In de zondagse estafette-rubriek ‘Bericht uit…’ belichten columnisten uit de Caribische delen van het Koninkrijk bij toerbeurt de kanten van hun eiland waarvan zij vinden dat die de aandacht van alle koninkrijksburgers verdienen. Vandaag komt het bericht uit Saba.
Focus on Saba’s capital The Bottom
By Hazel Durand
As a visitor to Saba, you will likely spend much of your time in Windwardside, often deemed the island’s “second capital.” This area is home to most of Saba’s restaurants, hotels, nightlife, and bars, making it a central hub for tourism and entertainment. While in contrast, the official capital, The Bottom, serves as the island’s administrative center. Most government offices, public services, and social housing are located in The Bottom, making it the heart of Saba’s governmental and community life.
In 2025, the Department of Infrastructure and Spatial Planning received a grant to focus on improving the quality of life in The Bottom. To kick off the project, an online survey was conducted to gather ideas and feedback from the community on ways to enhance the overall appearance and quality of life in the capital.
During a recent town hall meeting, the project coordinators shared the results of the survey. The findings indicated that affordable housing is lacking across the island. However, respondents highlighted several urgent needs specifically for The Bottom, including the absence of communal gardens, green spaces, sidewalks, public parking, and community facilities. The project coordinators also engaged the elderly and youth groups to gain feedback and individual suggestions for a shared vision and co-creation of what the capital should look like.
The initial implementation of improvements in The Bottom will begin this coming June and continue through 2029. Planned upgrades may include pedestrian pathways, improved traffic flow through one-way streets, additional parking spaces, public restrooms, expanded bus stops, and community friendly infrastructure. Other potential additions include shaded public areas, dog parks and a swimming pool.
Highlighted were the plans to restore abandoned cottages and structures in The Bottom. This initiative aligns with the establishment of the Monuments Council, which will advise on the protection and registration of historic buildings and sites across the island, under the Monuments Ordinance Saba 2010. These may include historic homes, churches, archaeological sites, and other locations considered significant to the island’s cultural heritage.
Residents and members of the Saba diaspora will be invited to suggest buildings or sites that may qualify for protected monument status. In the initial phase, at least one monument in each village will be identified and assessed as part of a pilot to test the new system before formal registrations take place. Meanwhile, the island government has introduced a temporary measure requiring permits for the demolition of buildings older than 50 years, while the heritage protection framework continues to be further developed.
The landscape of The Bottom has changed significantly with the much-needed expansion of the hospital and elderly care facilities. However, increasing congestion has become a concern for residents, many of whom have voiced the need to better distribute community services across the island. In particular, they emphasize that developments such as social housing should also be located in other villages, rather than concentrating too many facilities and residents in one area.