THE BOTTOM, Saba — The Executive Council has clarified that food trucks are permitted on Saba under certain conditions, following written questions submitted by Island Council member Saskia Janell Matthew of the party for Progress, Equality & Prosperity (PEP).
In her questions, Matthew noted that several residents have expressed interest in operating food trucks on the island, while uncertainty remains within the community about whether such businesses are allowed and what requirements apply.
According to the Executive Council, the use of a food truck itself is not prohibited under Saba’s current legal and regulatory framework. However, food trucks are not permitted to operate on public roads or government-owned land outside their normal public use.
The council explained that entrepreneurs who wish to operate a food truck on private property may do so, provided they comply with the requirements for an operational permit under the island’s General Local Ordinance.
Matthew also asked how Saba’s approach differs from those on Bonaire and St. Eustatius, where food trucks are permitted. In its response, the Executive Council noted that Bonaire uses a system of vending permits based on older local regulations, while many municipalities in the European Netherlands employ location-based permits for designated vending sites.
According to the Executive Council, establishing a similar system on Saba would be challenging because of the island’s limited public space and the need to balance equal access for entrepreneurs with the ability of permit holders to earn back their investments. The council said that permit systems based on scarce public locations can create tensions between fairness for new entrants and business certainty for existing operators.
Priorities
The Executive Council further stated that developing a dedicated framework for food trucks would require customized legislation and regulatory work. Given the island government’s current legislative capacity and other priorities, it does not expect to undertake such an effort in the near future.
For now, the Executive Council’s position is that food trucks may operate from private property, subject to the necessary permits, but are not allowed to use public roads or government land as business locations.
