A recent ATA report presented the results of a survey in which ATA assures us that cruise passengers are now spending more on the island.

My friends think ATA is feeling the heat, public pressure to reduce the heavy cruise volume. And that is why they decided to spring the lukewarm news that cruise passengers are now spending $197 per person, instead of the previous $187, or some similarly ridiculously low amount. It is obvious that there are few benefits to the island from the heavy traffic while the cruise industry rakes in billions.

For comparison: Average daily spending, per Visa cardholders Q1 2026, USD$ 672.

Increased number of locals are saying get out of the cruise business, not completely, but you must alleviate the pressure on our beaches, and reduce downtown congestion. We must reserve the few attractions we have to the five to seven-nighters who pay full rate at the resorts. Remember that stay-over visitors contribute significantly more to Aruba’s economy than cruise passengers. Nevertheless, the number of ship calls and passengers is growing, along with ship sizes.

(June 2025 to June 2026: Cruise passenger arrivals rose to 551,168 across 213 calls, up from 514,850 across 197 calls a year earlier.)

At the heart of the discussion, Aruba must shift paradigm and NOT measure the success of its cruise industry by the number of passengers arriving, but by the economic value generated for the island, the quality of the visitor experience, and the impact on residents and the environment.

That also applies to tourism in general. Stop telling us how many arrived on the island. Report the economic value, the level of spending and how greatly visitors support local businesses and products.

We have said it before, decide what the optimal number of cruise passengers Aruba can comfortably accommodate and make it your goal to achieve that number. NOT the maximum number of guests but the optimal number, based on our infrastructure, availability of transportation, AND the quality of life of the island’s residents.

(We should invite the ministers to drive through the Malmok neighborhood anytime, they would be appalled at the level of noisy chaos suffered by the locals, on any given day.)

In the previous tourism policy draft, there was a mention of moving the cruise ship terminal to San Nicolas. It is a thought, a MOST impractical one. The cost of turning San Nicolas into a cruise tourism day-tripping destination is exorbitant. We will have to spend billions to get San Nicolas ready for the invasion of 5,000 pleasure-seekers a day.

My friends suggest that Aruba should position itself as one of the Caribbean’s highest-quality cruise destinations rather than one of the busiest.

We are hungry for good news, and this time I am sharing encouraging information, from a recent presentation made by AWSS to local hospitality executives.

Our hoteliers walked away from the meeting feeling positive about the progress made by the professionals at AWSS.

The overall message was, AWSS is implementing a multi-year strategy to modernize Aruba’s wastewater system, improve environmental performance, increase water reuse, and build a more resilient and sustainable wastewater infrastructure through collaboration with government, businesses, and the community.

The AWSS, Aruba Wastewater Sustainable Solutions N.V., set up in 2024, titled the presentation, Update on Improvements at Aruba’s Wastewater Treatment Plants, July 2026.

Here is a summary of the most important points:

As of July 1, 2024, AWSS assumed responsibility for Aruba’s wastewater infrastructure. This included the island-wide sewer network, the three wastewater treatment plants at Bubali, Parkietenbos, and Zeewijk, and the incinerator. The goal was to centralize wastewater management under one organization to improve efficiency, reliability, and environmental performance.

The first step was operational recovery, plant by plant.

The performance comparison, July 2024 vs. July 2026 is encouraging. The Bubali plant is up from 35% of its capacity to 65%; Parkietenbos that was dysfunctional regained 90% of its capacity, and claimed the biggest turnaround mark, and Zeewijk stayed in service at a stable 65%. AWSS reports that gains came from maintenance, refurbishment, and a larger technical workforce. While this does not mean full modernization, it spells major improvement.

The incinerator, has always been problematic, but the AWSS reports sixfold capacity expansion, raised from 500 to 3,300 kg/hr. What does the incinerator do? It handles the sludge left over from the aeration of gray water at the plants, it disposes of medical waste, animal carcasses, confiscated goods/narcotics, expired goods, green waste, and confidential documents for various government and private clients.

You will be pleased to know that the medical waste backlog was cleared by Nov 2025 – they had containers full. And the sludge backlog will clear by March 2027.

The incinerator required a Nuisance Permit, because of the smoke, which was granted in March 2026.

The question on everyone’s mind is: Where does the money go?

As you know each island guest must part with $20 as he/she fills the ID card in. What happened to those cool millions collected since July 1st, 2024.

AWSS reports making an AWG 80.6 million investment.

Top projects: Bubali pre-treatment system, 23.5M, Zeewijk rehabilitation, 15.0M, Parkietenbos expansion, 14.0M.

These three projects account for roughly two-thirds of the total amount raised. The presentation notes much of this spending is not discretionary, it is driven by audit findings, technical assessments, and court rulings.

Additional 79% of the investment falls in 2026–2027.

As a community, we can help in the process and AWSS has five public requests:

Connecting new developments to the sewer network wherever possible, and as soon as possible during construction phases.

Considering the use of reclaimed water for irrigation, landscaping, golf courses, and industrial processes. The treated water coming out of the plant will be available for sale.

Coordinating major events and high-occupancy periods in advance to help AWSS plan treatment capacity.

Using certified operators for gray water removal from homes and businesses by means of an app, listing all legit operators, and sharing monitoring data to improve system performance and accountability – you do not want your gray water dumped in the mondi by an unapproved truck operator.

AWSS emphasized that businesses and developers can help improve wastewater management without new legislation by responsibly managing fats, oils, and grease to protect the sewer system. The dumping of those listed substances into the plant interferes with the natural process of aeration and clogs the system.

The timeline for 2026–2029, onward has been set.

2026 – Stabilize: Restore critical infrastructure, improve sludge handling, increase incinerator capacity, activate monitoring systems, and align operations with regulations.

2027 – Modernize: Upgrade treatment processes, improve odor control, reduce sludge backlog, set up performance standards, and introduce certified operational practices.

2028 – Complete: Fully restore Bubali’s treatment facilities, expand treated water storage and distribution, extend monitoring island-wide, and implement asset management.

2029 and Beyond – Optimize: Expand water reuse, optimize treatment operations, introduce public environmental reporting, strengthen long-term asset management, and adjust incineration capacity as demand grows.

Amen, we are moving in the right direction!

The Aruba Mammal Foundation was invited to make a presentation at Eagle’s Nest Rooftop, La Quinta Beach Resort, at sunset this week. The monthly Eagle’s Nest gathering featured speaker Giolina Henriquez, the founder of the organization.

The information she shared was surprising. Giolina presented the AMMF record of marine species visiting Aruba, with over 21 confirmed sightings, in several categories of dolphins and whales. Some of those aquatic visitors were found dead on our beaches, some arrived alive and died later, like the recent dolphin beaching incident, in May. Some managed to refloat and leave, some arrived in distress, recovered, and left. AMMF even recorded a visiting dolphin with distinct marks of having escaped from captivity, in an aquarium facility.

Giolina focused her presentation on the importance of protecting the habitat, of dolphins, whales and other marine mammals, and the ongoing conservation efforts made by the foundation.

The relaxed rooftop gathering served cocktails and bites, to an audience of hotel member guests, and local invitees.

Giolina took the time to explain that marine mammals are warm-blooded animals that live in the ocean but must breathe air at the surface and nurse their young with milk. They include baleen whales, which filter-feed through baleen plates, and toothed whales and dolphins, which use echolocation to navigate, and hunt.

AMMF has been active since 1998 and legally established here in 2002. It is dedicated to protecting marine mammals and their habitats through research, education, and conservation. The foundation studies local marine mammal species, their distribution, seasonal movements, and habitat use, while responding to strandings and maintaining long-term scientific data. AMMF also supports marine mammal protection through rescue efforts, public education, scientific research, policy development, and collaboration with regional and international conservation partners. The Aruba Marine Mammal Encounter Code of Conduct, AMMEC, helps raise awareness by encouraging visitors and residents to respect wildlife, report stranded animals, and contribute to marine conservation.

Giolina briefly explained how to tell the difference between the diverse whales, dolphins, and manatees in the Caribbean, each with distinctive features and markings. The audience was surprised to find out that 13 species of whales and 16 species of dolphins make their home in the Caribbean, 0f which five species of Blackfish, a category that includes killer whales and Orcas.

Giolina’s most important message focused on human’s response. The marine animals find shelter in Aruba’s shallow waters for a reason. They come inshore for emergency, exhaustion, calving, nursing, injuries and/or diseases. They are not to be disturbed nor reported on social media. The gathering crowds deteriorate the situation and add to the mammals suffering and panic.

Giolina reiterated they are not here to entertain us, they are recovering, and should not be interfered with. They are already dealing with multiple challenges and, cumulative stressors and global threats, and their space must be respected.

If you are concerned about a marine animal’s behavior, call #5924333, do not attempt any rescue yourself, ask for help, do not spread the word, take a video if you can and report for assistance.

General manager Ursell Arends our former minister of the environment, practices what he preaches at La Quinta Beach Resort, and extends sustainability beyond his resort, by supporting the organizations and people dedicated to protecting Aruba’s unique natural heritage. By collaborating with AMMF the resort helped raise awareness about the marine mammals visiting our waters and the importance of conserving the ecosystems they depend on. He hopes to inspire a deeper appreciation for Aruba’s marine environment and the role humans all play in protecting it.

Francis Ridderstap who is the Leisure Services Manager at Divi and Tamarijn All Inclusive Hotels since February 1994, 32 years 6 month, is retiring at the end of the year.

He can tell some good stories about hospitality in the 80s, as he started his steady career climb up to management positions, He has worked all that time diligently, away from awards and fanfare, in the trenches, front-of-the-house battlegrounds, and he is now going to be a pensioner.

What will the future bring.

He thought about it and about a year ago signed up online for a course, wedding officiant training. He is learning to put on unforgettable ceremonies and turning officiating into his retirement business.

How smart. We know pensions on Aruba are low, and to survive you must supplement your pension income, or face austerity.

He does not wait for the government to save him with false promises, he is initiative-taking, and plans.

Francis, I wish you success, you are on the right track, your charisma and kindness will provide for a dignified fourth quarter!

On an island that lives for the moment, most people find it hard to think about retirement, BUT it is coming. Politicians repeatedly use that dark cloud to lure voters with promises they can never fulfil, instead of raising the red flag that just like the ant and the grasshopper in the Aesop fable, the hardworking ant spent her summer gathering food and storing it for the winter, while the carefree grasshopper spent his days singing and dancing. He did not foresee the future and as winter arrived, he found himself cold and hungry, unprepared for the harsh conditions. I am not going to tell you the end of the story, but it is not good!

In Aruba, the statutory retirement age for the AOV (Algemene Ouderdomsverzekering / Old Age Pension) is currently 65 years. This is not state sponsored, we save for it every month as it is deducted from our salary. The retirement age was gradually increased from 60 to 65 between 2015 and 2024, and since January 1, 2024, the standard AOV pension age has been 65.

APFA covers GOA employees and other government-related organizations, including agencies such as the Aruba Airport Authority, ATA, SETAR, WEB, the University of Aruba, and numerous subsidized educational foundations.

In the private sector, since 2012, employers are required to provide an occupational pension. The retirement age under this mandatory system gradually increased and reached 65 in 2025. It used to be 60.

Most pension plans are so called flexible, and you can retire earlier and collect less money or retire later and collect more.

My source reports: Raising the pension age was part of the landspakket from the beginning. Seeing that Aruba has a double-digit number of elderly immigrants who came to work in hospitality in the 80s, reaching retirement age soon, along with the aging locals, SVB periodically reports it is running out of funds. When the rijkswet COHO was abandoned in favor of onderlinge regeling, mutual agreement, HOFA, MEP-RAIZ consistently postponed addressing the increase in retirement age and pushed it further down the agenda. It is noteworthy to mention that when Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten opted in favor of prime minister’s EWC negotiated onderlinge regeling, 500 million euros were reserved on the Dutch budget, in January 2021 for the islands. However this was reabsorbed into the national budget. Opting for a mutual agreement instead of rijkswet cost us 167 million euro in Dutch investment. Then the director of the SVb produced a plan for multi-year budgets as a substitute for raising the pension age. The politicians bought this hocus focus to avoid the responsible but politically costly decision of raising the pension age. The presentations have varied from the funds going into red in 2028 to now supposedly being solvent into the 2030s. It is apparent that the director tailors his presentations to a political audience rather than sharing information truthfully. In the next five years Aruba will go from having two workers for every person on some type of pension benefits to 1,5 workers per pension benefit receiver. The numbers will not work except for benefit cuts or the increase of pension age. A phased pension reform with white collar workers working to a more advanced age like the Netherlands makes sense. However, the current brand of populist politicians lacks the capacity to implement anything remotely unpopular, which does not work in our favor.

As in most countries in the world the group of elderly is growing. Benefits will shrink, they will never increase, so plan carefully, strategize, and save. Politicians like to play savior, but it is beyond their capacity, only YOU can save yourself.