The three-day programme brought together representatives from Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba to discuss shared challenges in government procurement and explore opportunities for closer cooperation.
During BES Day on 16 October, participants highlighted the importance of strengthening collaboration between the islands. It was agreed that this cooperation will continue bilaterally where needed. Mr Jasper Schilperoord (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) presented current developments in procurement, while Mr Alexander Versteeg (Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, CDI Office) emphasised the need for structural collaboration and confirmed that BES Day will continue annually. The combined approach of BES Day and Suppliers’ Day was well received by all participants.
The following day, Suppliers’ Day gave local businesses the opportunity to learn more about upcoming procurement plans for the BES islands. RCN-SSO, OLB, and the Statia Government presented their procurement and tendering practices and answered questions directly from suppliers. Topics such as collaboration, opportunities, and bottlenecks were discussed in detail, and suppliers were able to meet the purchasing teams. Several suppliers expressed interest in future collaboration with the Statia Government.
The days were considered successful and productive. They clearly demonstrated the value of joint cooperation in procurement and the importance of sharing best practices. Participants reaffirmed their intention to continue working together structurally in this field. Suppliers gained a clear understanding of the upcoming tenders, and it was emphasised that both client and contractor share the same goal: delivering quality products and services at a fair price.
On behalf of the Statia Government’s Purchasing Department, we extend our appreciation to all organisations involved and look forward to continued fruitful collaboration in the coming year.
