Saba’s longest-serving governor, Jonathan Johnson, will soon hand over his duties, marking the end of an 18-year tenure devoted to serving the community he deeply cherishes.
“I haven’t let it sink in yet, so I’m still busy doing what I have to do until the last day. I think that after that, it will set in,” said Johnson whose term will end as of July 2. He became Saba’s youngest Island Governor at just 31 on July 2, 2008.
Johnson first applied for the position in 2006, while fellow Saban Sidney Sorton was serving as Lieutenant Governor. He was appointed as Acting Lieutenant Governor on July 2, 2007. “I was acting governor from 2007 until 2008, and then in 2008, I was approached, and then the rest is history,” he recalled.
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Vacancy advertised
The process to appoint Saba’s next Island Governor is currently underway. Johnson noted that the nomination procedure during his time differed significantly from the current process. Unlike during the former Netherlands Antilles era, the vacancy is now publicly advertised with an outline of the portfolio and responsibilities.
Johnson was first reappointed in 2014 and again in 2020, bringing his total time in office to 18 years, a milestone unmatched in Saba’s modern history.
“I could have chosen to be reappointed, but last year, I made a decision to stop prior to July 2, because I wanted to give the Kingdom Representative and the Island Council enough time. I know the process is cumbersome and it takes quite some time. So that’s why, last year on July 2, 2025, I said I would not seek reappointment.”
Johnson said he feels ready for a new chapter in his life. “I do feel it is time to do something different. What exactly, I don’t know, but I did feel it was time,” he said.
He added that his decision was also influenced by his children. “They are almost teenagers and I feel it’s important for them to also be free to be teenagers. They have to be able to make mistakes and not worry about what my job or position is.”
His journey to becoming Saba’s Governor
Johnson recalls stepping into the role of governor at just 31 and quickly having to learn the responsibilities and demands of the position. “My successor – he or she – will have the opportunity to get in different programs to learn about the job, whereas in my case I was just handed the keys. It was a steep learning curve, but that also helps.”
For young people considering a future as governor, Johnson advised that there is no fixed path to the role. “There’s no real straight road in preparation,” he said. “I was a teacher first and then principal of the high school, so it wasn’t anything I had prepared for.”
After graduating from university Johnson returned to Saba in 1999 and started teaching at the primary school. He became active in social organizations and activities from early on, even offering to assist the then Island Governors Antoine Solanier and Sidney Sorton, with delegation visits. “I involved myself freely in organizations, such as the Lion’s Club and others. I wasn’t asked, but I offered my knowledge, my expertise, and my hands.”
Commitment not unnoticed
Johnson’s commitment to volunteerism and humanitarian work did not go unnoticed. His dedication to the community ultimately led to his name being submitted to the Governor General of the then-Netherlands Antilles for consideration as Island Governor. In 2006, he was invited for an interview.
“I was advised to learn Dutch,” he recollected. ‘So, what I did was read a lot, I would keep a book with one column of Dutch words and then translate them. I would memorize those words. I also watched a lot of Dutch TV and that’s how I raised my command of the Dutch language to a higher level.”
For those who are intimidated by the Dutch language he said be open to making mistakes, be motivated and just keep trying. “Read, read, read and just keep reading. It doesn’t have to be a 500-page book, it can even be a comic book. As you read you pick up the words.”
When asked whether becoming governor had always been his dream, Johnson said his desire to serve was shaped early on by his parents’ active involvement in community organizations. “I always wanted to serve, but I didn’t know that I would be governor.” He said that observing and working alongside former governors also inspired him to pursue the role. “When Sorton retired in 2008, I said now is the opportunity to try and 18 years later I’m still here.”
Memories of being Saba’s governor
Johnson said his most memorable experiences and what brought him joy in his role was interacting with people. “Being able to make, even if it’s a little bit, a difference. A lot of it is just listening,” he said. “A lot of my time goes to listening to people and then they come up with a solution themselves, but they just want to be heard.”
According to Johnson, trust and confidentiality are especially important in a small community like Saba. “They want to be able to give their story to somebody that they can trust and just get it out of their system. In these small societies, people also have mental health challenges and other traumatic challenges. So, for me that has been very impactful.”
Johnson also said he particularly enjoyed welcoming visitors to the island. “Being able to portray our island to those who visit, or to be a host to the foreign delegations, to be able to tell our stories and show them the island, that’s also been something pleasurable for me.”
Johnson’s legacy
“The big question is, what am I going to do next?” he said. To that question he said to simply not have a plan yet.
Throughout Johnson’s reflections, the principle of selflessness in service was consistently evident. His calling was to be Saba’s governor. “This job is not easy,” he warned. “There’s a lot of personal sacrifices.” He shared a personal experience when his mother passed away during the pandemic in December 2021.
Johnson and his family had planned to travel to Sint Maarten to visit his mother, who was undergoing cancer treatment. However, due to a surge in COVID-19 cases that December, he made the difficult decision not to travel. Tragically, his mother passed away before he had the chance to see her one last time. “These things happen as well, but you chose this job. So, there are a lot of personal sacrifices.”
Long winding road
He added in his reflection that while things have not always gone as planned, he accepted it as life’s design. “I make this analogy: it’s a big mountain and the road is winding, so the road is not going to be a straight road, there’s going to be many twists and turns and ups and downs. The truth is you just got to keep trying and if something goes wrong you admit that you made a mistake and be honest with yourself first.”
Johnson’s selflessness is one of the defining qualities that helped sustain his 18-year tenure as Island Governor. It is also among the traits for which he will be most remembered. During his time as principal, for example, he shared that he often used his own money to purchase school supplies whenever funding fell short.
His contributions to education on Saba also left a lasting impact. During his tenure as principal, he successfully addressed several challenges facing the school system at the time, including overseeing the transition from the Dutch MBO program to the current CVQ program.
Johnson was also instrumental in establishing Saba’s 24/7 medical evacuation helicopter service, a major advancement in healthcare accessibility for the island.
“Yes, there is still much more to be done for us to reach the level of the European Netherlands,” he concluded. “But at the same time, when I look back, we have come a long way.”
