aki - Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland

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THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INVESTS HEAVILY IN PEOPLE AND EQUIPMENT Andre Bennet With year one now behind the back the brand new Dutch Caribbean Fire Brigade is well on its way to being formed on the Public Entities of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba with improvements already gradually taking place within the fire brigade. Challenges facing the brigade at the start are being worked on and management and staff are optimistic about the future. According to local commander Andre Benne of the St. Eustatius Fire Brigade the aention in year one was focused mainly on orientation and exploration. However, the goals for the coming four years will clearly lay out the path which the corps should follow. “It is our objective to become more visible within the local communities on all three islands by increasing the collaboration between the police, ambulance department and fire department”, according to Benne. Forming one brigade has not been without challenges. On St. Eustatius firefighters were last to sign labour agreements due to issues related to discrepancies in job descriptions, difference in salary scales, equipment and uniforms. Meanwhile the staff is more seled as these maers are being dealt with to their satisfaction. New uniforms, breathing apparatus and jaws –of-life have been replaced. “Our breathing GREATER AUTONOMY AND RESPONSIBILITY New equipment and materials, new uniforms, but also a completely new job classification system; those are some of the benefits that the management of the Fire Department sees aer ’10-10-10’. To start with the laer: firefighters can now aend various training courses. “In the past there was no money for that”, explains the Fire Department Chief on Bonaire, Jan Janga. “Now our people can start with training as ‘LBO-er’, to come out as ‘HBO-er’. This way our staff can actually grow in the organization.” Before Bonaire became a part of the Caribbean Netherlands, the Island Territory was responsible for the Fire Department. This oen led to bureaucracy, states Janga. There was no predetermined designated budget for the Fire Department. That has changed: The Fire Department now works with the ‘BES Fire Department Decree’. Based on that law the Fire Department can execute many tasks itself and this is linked to a budget. “I now have budgetary responsibility. That means that I have more independence but also more responsibility for the management of the force. Janga manages a brigade of - currently - 48 professionals. apparatus is brand new. Some corpses in the European Netherlands do not have this state of the art equipment”, says Benne. Personnel, material and training are the three main priorities in 2012. The fire brigade on St. Eustatius and Saba are understaffed. In order to become more efficient and to operate shis optimally, recruitment of new firemen and volunteer s is scheduled. Training of the existing team and new staff on all levels is vitally important. And so in 2012 there are plans to have introductory training for new recruits, and further training of shi leaders and management. Additionally, each quarter the fire brigade on all three islands will go into the community where together with the police and ambulance departments more joint training will be conducted among the multi disciplinary units. Vehicles will also be replaced. Before 10-10-10 there were three separate brigades. According to Benne, “A new joint brigade comes with several benefits. The management of St. Eustatius and Saba’s fire departments can now rely on their colleagues on Bonaire until a more permanent solution is found for staffing issues”. St. Eustatius intends to assist Saba with one worker to rotate on a week basis. There are plans for the officers team to be trained in the UK where the Netherlands sends their firemen. Globally the UK offers one of the most extensive and comprehensive training possibilities. Ultimately, it is the goal of Dutch Caribbean Fire Brigade to serve as one brigade and to become model brigade for the entire Kingdom. Jan Janga Besides training it is important for them, and of course for the population, that they have good equipment. For example in the past year a new crash tender was bought, a vehicle that can be used at various calamities, primarily at the airport. That is the first step in the upgrading of our fleet. Also, new uniforms were ordered and there was a substantial investment in replacing the outdated and rejected ‘A SAFE, VEILIG AND SIGUR 2012’ Aer the incorporation as of 10-10-10, 2011 was the starting year for the Dutch Caribbean Fire Brigade with room for orientation and exploration. In 2012, we continue working on a modern fire brigade that is jointly prepared for risks specific to the islands of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. On behalf of the Dutch Caribbean Fire Brigade I wish the people of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba above all a ‘safe, veilig and sigur 2012’. Jair Tromp General Commander of the Dutch Caribbean Fire Brigade self contained breathing apparatus. That currently is so modern that even the Netherlands cannot match it. The Fire Department on Bonaire has three crash tenders for the airport and three fire engines for Kralendijk. A plan has been made for the period up to 2015. So there will be a new fire engine for Rincon and the intention is to purchase yet another rescue vehicle that can be used in car accidents within the next two years. In time, the other two crash tenders will also be replaced. All in all this is ‘substantial capital’ as Janga calls it. But more is about to change, he announces in advance. Especially when it comes to laws and regulations, and compliance with them. But that will be gradually. “People must get the opportunity to get used to new rules. In five years time we want to be prepared to enforce the new law and regulations so then everything will be up to standard aerwards . “And that is about time if you consider that for example the Fire Works Ordinance dates back to 1903/1904. A lot is about to change. But we are going to do that step by step for the wellbeing of the people.”
QUALITY TO AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL Since October 10, 2010 the schools in the Dutch Caribbean are part of the educational system of the Netherlands. The goal is that the quality of education be on an acceptable level in 2016. The school boards are responsible for the quality of education; the education personnel will have to provide this quality. But they cannot do this alone. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) supports the school board and school management to work on the improvements. You can e-mail questions about education to vragenoveronderwijs@rijksdienstcn.com. You can also drop by at the OCW-department of the RCN or contact one of the staff members (715 8319). ‘THE BIGGEST POSITIVE CHANGE CAN BE SEEN IN EDUCATION’ Debbie Clarke Brown is the director of the Golden Rock School 0n St. Eustatius. She has been at this school for nearly thirty years, as a teacher and the last thirteen years as the director. Debbie was born on St. Eustatius and has also always lived on this island except for her high school years in Curaçao and her college years in St. Thomas (US Virgin islands), where she earned her Bachelor in Education. Aer her studies Debbie returned immediately to Statia to work in education. “Becoming a teacher has always been my dream and I still do this work with a lot of satisfaction.” On the question of how she experiences the changes in education since October 10, 2010, she does not have to hesitate. “The biggest positive change on the island can be seen in education. Aer all, in education things revert a lot around money and in the past there was always not enough money. This year is the first time I experience that we have enough material for almost all subject maers.” However, there is still a lot of room for improvement. The fiy-year old school building, for example, is obsolete and no longer meets the requirements of the present time. But the biggest challenges, according to Debbie, are still the tackling of the social issues in families, resulting in children being insufficiently motivated at home to prepare for their education and future. Increasing the number of social workers and remedial teachers therefore is a must according to her. And because teachers must also have command of the Dutch language the school is very dependent on teachers from the Netherlands. Due to the relatively low salaries however, it is difficult to aract teachers. The salaries will be adjusted soon, but if that will be enough to aract these teachers, remains to be seen.” All in all, Debbie looks forward to the future with confidence. “I am convinced that things can only get beer from now on.” Debbie Clarke Brown ‘GREAT RESULTS WERE ALREADY ACHIEVED’ “An educational agenda has been set up for education in the Dutch Caribbean. “That agenda records appointments for the next five years on strengthening the quality of education” Ambrosio ‘Broer’ Molina, one of the staff members of RCN/OCW states this. He talks about the improvements that have taken place in education in the Dutch Caribbean. And he explains that various priorities have been set: for example, the quality of education must increase; the quality of the teachers, school management and school boards must be strengthened and tailored education care should be provided. Furthermore, vocational education must be made more aractive and the preconditions must be in place. “To achieve this, various measures have been taken and already some nice results were achieved. To help the schools in the Dutch Caribbean in realizing the quality enhancement, school coaches and teacher coaches were used”, says Molina. “The school coaches supported the schools in drawing up their improvement plans and guiding the implementation thereof. The teacher coaches coach the teachers.” Good education requires sufficient and quality teachers. The schools on the three islands face shortages of teachers. Minister Van Bijsterveldt therefore has made 1.3 million dollars available on a structural basis to improve the salaries of the teachers in the Dutch Caribbean. The schools are also supported in strengthening the skills of the teachers. “A stimulating learning environment is also essential for quality education”, according to Molina. “The schools in the Dutch Caribbean jointly received over 7 million dollars extra for the furnishing of their buildings; so for text books, teaching methods, game materials, school furniture, digital black boards and computers. Each school received a fair share of the amount and can decide on its own what the money is spent on.” “Students with learning and behavioral challenges require extra care and guidance”, Molina further elaborates. On each island there is an Expertise Centre of Educational Care operational. On all three islands the work for a local ‘Raad Onderwijs en Arbeidsmarkt’ (ROA) or Education and Labor market Council has started. The ROA provides good commitment and alignment between education and business. “Students in vocational training can be introduced to practice in a work placement company and learn what is expected of them. Specialist trainers guide the students. On St. Eustatius the first ten specialist trainers were trained and child day care centre Buzzy Bees was certified as a work placement company for apprenticeship supervision”, concludes Molina. Opening Liseo Boneriano ‘SET OUR SHOULDERS TO THE WHEEL’ ‘In early 2011, I visited Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. On all the islands, I met wonderful people who are highly motivated to work on quality education for the children of the Dutch Caribbean. I thought that was really heartwarming and impressive. Many schools have worked hard over the past year, so you can look back with a sense of pride. However, the person standing in front of the classroom, a principal or board member, knows: in education the work is never done. In 2012 as well, I call on the school boards, principals, teachers and Commissioners to remain commied to quality education. And also in 2012, my Ministry will support the schools as much as possible with this. Staff members of the schools, but also parents and students, can go with their questions to the staff of the Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland/OCW. During my visit to Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, I noticed that we all want the same for the students: good education and a good future. So in the New Year let us put our shoulders to the wheel to work on good education in the Dutch Caribbean. Lots of luck! Minister of Education Marja van Bijsterveldt Minister Marja van Bijsterveldt Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland Bonaire Kaya International z/n Kralendijk, Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean Telephone +599 715 8333 Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland Sint Eustatius Mazinga Complex A, B Fort Oranjestraat Oranjestad, Sint Eustatius, Dutch Caribbean Telephone +599 318 3370 Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland Saba The Boom, Saba, Dutch Caribbean Telephone +599 416 3934 info@RijksdienstCN.com www.RijksdienstCN.com www.facebook.com/RijksdienstCaribischNederland The website is also available in Papiamentu and English
Page 1 and 2: Bureau van de Rijksvertegenwoordige
Page 3 and 4: Justitiële Inrichting Caribisch Ne
Page 5 and 6: This information bulletin is also a
Page 7 and 8: KWALITEIT NAAR EEN AANVAARDBAAR NIV
Page 9 and 10: DI MUDANSA PA KURSO: UN BON AÑA PA
Page 11 and 12: BRANTWER TA INVERTÍ FORMAL DEN HEN
Page 13 and 14: gelukkig 2012. Het personeel van de
Page 15 and 16: Alle medewerkers van SZW wensen u p
Page 17: Working together on the future of t

aki - Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland

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