Who are we?

The Saba Business Association as it is now was founded in 2000. The current president, Mr. Wolfgang Tooten says; the purpose of the organization is to give a voice to Saba's business community, encouraging members to air their worries and ideas to a like minded forum of small to mid size business owners.

Often local businesses experience similar problems such as supply problems, cost of fuel, general problems with government policies or employment problems. The association is in place to debate such problems and to provide a unified voice for its members. Many times the association is called apon as a social partner to the government, to give advise, fill board positions where needed or conduct surveys & make reports.

What do we do?
Meeting regularly the association gives a time and place for members to air their opinions & suggestions as to how businesses can pull together establishing common goals to overcome the challenges of running productive businesses on Saba.

In approaching governmental agencies or local press to air grievances or suggestions as a group, showing that all members share an opinion, the SBA believes that it will be more effective than a single business owner who may be perceived by such agencies as "just looking after their own interests" and therefore being denied the necessary attention they deserve.

Board Members

Mr. Wolfgang Tooten

President SBA
2009-2010

Former Vice President & Treasurer SBA
2005–2006, 2006–2007 & 2007–2008 & 2008-2009

Self-employment since 1984, having run several successful businesses in his home country of Germany before settling on Saba. Mr Tooten is a highly qualified registered diving instructor, a certified chef and managing director of his own companies on the island.
Presently owner & operator of Saba Divers & Scout's Place Hotel on Saba, Wolfgang's main focus with the SBA is to promote positive business development and to promote the causes and programs of the SBA and its members, whilst ensuring that government policies and constitutional changes, that could affect business interests on Saba, are monitored and discussed.

Wolfgang also holds for now the position as Treasurer.
email Wolfgang

Mrs. Alida Heilbron

Vice President SBA
2009-2010

Former Board Member SBA
2008–2009

Alida Heilbron was born in Suriname, grew up in Holland and came to work on Saba 17 years ago.
Alida was the administrator and housing coordinator for Saba University for over 10 years and decided to start her own business in 2003. In June 2003 Island Communication Service was born and has grown to a well-known name on the island of Saba. The SBA will have her full attention, in spite of the full agenda she has already. Main focus will be to stimulate businesses to become part of the SBA so that we can stand together as one forum, one voice.

Mrs. Sophie van Lind

Secretary SBA
2009–2010

Sophie van Lint just started as general manager of The Cottage Club Hotel, together with her partner Patrick van Bree. Before working here, she was running El Momo cottages on Booby Hill.
Sophie has a master’s degree in law and worked as a clerk in a courthouse in The Netherlands. Her experience in the hotel industry mostly comes from travelling a lot herself: she and Patrick cycled all the way from The Netherlands to Tibet!
Sophie feels that a lot can be accomplished by the Saba Business Association when lobbying for the interest of the businesses. Keeping an open communication with the government should be the main goal.

Mrs. Claire Nujens

Board Member SBA
2009–2010

Claire is currently Deputy General Manager at Queen’s Gardens Resort. She has been working in the hospitality industry for over 10 years as rooms-division manager of one of the larger hotels on St. Maarten, where she lived for 5 years. Claire has always found it important to support local businesses and the local community; therefore she joined the Board of the Saba Business Association. Her goal is to push business on Saba forward with all the tools given by government and supporting businesses. Saba has been doing well and thru innovation and creativity we can move forward even more if we identify economic trends in an early stage so that we as Saba businesses can react on it quickly. Her hope is that we as businesses can join together by supporting the SBA. The SBA will then gain more strength to really make a difference for everybody in a positive way.

Mrs. Carmen Simmons

Board member
2009-2010

Former President SBA
2005–2006, 2006–2007 & 2007–2008 & 2008-2009

It needs no further introduction for this lady. Mrs. Carmen Simmons was the President of the SBA for many years and has done a tremendous job in the past and is now a proud SBA Board Member.
Happy to be able to help the businesses and community to the best of my abilities, I invite all the business of Saba to join us so we can make the SBA a force to be reckoned with.