Saba Island Governor Jonathan Johnson receives royal honour at farewell ceremony

SABA--Island Governor Jonathan Johnson (pictured above left) has received a Royal Honour in recognition of his years of service and dedication to Saba during his farewell ceremony as Governor on Saturday.

Johnson was appointed Ridder in de Orde van Oranje-Nassau during his farewell as Island Governor. The honour was presented by State Secretary for Kingdom Relations and Effective Government Eric van der Burg, who praised Johnson’s dedication, integrity and ability to bring people together.

Van der Burg said Johnson served Saba with commitment in a small community where major administrative challenges are felt directly in the daily lives of residents. He credited Johnson for championing good governance, social cohesion and the strengthening of Saba’s position within the Kingdom and the wider region.

According to the State Secretary, Johnson’s work had a positive impact on the stability, development and representation of Saba, both locally and in cooperation with partners in the region and the European Netherlands.

In his remarks, Van der Burg highlighted several major developments that took place during Johnson’s tenure, including the constitutional reform of October 10, 2010, and the realization of a new harbor. He also reflected on major events that affected Saba, including the COVID-19 pandemic and hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Johnson was also recognized for his approachability, steady leadership during crises and personal communication with the residents of Saba.

Jonathan Johnson has served as Island Governor of the Public Entity Saba since 2008. In that role, he was responsible for public order and safety, crisis management, the quality of public administration and the representation of Saba within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

His farewell marks the close of a long period of public service during which he played a central role in guiding Saba through constitutional, social and administrative change.

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