No strategic stocks of drinking water, food, medicines and fuel have been formed for the residents of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. Despite the Caribbean Netherlands’ vulnerability to natural threats such as hurricanes and volcanic explosions and the tense situation in Venezuela, just 70 kilometres from Bonaire, the government has not set goals for strategic stocks. In the event of a crisis, the islands’ stocks of drinking water, for instance, could run out in just a few days.
No strategic stocks in the Caribbean Netherlands
There are no strategic stocks of medicines, food, fuel and drinking water in the Caribbean Netherlands. Regular stocks of food and drinking water are limited. There are sufficient regular stocks of medicines and fuel.
A strategic stock is an additional stock or inventory of essential raw materials. It is not released for regular use but drawn on when a supply chain is disrupted by, for instance, a crisis. The Netherlands Court of Audit has previously audited the strategic stocks that the European Netherlands is obliged to hold under EU regulations (Netherlands Court of Audit, 2022). The EU regulations, however, do not apply to the Caribbean Netherlands.
Regular stocks
The Court of Audit concludes that there are no strategic stocks in the Caribbean Netherlands. It has therefore analysed the islands’ regular stocks of drinking water, food, medicines and fuel. The islands have relatively large regular stocks of medicines and fuel. Regular stocks of medicines on Saba and Sint Eustatius will last for 1 or 2 months and on Bonaire for 3 to 6 weeks. The situation with drinking water and food is very different. Sint Eustatius has enough drinking water for 7 days and Bonaire for just 3 to 4 days. Saba would experience a shortage of drinking water if the supply were disrupted for more than 1 day.
Limited regular stocks of drinking water and food in the Caribbean Netherlands
The figure shows the number of days of regular stocks of drinking water and food on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. These regular stocks are limited. • Bonaire’s stock of drinking water at the drinking water producer will last 3 to 4 days. Its food stock will last between 14 and 21 days. • Sint Eustatius’ stock of drinking water at the drinking water producer will last 7 days. Its food stock will last 7 days. • Saba has 1 day’s drinking water at the drinking water producer and 7 days’ food in stock.
Regular stocks completely reliant on imports
The Caribbean Netherlands’ regular stocks are dependent on imports by commercial businesses and are systemically vulnerable to disruptions in the international logistics supply chain. In a crisis, private parties and commercial interests will determine whether regular stocks of drinking water, food, medicines and fuel are replenished. Virtually all goods on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba are imported from hubs in Curaçao and Sint Maarten. There is therefore an additional risk that the islands will compete against each other for supplies during a crisis.
If the supply chain is disrupted, the islands will receive no supplies
The figure shows that the Caribbean Netherlands are supplied by means of transport links and the islands will receive no imports if the supply chain is broken. Stocks are flown or shipped into Curaçao and Sint Maarten from the European Netherlands. They are then carried to Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba by regional forwarders. Stocks from the European Netherlands are imported by aeroplane once a week. Ships take 6 weeks. Neighbouring islands and countries also provide stocks by ship. Most drinking water is produced locally on the islands themselves. With fewer or no aeroplanes and ships, there would be immediate consequences for stocks in the Caribbean Netherlands.
Recommendation: make clear agreements
No goals have been set for strategic stocks in the Caribbean Netherlands. Central government, private parties, vital sectors and public bodies have accordingly not made firm agreements about who is responsible for what. Where formal agreements have been made, as in the case of fuel, there is uncertainty about the practical allocation of responsibilities. The absence of sufficient strategic stocks could have significant social repercussions, with shortages immediately impacting day-to-day life. The government should therefore determine and document what amount of strategic stocks must be held in the Caribbean Netherlands and decide who is responsible for what.
This audit is a pre-publication from the Netherlands Court of Audit’s Accountability Audit 2025, which will be published on 20 May 2026. The theme of the Accountability Audit 2025 is ‘Security of the Netherlands’.