Information

Newsletter SBA August 2009

Newsletter page 1

Newsletter page 2

Download your pdf version now: be informed!!!

Tax draft law 2009 part 1 by Koos Sneek

Tax draft law 2009 part 2 by Koos Sneek

Tax draft law 2009 part 3 by Koos Sneek

Tax draft law 2009 part 4 by Koos Sneek

Press release SBA July 2009

Press release

Below you find archived information from 2008

June 2008
The SBA board elections took place on June 09, 2008. First the board appoved the treasurer balance and had a discussion with members who showed up for the election process. Two new members could be welcomed: Saba Deep/ In to Deep and El Momo Cottages from Booby Hill.

Mrs. Carmen Simmons was elected again to President, Mr. Wolfgang Tooten was confirmed for another period as Vice President and Treasurer and Mrs Mary Simmons took over the job as Secretary.

Board members are Shirly Smith for another period and as a new board member Mrs. Alida Heilbron from ICS (Island Communication Service) was elected.

The board is looking forward to a fruitful year with lots of improvements for the Saba business community.

February 2008
The meeting took place in February 2008 at Queen's Garden Resort for a luncheon. The invited parties were the three dive shop owners and Scout's Place Hotel owner Wolfgang Tooten. The discussion was about tourism, nature & environment. The Dutch site, especially Prime Minister Balkenende was asking very specific questions about our opinion on the topics. The Dutch delegation was well informed and very keen to learn more about Saba's specifics. The discussion also included but didn't stop at recycling issues, access to Saba by air and boat, raising costs for local population, businesses and tourists, competition on the world market and the US/Euro relation.

No one of the business association was directly invited. But since the Vice President was present we had a direct chance to hand out four copies of the SBA "Position paper 2007" to the Prime Minister, the State secretary, the Dutch representative in SXM etc. Means it went right to the source. Also we could raise our opinion directly to them. The discussions were very frank and open and we had the impression that the delegation was truly interested in our opinion.

Also present at the meeting: Lt Governor S. Sorten, Commissioner B. Zagers & C. Johnson, Dir. of Tourism G. Holm, Marine Park Director J. v.d. Dulk, Mr. F. Johnson for the SCF etc.

It was a unique opportunity to meet and speak with the Dutch directly and we would wish we had more chances in the future to do so.

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August 27th, 2007. Meeting between the SBA and commissioner Bruce P. Zagers.

Commissioner Johnson was excused due to an upcoming trip to Curacao and Holland.

Commissioner Zagers promised to send a list of portfolios to the SBA, as well as a copy of the newly fixed 'retributie-verordening'.
He explained the reason for the 'time-out' and the meaning of it.
SBA's concerns about the taxes to be implemented in 2008 were based on rumours and according to Zagers, the Saba authorities themselves has to decide if and which taxes have to be implemented, if so.

New agreements concerning the transition are scheduled to be signed in December 2007.

Problem with kadaster, addressed by the SBA, was discussed and the commissioner promised to discuss this with Bobby Zagers and Roland Wilson.

Other points of discussion in this meeting:
- advertising Saba in Sint Maarten;
- costs of transport by air v.s sea;
- employee-training in Saba; developing a ssocial workplace;
- ramp at the harbour;
- combining the hospital, the old-age-homeeee and home-care;
- new foundation for culture.

The commissioner promised to keep the SBA involved and to stay in touch.