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SABA--The Multi-Annual Programme (MAP) underlines the importance of Saba's further development, the Executive Council indicated during the Caribbean Netherlands (CN) Week held in The Hague in June.

Under the MAP umbrella, projects in the area of economic development, children's rights and the reduction of poverty are either in progress or are yet to be launched. The MAP for the 2015-2018 period was signed off by Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk, and Commissioners Chris Johnson and Bruce Zagers on June 11.

The MAP is a joint-action programme, called to life as the development of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba is stagnating. "Being part of the Netherlands for nearly five years has not brought the inhabitants of the Caribbean Netherlands the prosperity which was expected. It feels like the progress made in terms of healthcare and education, among others, is at risk due to the lagging socio-economic development. This leads to unrest among the population," it was stated in the MAP, copies of which were made available to the media on Monday.

The MAP dovetails the recommendations of the Van Gastel/Thunissen/Johnson committee, and the Dutch cabinet's view thereon, which was accepted by the Dutch Parliament's First and Second Chambers to realize better coordination and alignment with the islands.

The renewed role of the Dutch Government Representative as liaison officer and connecting link between the Dutch government and the three island governments is also reflected in the programme.

The MAP is to strengthen and support the island administration as economic development, poverty reduction and children's rights are responsibilities of the Executive Council and the Central Government together.

Considering the differences between the European Netherlands and the Caribbean islands, local initiatives will be preferred over "blueprints" from The Hague, more than before. In addition to the MAP, the three islands also have their own development plans.

Sustainable development

The main focus of the MAP is on the sustainable development of the islands which is to enable them to grow by their own efforts and contribute to a decent level of prosperity. This should be accomplished by a proper organization of the islands' infrastructure and by stimulating entrepreneurship and a favourable business climate.

Among concrete steps to achieve this is bringing the cost for basic services, such as water and electricity to the same level as those in the European Netherlands. Another step was that Saba also applied for a non-interest bearing loan of US $2.5 million for maintenance of the road to Fort Bay Harbour. Meanwhile, Committee for Financial Supervision CFT has approved the loan and coverage has been found in the budget of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment.

In the area of entrepreneurship efforts have been made, aimed at strengthening the Chambers of Commerce. Additionally, financing instruments have been made available, which, are hardly being utilised.

Obtaining credit on the islands is still very difficult and expensive or altogether impossible because banks do not wish to cooperate. As there is currently only one bank operating on the islands, the Ministry of Economic Affairs is making efforts to encourage Dutch banks to establish themselves in the Caribbean Netherlands.

Saba and Statia have requested a study into the creation of an incentive fund to attract private investors. Research into the cost of doing business on the islands will be carried out toward the end of this year.

Ideas for the harbours also fit in the plans, with the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment investing 3 million euros in Saba's harbour. Statia wants to look into possibilities for the relocation of the shipping harbour.

Poverty reduction

Poverty on the islands is mainly caused by low income and high prices. Poverty is also reflected in healthcare and crime. For the island governments, therefore, eradication of poverty is a key priority and immediately addressing the direst needs are at the top of the agendas. All parties involved recognized that this problem should be addressed urgently by the island governments and the Central Government together.

Therefore, the Dutch Cabinet emphasizes several tracks. The first track is curbing the cost of basic services and the second track concerns development plans for the islands. The third track comprises the improvement of the transition from education into the labour market to increase the opportunities for local workers.

The fourth track relates to possible improvements in the social system. For improvements in the social sphere US $13 million will be made available from proceeds of the former Social Insurance Bank Netherlands Antilles, which will be used for island measures and government tasks in the Caribbean Netherlands.

Legislation for the implementation of a child-benefit allowance as of January 1, 2016, is in preparation.

Children's rights

In 2010, UNICEF launched a study into the situation of children in the Caribbean Netherlands. The reports show that considerable improvement is still required in Bonaire, Statia and Saba to make it possible for children to grow up in a protective environment. There should be sufficient facilities so that children can develop themselves and can participate in the family, neighbourhood, at school and in society.

Since 10-10-10 improvements have been realized in the areas of healthcare, education and security, it was stated. The Taskforce Children's Rights and Domestic Violence, which was established during the 2014 CN Week is responsible for the drafting of action plans per island and the setup of a domestic-violence approach.

The Dutch Parliament's Second Chamber has made 3 million euros available to give impetus to the improvement of children's rights on the islands. A plan of campaign for children's rights should be approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations by September at the latest, it was agreed.

Administrative development

The island governments are strongly dependent on central government resources. Similar to Dutch municipalities, public entities may only levy a limited number of taxes, of which land tax and tourist tax generate the principal returns. The public entities are not allowed to borrow monies.

The island governments are insufficiently equipped to deal with all opportunities and threats which they face. The small scale of the islands makes it virtually impossible to recruit all required administrative and civil staff from their own ranks, but time and again the island governments are confronted with complex legislation and a broad array of Dutch ministries and highly-specialized civil servants.

Under the MAP, 1.5 million euros will be made available annually for the strengthening of the island governments under the "Good Governance" programme. St. Eustatius has not yet signed the MAP.