18 million for the implementation of tasks on Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius
From 2024 onwards, the Dutch government will allocate 8.6 million euros annually to improve the ability of Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius to properly carry out their tasks as public entities. This is stated in the Spring Memorandum (Voorjaarsnota) 2024 that has been sent to the Senate and House of Representatives. In doing so, the government is following the advice of both the 'Island tasks and resources in the Caribbean Netherlands' study by IdeeVersa and the report by the Council for Public Administration (ROB) to increase the free allowance. The free allowance is the fixed amount that the islands receive annually for, among other things, management of public spaces, supervision and enforcement, and welfare.
In addition to the increase in the free allowance, the government will make an additional 5 million euros available annually from 2024. With this extra money, the three Public Entities, in their role as employers, can handle the consequences of the increase in the Statutory Minimum Wage (WML). In addition, this will enable the Public Entities to better align the terms of employment of their employees with those of the Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland (RCN). This improves their position as employers and thus creates more financial scope for the implementation of the major tasks in both the social and the physical domain.
Taking growth into account
As of 2024, following the example of the municipal fund, the so-called GDP system will also come into force for Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius. From 2024, this will make an additional 4.5 million euros available for the three islands. For subsequent fiscal years, this includes a slight increase. Gross Domestic Product is an indicator of economic growth. The difference with the current system is that, in addition to compensation to absorb wage and price increases, the Public Entities, just like municipalities in the Netherlands, will also have more space to make their own policy choices. It will also be easier for them to draw up a multi-annual budget.
State Secretary Alexandra van Huffelen of Kingdom Relations and Digitalization:
"I am very pleased with this important financial step that the outgoing cabinet is taking for Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius. With this total of 18 million euros that will be made available annually, the islands will receive structural resources for structural tasks. This allows them to make and implement future-proof plans for the long term. This is also in line with the agreements I made with the three Public Entities during the administrative WolBES and FinBES conference. Namely, that they are enabled to carry out their tasks properly and as independently as possible. It is very important that they have structurally enough people to do this and with as little bureaucratic and regulatory burden as possible. In the coming period, I will continue my discussions with the Public Entities and the ministries in The Hague, to further strengthen the financial relationship with the islands and to increase the implementation power on the islands."
More tasks, more execution power
The tasks of the Public Entities largely correspond to those of European municipalities in the Netherlands. However, the Public Entities are also responsible for e.g. wastewater management and the water treatment plants. These are tasks that are carried out in the Netherlands by water boards and the provinces. In view of the importance of this infrastructure for the livelihood, nature and environmental management, climate mitigation and adaptation and connectivity of the islands, the Public Entities, together with the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK), will investigate which investments are needed for maintenance and replacement of the vital infrastructure on the islands. With the extra money that is now being set aside in the 2024 Spring Memorandum, there will be more financial room to attract additional staff. Strengthening the implementation power is desperately needed, because the islands are facing major tasks as among other things are laid down in the administrative agreements.