The name of the restaurant at Joia by Iberostar is an evocative choice, rich with symbolism. Gaia is the name of the Greek goddess of the earth, the mother of all life, representing everything on the planet, it is the developer’s way of telling us that his emphasis at the new restaurant is on fresh, natural ingredients, environmentally responsible handling of décor and food with a focus on our wellness.

The press was invited to sample the menu last week at an evening hosted by executive chef Alejandro Camuri, general manager Arnauld Le Lanchon, marketing director Rudolfo Dirksz, food & beverage manager Victor Laiseca, and restaurant supervisor Oscar Booi.

The evening was perfection from start, with a refreshing GIN concoction to finish, with Dushi Marea, ice cream and vegan sorbet, freshly made in-house.

The restaurant décor is especially remarkable featuring seating for any size group, two-tops, as well as curved banquettes, round, and elongated tables. It all inspires leisurely dining, and for those with a more casual evening in mind, outside seating overlooking Eagle Beach, is available, along the full length of the restaurant.

A beautifully appointed, fully stocked bar with classic bar stools accommodates bar top diners. It also offers before or after dinner drinks, besides faster service, for rushed vacationers. The glass walls allow Eagle Beach landscapes to blend in with the interior, the soft lighting, and the potted greens.

According to Le Lanchon the restaurant focuses on the sacred elements of land, sea, and air, united by fire, reflected in the décor, which is contemporary, with many organic touches. The space exudes luxury resulting in a warm hospitality feel.

At the center of the restaurant a statement feature, what looks like the sculpture of a tree, while in fact is a real dry tree trunk spreading branches floor to ceiling, dramatically illuminated as the focal point of the dining room. The restaurant furniture in natural wood, stone, and marble, features leather upholstery and textured fabrics, in an earthy and muted color palate creating a calm, intimate and sophisticated atmosphere.

Iberostar Hotels & Resorts, the globally recognized Spanish hotel brand, officially opened JOIA Aruba by Iberostar, its first hotel in Aruba, last year. With the opening of Gaia, the hotel, on Eagle Beach, concludes its construction phase, and is now prepared to deliver a complete five-star experience, with a blend of luxury accommodation, spectacular Food & Beverage, and upscale amenities. Le Lanchon explains that the private owners of the international hotel chain wish to emphasize sustainability, and celebrate the island’s natural heritage, at every one of the resort’s outlets.

On our menu that night:

Freshly baked Brioche bread accompanied by olive oil butter; a tomato, strawberry appetizer, laced with balsamic vinegar, 25-year DOP. The tomato tartar with pine nuts, topped by strawberry sorbet, accompanied by sourdough, was a very innovative and different start for an outstanding dining experience.

Cauliflower followed drizzled with peanut sauce, sweet chili, pickled onions, and sprinkled by pan seiku, a traditional island candy made with peanuts and sugar.

Croquettes are popular here, and the chef’s rib variety with Chipotle aioli received great praise.

For the main course, the slow cooked short rib on a bed of orzo, morel mushroom sauce and Manchego cheese, sent media members for seconds.

Another popular tasting, a prime, Angus beef rib eye, served with fried gnocchi in a cheese and pepper sauce, with a side of grilled romaine lettuce, was a crowd pleaser. Steaks after all are the restaurant’s specialty and they are served with special quality steak knives.

As a special treat Chef Camuri prepared a whole suckling pig, which he carved table side. The locally raise piglet was escorted by baby potatoes and onions, green salad, and apple demi glass, and may be ordered by restaurant patrons, 24 hours in advance.

The berries and cheesecake dessert topped with raspberry sorbet, was paired with an outstanding oversize bonbon filled with chocolate cream, toffee, caramel, hazelnut, coconut, crowned by chocolate sorbet.

Dinner was complemented by a selection of new world and old-world wines.

From the Menu: GAIA House of Grill, the spirit of the Greek goddess, Mother Earth herself, comes alive in a celebration of flavor, and artistry. Located at JOIA Aruba by Iberostar, overlooking the world-renowned Eagle Beach, GAIA offers an extraordinary dining experience inspired by nature and the island’s finest local ingredients. Here, the contemporary meets the ancestral through perfectly grilled premium cuts and bold, refined creations. Each dish is a tribute to the earth’s bounty, crafted to surprise, delight. and awaken the senses.

Mission accomplished.

We were treated to a large group picture of the airport’s top echelon. The occasion? The Minister of Tourism, Transport and Labor, got to shake hands and introduce himself to the new airport CEO, Johnny Andersen, in the presence of AAA board members and advisors.

The meeting was introductory in a sense that it was all niceties and pleasantries. The just-arrived CEO who is a nice guy, must have said all the right things and he definitely has good potential. He will have his hands full, but one step at a time.

The minister sounded supportive in his remarks. He brought along his advisor, Tico Croes, a former minister of tourism for the same political party, which must have been a surprise. Croes is a knowledgeable man, I understand he asked a lot of questions. Having some experience in aviation, as a former minister, it must have been beneficial having him onboard.

You remember that during the previous government rule, the then Minister of Tourism insisted on having a local, head the island’s most important economic organization. But we always knew his anti-Schiphol sentiment was completely unjustified.

After the elections, finally, everyone came to their senses, and the agreement with Royal Schiphol Group was renewed and they sent us their man, Johnny — got to love a tall man with such a disarming name. He comes to us after almost 3 years in Curacao, working as the Chief Executive Officer of CAP, Curacao Airport Partners.

From his LinkedIn account you can tell he know how important his position is to the island: “I believe airports are more than gateways — they are drivers of sustainable growth, connection, and a shared sense of identity within the community.”

At the meeting, the minister was also escorted by another advisor, a former banker Philippe La Reine, who is now the minister’s chief of staff, and AAA’s recent board members Marion Kan, an investment banker, Sanju Luidens, Chief Marketing Officer of the Aruba Tourism Authority, Tino Nicolaas, the CFO of Setar NV and Kristel de Nobrega, a professor, PhD and cyber security specialist at the Central Bank, and an aviation specialist Fin Bonset, an airport development consulting professional. They make up a super qualified, active, a-political board.

(This is the first time, for me anyway, I see transparency regarding who is on the board and where they work, their qualifications etc. And with the new corporate governance rules coming, we could expect everyone to stick to the rules and for the board to provide real oversight.)

In between directors in 2024-2025 the airport was managed by a committee, a troika, with all due respect, and I have respect for each individual within the trio, I was reminded that a camel is a horse designed by a committee. Some say the same about the Giraffe.

When you look at a horse it displays an elegant straightforward design, with a clear purpose, versus the awkward, overcomplicated, and inefficient design of the camel — what happens when many people try to design something, instead of improving it they make it odd.

The airport could do much better. Example: People today line up outside in the sun for 10 to 20 minutes, when in fact without luggage they can walk right in, but there is no one to wish them a safe travel and direct them.

Just before Johnny landed on our shores, an interim CEO, James Fazio, started moving and shaking, for about 6 months — thanks for doggie toilets — and with that momentum the new CEO should reignite passions and provide the leadership needed to focus everyone’s attention on maintenance, customer service and productivity.

I wish you all success.

Thanks to the generosity of Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort guests, the resort delivered an impressive 469.79 kg (1,035.71 lbs) of donated clothing, books, arts and crafts supplies, games, toys, and learning materials in 2025 to benefit the children living at Imeldehof, Aruba’s children’s home. This meaningful contribution was made possible through Bucuti & Tara’s ongoing partnership with Pack for a Purpose, the global charitable travel initiative that empowers travelers to support local communities by using spare space in their luggage to bring much-needed supplies for local nonprofit partners. Guests simply select items from a requested list, pack them in their suitcase, and deliver them to the resort upon arrival, after which Bucuti & Tara ensures the donated items are delivered directly to Imeldehof. Guests wishing to participate are encouraged to visit Bucuti & Tara’s Pack for a Purpose wish list page.

“This milestone reflects the extraordinary kindness of our guests who choose to travel with intention. Each book, every item of clothing, and each supply delivered to our resort becomes a meaningful gift that brings comfort, creativity and opportunity to children in-need at Imeldehof,” said Ewald Biemans, owner/founder of Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort. “We are deeply grateful to every guest who makes space in their suitcase to support Aruba’s future generation.”

“On behalf of Stichting Kinderhuis Imeldehof, we are deeply grateful to every Bucuti & Tara guest who participated in Pack for a Purpose in 2025. What you packed in your suitcase carries far more than supplies. It carries encouragement, dignity and hope for our children,” shares Mirta R. Leon, acting director/coordinator of Imeldehof. “Your donations provide essential support, and they remind our children they are seen, valued and that they matter.”

The 2025 total represents a year over year increase in donations and continues a steady pattern of meaningful impact through Pack for a Purpose in Aruba. In 2024, guests donated 456.94 kg of supplies. In 2025, that generosity grew to 469.79 kg, reinforcing Bucuti & Tara’s shared commitment with guests to responsible travel and sustainable tourism in Aruba.

Imeldehof provides a safe, structured home environment for children who need care and support while they are unable to live in their family home. The supplies donated through Pack for a Purpose help strengthen children’s daily lives, education and emotional wellbeing. For many children, these items offer more than practical support. They provide dignity, stability and a powerful reminder that they are valued.

Books support literacy and imagination. Clothing and shoes offer comfort and confidence. Arts and crafts materials encourage creativity and self expression. Games and toys support development, connection and joy. Each donation helps create brighter moments and stronger foundations for children at Imeldehof and for the future of Aruba.

Bucuti & Tara’s ongoing partnership with Pack for a Purpose supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that align with Bucuti & Tara’s 400+ action points, a global sustainability standard recognized by the United Nations as “highly replicable and scalable” for hotels worldwide. This specific initiative contributes directly to SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities by strengthening local wellbeing and community partnerships, and to SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production by encouraging mindful travel and purposeful resource sharing that reduces waste and maximizes social benefit. It also aligns with SDG 13 Climate Action by reinforcing sustainable tourism practices and reducing the need for freight shipments that can increase emissions. It supports SDG 4 Quality Education and SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities by ensuring an inclusive and equitable education.

As a leader in sustainable tourism and responsible travel in Aruba, Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort is committed to supporting the community it calls home. Pack for a Purpose is one of the most direct ways guests can participate in that mission and see the impact of their stay extend beyond the shoreline of Eagle Beach.

Guests who wish to participate can visit the Pack for a Purpose listing for Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort or contact their personal concierge prior to arrival to receive the most current list of items needed by Imeldehof.

Learn more by visiting Bucuti.com.

Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort is proud to announce the completion of its comprehensive renovation project, unveiling refreshed guestrooms, enhanced amenities, an elevated arrival experience and a brand-new room category. This milestone marks an exciting new chapter in the iconic boutique resort’s continued evolution.

At the forefront of the renovation is the debut of the resort’s new Grand Studios, now the most

premium studio category at Amsterdam Manor. Located in the signature tower corners, these

thoughtfully designed accommodations feature luxurious touches such as a spacious

freestanding bathtub positioned for scenic relaxation or dual rain shower heads for a shared

spa-like experience, offering an elevated retreat for guests seeking additional comfort and

style.

The renovation also includes the complete transformation of the resort’s former Standard

Manor Studios into fully reimagined Superior Studios. These upgraded accommodations offer

expanded layouts, larger private balconies with enhanced partial ocean views, king-size beds,

spacious bathrooms with walk-in rain showers, and modernized kitchenettes outfitted with

contemporary amenities. Warm, modern décor and hand-selected locally inspired artwork

further elevate the atmosphere, while an updated exterior façade complements the resort’s

timeless ambiance.

To enhance convenience for travelers, Amsterdam Manor has introduced two new Courtesy

Shower Rooms, a thoughtful amenity for guests with early arrivals or late departures. Each

space features a walk-in shower, vanity, toilet, Aruba Aloe products and fresh towels, allowing

guests to refresh before or after their stay with ease.

Guests will also experience an upgraded welcome with the addition of a cathedral-style porte-

cochère, providing added shade, comfort, and convenience upon arrival. A dedicated luggage

Confidential – Not for Public Consumption or Distribution

storage area further streamlines both check-in and check-out, ensuring a seamless and

comfortable guest journey.

“These updates reflect our passion for creating an exceptional experience for every guest who

walks through our doors,” said Jurgen van Schaijk, Owner & Managing Director of Amsterdam

Manor Beach Resort. “We have thoughtfully enhanced our accommodations and amenities

while preserving the warm, family-owned charm that defines Amsterdam Manor. We are

incredibly proud of this transformation and look forward to welcoming guests back to a

refreshed and elevated version of their home away from home.”

With earlier renovations to the resort’s suite categories—including the One-Bedroom, Two-

Bedroom, Honeymoon and Penthouse Suites—completed in 2024, and the introduction of new

premium offerings now finalized, the resort has fully revitalized all 72 guestrooms and

enhanced key amenities. Throughout the renovation, Amsterdam Manor has remained

committed to preserving the inviting spirit, intimate hospitality, and Dutch Colonial architecture

that have made the property a standout on Eagle Beach for more than 35 years.

Located just steps from one of the world’s most celebrated beaches, Amsterdam Manor Beach

Resort offers elevated comfort, thoughtful design, and warm, personal service. The completed

renovation ushers in a new era for the resort, providing couples, families, and solo travelers

with an unforgettable and authentically Aruban experience.

For more information, visit www.amsterdammanor.com

When Aruba elected a new government in November 2017, integrity and transparency were central campaign themes for the People’s Electoral Movement (MEP). Prime Minister Evelyn Wever-Croes, leading the MEP, pledged a break from the past and promised voters that backroom deals, favoritism, and misuse of power would end. She repeatedly highlighted integrity as a core foundation of her government’s agenda and announced plans to establish an integrity department to organize, enforce, and protect good governance.

As the years went on, many Arubans and members of Parliament began to question whether those promises were actually being realized. The government faced significant criticism and political pressure from opposition factions, including motions of no confidence related to perceived shortcomings in transparency and accountability. In December 2025, the MEP faction itself filed a motion of no confidence against Minister Gerlien Croes, alleging a lack of transparency about a privatized flight and failures in disclosing details such as payment and permitting, and arguing that this conduct violated the government’s own code of conduct and weakened public confidence in good governance.

At the same time, broader concerns about transparency extended into public debates over major government contracts. One example involved the contract between the state utility WEB Aruba NV and Eagle LNG Partners for an LNG supply and regasification terminal, signed in 2021. That agreement was controversial in part because questions were raised in Parliament about permit compliance and whether repeated extensions granted to Eagle LNG were clearly disclosed to the public. Eventually, after repeated extensions and scrutiny, WEB Aruba terminated the contract in 2025 when Eagle LNG failed to secure all necessary permits, and the utility stated that it would shift its focus to renewable energy sources while protecting Aruba’s financial interests.

These controversies helped shape public perceptions about transparency in government decision-making. In practice, the promised integrity mechanisms, especially a dedicated integrity department and an Integrity Chamber, never fully came into operation. Official assessments later confirmed that although Aruba created legal frameworks to address integrity violations, the Bureau of Integrity was legally established but remained non-operational, and the Integrity Chamber was announced but never established. As a result, integrity existed on paper, but it was largely absent from daily government operations.

In December 2021, in an attempt to strengthen ethical standards, Aruba passed the National Ordinance on Ministerial Integrity (AB 2021 no. 203). This law requires that candidate ministers be screened before they can take office, with reviews of areas such as judicial records, tax compliance, medical fitness, and conflicts of interest.

That requirement was tested in March 2025 during the formation of the AVP–Futuro coalition government. The screening process delayed the appointment of a proposed minister. Six ministers were sworn in, while the seventh candidate, Mike de Meza, could not be appointed until his screening was complete. Reporting indicated that the delay was linked to an unresolved tax matter.

This episode showed that the law can work when used: it prevented a potentially problematic appointment until screening issues were resolved. But it also exposed a deeper issue in Aruba’s integrity architecture: a law that checks ministers at the door is not the same as a system that monitors them while they are in office.

Laws alone do not prevent corruption. True prevention requires independent institutions that continuously monitor conduct, investigate potential violations, and enforce rules throughout a minister’s term, not just during an initial screening. Aruba did not fail because it lacked laws or good intentions; indeed, the ministerial integrity screening law demonstrated that rules can work when enforced. The real failure lies in the fact that the broader integrity system was never put into daily operation. When oversight exists only at the moment of appointment and not throughout an official’s time in office, misconduct does not need to fight its way in. It simply continues once the doors have closed.

Over time, the consequences of weak integrity systems could no longer be ignored. They became visible in the courts. Over the past years, Aruba has witnessed a steady stream of corruption cases involving senior public officials and ministers. Allegations of fraud, bribery, abuse of authority, and manipulation of government decisions have become almost routine.

What makes this especially troubling is not only the seriousness of these cases, but how familiar they have become. These are not minor administrative mistakes. They are clear warning signs of a deeper breakdown, where weak or absent integrity mechanisms allow misconduct to continue unchecked until it finally reaches the courts.

Each new case should provoke outrage. Instead, it increasingly provokes resignation. Public trust is not just eroded; it is worn down through repetition. People quietly ask themselves: if integrity were truly a priority, why does this keep happening?

The most dangerous shift is that the loss of integrity is starting to feel normal. When scandals no longer shock, values begin to fade. Integrity stops being a shared standard and becomes something quietly abandoned. This is the real damage. Integrity was talked about, but never built into a system strong enough to protect it, and over time, society began to accept what it should have rejected.

Two Forces That Shape a Country

Every society operates between two opposing forces: integrity and corruption.

Corruption occurs when people entrusted with power use that power for personal gain rather than the public good. This can mean favoring friends, protecting political allies, or steering contracts and permits toward certain interests.

Integrity is the opposite. It means using power honestly, transparently, and fairly. Integrity ensures that decisions are made for the benefit of society as a whole, not for a select few.

This difference matters because integrity is not about personal morality alone. It is what allows good governance to function. Without integrity, even the best laws become meaningless.

Corruption is often treated as a moral or ethical problem, but its real damage runs much deeper. It does not break a society overnight. Instead, it slowly weakens it from the inside, affecting how money is spent, how people behave, and how institutions function.

The most visible damage is financial. When contracts are inflated, permits are misused, or projects are approved for political or personal reasons rather than public need, public money quietly disappears. Those funds are no longer available for healthcare, education, housing, or infrastructure. Citizens end up paying twice: first through their taxes, and again through poorer services and deteriorating public facilities.

The damage does not stop there. Corruption also erodes a country’s culture. When people repeatedly see dishonesty rewarded and wrongdoing excused, trust begins to fade. The unspoken message becomes, “This is how things work.” Over time, acting with integrity starts to feel naive, while disillusionment and resignation take their place. Responsibility is replaced by indifference.

Institutions suffer as well, and the reason is simple: they depend on trust to work. Courts, audit offices, and government departments can only function properly when people believe that rules are applied fairly. When corruption becomes visible, and accountability seems selective, slow, or absent, that belief disappears. Citizens stop cooperating, witnesses hesitate to speak up, and honest public servants lose authority. Even officials who want to do the right thing find it harder to enforce rules in a system where people no longer expect fairness. In the end, the most significant loss is not just money or efficiency. It is trust. And once trust is broken, rebuilding it is far more difficult than preventing its loss in the first place.

When Talking About Integrity Becomes Part of the Problem

Aruba has learned a painful lesson. When leaders talk a lot about integrity but fail to make the system work, people stop believing them. Instead of feeling protected, citizens grow tired and discouraged.

Many begin to think that integrity is just a slogan, or something used only when it suits political interests. After a while, people no longer expect real change. They stop paying attention because they assume nothing will improve anyway.

That attitude is dangerous. When people fall silent and accept the situation, corruption faces little resistance. Silence and resignation give wrongdoing the space it needs to continue.

What Integrity Should Look Like

Aruba does not need more speeches about integrity. What it needs is integrity that people can actually see, experience, and trust. Integrity must be practical, independent, and part of daily government work, not something that only appears during elections or press conferences.

A functioning integrity system rests on a few clear foundations:

Transparency means that public spending, contracts, permits, and government decisions are open, accessible, and easy to understand.

Accountability requires that rules carry real consequences and apply regardless of who is involved or how powerful they may be.

Participation ensures that citizens, journalists, unions, and civil society have the right and the space to observe, question, and challenge government actions.

The rule of law must be upheld at all times, meaning laws apply equally, without exceptions based on position or influence.

Ethics education is essential because integrity must be taught, reinforced, and expected; it cannot be assumed.

Aruba has taken steps on paper, but paper alone does not protect a society. Only institutions that function every day, consistently and independently, can turn integrity from a promise into a lived reality.

What the Integrity Department Should Have Been

If a government announces the creation of an integrity department or bureau, it must be more than a symbolic gesture. Such an institution only has value if it is designed to function independently, consistently, and above politics, rather than serving as a political talking point or a tool for political retaliation. An integrity department must never be used as a weapon against political opponents, critics, or individuals with different views. Once integrity enforcement becomes selective or politically motivated, it stops protecting democracy and begins to undermine it.

At a minimum, such a department must be built on several non-negotiable foundations:

Legal independence is essential, ensuring freedom from political interference and selective targeting.

Stable funding must be guaranteed so the institution is not weakened by shifting political priorities or pressure.

Clear authority to receive complaints, investigate conflicts of interest, and refer cases when necessary, based on facts rather than political alignment.

Public reporting is critical, as it allows citizens to see which issues are being addressed and how decisions are made.

Strong protection for whistleblowers, journalists, and civil servants who speak up, so raising concerns is safeguarded rather than punished.

Without these foundations, integrity institutions exist in name only. And when integrity systems are hollow or politicized, corruption does not disappear. It adapts, finding new ways to operate in the empty space left behind.

Rebuilding trust is still possible, but only if Aruba is willing to confront reality honestly and act with discipline. That begins with openly acknowledging the gap between what was promised and what was delivered. Without that honesty, no reform will be credible, and no confidence can be restored.

Transparency must become the default, not an exception granted when pressure mounts. Integrity institutions must be adequately equipped, given clear responsibilities, adequate resources, and held publicly accountable for results. Enforcement must be consistent, and consequences must apply every time, not only when it is politically convenient.

Most importantly, citizens must be recognized as part of the solution. Public oversight is not a threat to government; it is the strongest safeguard against abuse of power and the only durable path back to trust.

Aruba does not need perfect leaders. It requires integrity that functions every day, without exception. Speeches or campaign promises do not defeat corruption. Only systems that make honesty the norm and abuse of power difficult, risky, and punishable can do that. Integrity must stop being announced and start being enforced. Until that happens, trust will remain fragile, and the damage will continue.