Commissioner of Social Affairs Rolando Wilson (left) with State Secretary of Social Affairs and Labour Tamara van Ark in The Hague on December 13, 2018.
SABA–Saba Commissioner of Social Affairs Rolando Wilson and Island Secretary Tim Muller met with State Secretary Tamara van Ark in The Hague on December 13, 2018, to discuss the Saba Package, a multi-annual agenda-setting development document, and the State Secretary’s next week’s visit to Saba, January 7 and 8.
Commissioner Wilson said the meeting in The Hague was very positive. “State secretary Tamara van Ark is a very down-to-earth and warm-hearted person, who is truly interested in the development of Saba and its people,” said Wilson.
Topics that were discussed were the investments in Saba’s social domain, poverty eradication, the increase of the minimum wage, the old-age pension and child allowance per January 1, 2019, the increase in 2019 of the single mother’s allowance, the reduction of the social premium paid by employers, and the social minimum, which as yet has to be established for the three Caribbean Netherlands islands, including Saba.
Wilson said he was under the impression that Van Ark was aware of the gap that needs to be bridged to eradicate poverty, so everyone can have a decent standard of living in Saba.
“The increase of the minimum wage and the social allowances per January 1, 2019, are a first step, but more needs to be done,” said the commissioner.
Van Ark has indicated that she wants to speak with residents when she visits Saba. As part of her programme, she will be paying a number of house visits.
Also discussed was the BES(t) 4 Kids day-care and after-school programme for children. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour SZW is structurally making funds available in 2019.
The intention is for Wilson to sign a protocol for BES(t) 4 Kids with the state secretary when she visits Saba and the day-care facility.
The Opportunities for all Children (Kansen voor alle kinderen) programme, which finances different Saba organizations, also came up. The Saba delegation proposed to the state secretary to visit organizations that receive funds and to visit families that are struggling to make ends meet.
Wilson pointed out that too much red tape and cumbersome procedures led to frustration among the people who have gone to the SZW Office of the national government in Saba for help. Talks are ongoing to combine the SZW office with the Community Development Office of the Public Entity Saba, creating a one-stop shop which could make it easier for people to receive assistance.
“We are hoping that all the points that we discussed with the state secretary can get regulated during the course of 2019,” Wilson said.
Also visiting Saba on Monday and Tuesday will be Minister of Infrastructure and Environment Cora van Nieuwenhuizen and State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/84209-positive-meeting-in-anticipation-of-state-secretary-van-ark-s-visit
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