State Secretary Alexandra van Huffelen visits Bonaire, Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten
State Secretary Alexandra van Huffelen of Kingdom Relations will pay a working visit to Bonaire, Saba, Sint Eustatius and Sint Maarten starting Sunay 16 April until Friday 21 April, 2023.
This is the State Secretary’s first visit since the island elections took place on Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius on Wednsday 15 March 2023. During her visit, she will also be introduced to the new Island Councils and the Executive Councils of the islands. On Sint Maarten, the State Secretary will meet the prime minister as well as the governors of Curacao, Aruba and St. Maarten.
Bonaire
The working visit of State Secretary Van Huffelen will begin Sunday 16 April on Bonaire, where she will get to know the new Executive Council and the new Island Council. Her schedule also includes amongst others, visits to the Regional Information and Expertise Centre (RIEC) Caribbean Netherlands, the Stichting Voedselbank Bonaire, Fundashon Cas Boneriano and farmers and companies in the agricultural sector. The State Secretary will also visit the newly opened call center of the Public Entity of Bonaire which should improve services to residents. Furthermore, Van Huffelen will open a three-day workshop dedicated to better utilisation of European funds.
Saba
Tuesday 18 April 2023, the State Secretary will then travel to Saba, where she will also meet the recently appointed Island Council and the new Executive Council. The schedule also includes amongst others, a meeting with the Saba Business Association and a round table dialogue with stakeholders such as the Saba University, the hospital and the business community regarding the opportunities digitalisation can offer now and in the future.
St. Eustatius
After visiting Saba, the State Secretary will travel on to St. Eustatius, where she will hold discussions with the new Executive Council and the new Island Council. On St. Eustatius the administrator will speak to the stakeholders about the challenges and possibilities of digitilisation and will speak to members of the Roaming Animals project team and goat owners.
St. Maarten
State Secretary Van Huffelen will conclude her working visit on St. Maarten where, after meeting prime minister Silveria Jacobs, she will converse with the governors of Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten. Her schedule also includes a meeting with the Chief Public Prosecutor.
On Friday 21 April, State Secretary Van Huffelen will return to the Netherlands.