safe Together Strong Together campaign is taking the next step with the start of an online public campaign on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. Residents are informed via social media about domestic violence and child abuse, and about the support available on the islands.

With the campaign, Care and Youth Caribbean Netherlands (ZJCN), together with the Public Entities, wants to continue to stimulate the conversation about safety and inform residents about where they can go for advice and support on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. Not only when people are dealing with a situation themselves, but also when someone is concerned about a family member, friend, neighbor or someone else in the environment.

An important part of the campaign are video testimonials from residents. In these videos, residents share their personal experiences with domestic violence or child abuse. By sharing their stories, they hope to create recognition and contribute to increasing the power of the community to support each other.

“Many people think that they first need to know for sure what is going on before they can ask for advice. That is not the case. If you are in doubt, call the advice point,” says René Clemencia, policy officer responsible for the implementation of the Protection Code in the Caribbean Netherlands. “When something doesn't feel right, when you are worried about someone or when you simply have questions, you can contact the advice point on your island. You don't have to figure it out alone.”

You can ask for advice anonymously

The campaign draws special attention to the Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Advice Centers on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. Everyone can come here for information, advice and support.

A conversation with an advice center can take place anonymously and does not automatically lead to a report or formal process. Especially when someone has doubts, questions or needs advice, a conversation can help to gain more clarity about a situation and possible next steps.

Follow the campaign

In the coming months, videos, stories and informative messages will appear on social media that will help residents better recognize signals of insecurity and know where they can go for support.

Follow the Rijksdienst Caribbean Netherlands page on Facebook and stay informed about the Safe Together Strong Together campaign.

Advice Centers for Domestic Violence and Child Abuse

Bonaire: Guiami

Tel: 0802 – 0802 available 24/7

Website: https://www.meldpuntguiami.com/

St. Eustatius: Statia Strong Support Hotline

Tel: +599 318 4837 available 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Saba: Domestic Safety Point

Tel: +599 416 6936 available 24/7

In case of a direct threat or acute insecurity, always call the police immediately.

SABA/SINT EUSTATIUS - More must be done in the areas of prevention, care, social support and youth care in the Caribbean Netherlands. A great deal has been set in motion over the past period and still more is to come, Minister Mirjam Sterk (Long-Term Care, Youth and Sport) writes today in a letter to the House of Representatives. In the view of the Cabinet, further steps are needed towards good-quality provisions in the Caribbean Netherlands that are of an equivalent standard to those in the European Netherlands.

Minister Sterk: “In the Caribbean Netherlands we need to move towards a level of provisions that is equivalent to the European Netherlands. That is why it is important to devote more attention to prevention, good care, support and youth care for the residents of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. This calls for a tailored approach, because owing to the small scale of the islands we cannot simply adopt everything from the European Netherlands on a one-to-one basis. That is, therefore, something I will be working hard on in the period ahead, together with care partners on the islands and the Public Entities.”

Greater attention to prevention

Many chronic conditions are linked to lifestyle and living environment and can therefore, to a significant extent, be prevented. Together with the Public Entities of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, we are giving this extra attention. One example is the recently launched Caribbean NIX18 campaign on Saba and St. Eustatius. Shortly, this campaign will also be launched on Bonaire, to make parents and retailers aware of the minimum age of 18 for the consumption of alcohol. In addition, playgrounds on each island were refurbished over the past year so that it is safe for children to play and be active there.

Organising care closer to home

Strong first-line care is important for an accessible and well-functioning care system. Since the start of this year, all general practice surgeries on Bonaire have met a quality standard (NHG-accredited), and further steps are taken to strengthen first-line care on Saba and St. Eustatius.

Regional cooperation with other care institutions is essential in order to make care closer to home possible. The health centres on Saba and St. Eustatius are increasingly cooperating with the hospital on Bonaire, which will soon make it possible to assess radiology images remotely. To improve access to emergency care for patients on Saba and St. Eustatius, cooperation with Guadeloupe is being established.

Medical referrals

Owing to the small scale of the islands, medical referrals are unavoidable. Around 7,000 medical referrals take place each year, the majority of which go well. At the same time, the investigation by the National Ombudsman shows that patients experience problems with the provision of information, the personal support during a medical referral and the handling of complaints.

A number of improvements have therefore been introduced, such as the redesign of the website www.zorgenjeugdcn.nl, improved telephone availability and a more accessible complaints procedure. In the period ahead, further steps will be taken to improve the provision of services. For a good provision of information, the ultimate aim is to have a digital portal for people with insurances where they can track their data and progress. It is also being examined how the complaints procedure can be brought to people’s attention more effectively and how people with insurances can be given more choice between contracted care providers within the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.

BONAIRE (KRALENDIJK) - Last week, the 'Compagnie in de West' (Company in the West) successfully concluded an exercise on Bonaire, the Netherlands Ministry of Defense said on Wednesday in a press statement. The exercise focused on leadership, cooperation, and strengthening physical and mental resilience.

During the exercise, the soldiers carried out various challenging activities. For instance, they descended Mount Brandaris and trained using different scenarios, including transporting an injured person on a stretcher. Swimming and rowing back were also on the program, whereby teamwork and perseverance were the focal points. 

In addition to the military training, the soldiers participated in the Washington Park Trail Run. They assisted with the event preparations and ran the trail themselves. In so doing they combined community service with a sporting challenge. 

The exercise on Bonaire was conducted in light of the constitutional duties the armed forces fulfill in the Caribbean region. One such duty is the ability to defend national territory.

Furthermore, the 'Compagnie in de West' is responsible for providing military assistance when this is required. To this end, it is essential that the soldiers are thoroughly familiar with all the islands.

BONAIRE (KRALENDIJK) - Jan Helmond has requested the King to grant him resignation as Acting Kingdom Representative effective January 1, 2027. Although his statutory appointment continues until he reaches the age of 70, he has chosen to retire earlier.

Until that time, he will continue to dedicate himself fully to the interests of citizens and governments in the Caribbean Netherlands and the Kingdom. After this period, he will apply his knowledge and experience broadly in an independent role as a networker/advisor within the Kingdom at his own company. 

Jan Helmond: “After having held this wonderful position for nine years, it is time for someone else to take over. It is also a natural moment, as the discussion regarding the renewal of the WolBES and the FinBES will in all likelihood require a different type of administrator. 

“Over the past few years, I have experienced intense moments, such as the reconstruction following the hurricanes, COVID, the many changes in leadership, and the administrative intervention on Sint Eustatius. 

“But I have also seen wonderful initiatives that contributed to the well-being of the citizens on the islands. Much has improved, but there is still much to be done.”