This was first published as an opinion column by Tito Lacle on Noticia Cla. I thought it was very well written and really explains  our disappointment of the recent 2026 Common Good Expo and International Common Good Conference, themed “The Home We Build Together.”

It was originally written in Papiamento, here is the English language version: I first heard about the conference on the “common good” at the beginning of this month, when Prime Minister Mike Eman mentioned it during my program. It was presented as a significant two-day event: international speakers, an expo, and broad discussions around a concept that, at first glance, is difficult to oppose. The idea sounded promis

According to the widely accepted definition, the common good refers to the shared resources, institutions, and social conditions—such as safety, infrastructure, education, and a healthy environment—that benefit everyone in a community. In political terms, it is the foundation of collective life: safe roads, strong schools, reliable infrastructure, and environmental protection. Few would disagree with that.

What is equally clear, however, is that the common good cannot be delivered by government alone. It requires shared responsibility, active participation, and long-term commitment from society as a whole. And this is precisely where the conference, despite its good intentions, fell short.

The problem was not the idea. The problem was the execution.

As so often happens in Aruba, a solid concept was weakened by choices that worked against its stated objective. The conference was held over two weekdays, at the Renaissance Convention Center—a venue that signals prestige but also distance. It is not a place where ordinary citizens naturally feel invited or represented. The entrance fee of $100 for a two-day event further raised the barrier, especially for an initiative that claimed to be about inclusion and shared responsibility.

Most of the speakers were flown in from abroad—renowned figures delivering long, academic, and philosophical presentations, largely in languages other than Papiamento. While their expertise was unquestionable, the format and tone made the content inaccessible to the very people who most need to understand their role in building the common good. Unsurprisingly, attendance was limited, sessions were not full, and many participants left before the presentations ended. From what I understand, the event was not even close to being sold out.

The audience that did attend consisted mainly of government employees and professionals from the education sector. Several private companies and organizations stayed away, partly because the conference carried a clear political and ideological framing. In the end, it risked becoming what Aruba already has too many of: another government-organized event that generates photos, speeches, and good intentions—but little lasting impact.

After the conference, there was no clear follow-up mechanism, no measurable outcomes, and no structural framework to ensure continuity. One could argue that it was “a seed planted.” But Aruba’s history shows that seeds rarely grow when every change of government uproots what the previous one started. Even good ideas are often discarded simply because they belong to “the other administration.” Without legal or institutional safeguards, the common good remains vulnerable to political cycles.

Ironically, we already have many NGOs and private initiatives actively practicing the common good on a daily basis—quietly, consistently, and without conferences. What they need is support, continuity, and visibility, not another top-down event that struggles to reach the wider public.

If the goal truly was to reach the people, the approach should have been different. The government effectively controls Telearuba; the full conference could have been broadcast widely, in Papiamento, using clear and accessible language. Activities could have been decentralized—held in neighborhoods and districts, closer to everyday reality. Aruba has seen this work before. Events like Expo Cas attracted massive public participation, even at the same Renaissance venue, because they were held on weekends, marketed aggressively, and designed with the public in mind.

A month later, the question is simple: does anyone still feel the impact of the “common good” conference? Has anything concrete changed? Has a new initiative emerged that people can point to? The honest answer appears to be no.

This is not cynicism. It is realism. The idea of the common good is powerful and necessary. But ideas do not build societies—execution does. In the end, the main beneficiaries of this conference seem to have been those who gained visibility, photo opportunities, and symbolic moments. Even showing a former prime minister Aruba’s modern airport systems may make for good optics, but it does little to advance the daily experience of citizens.

Aruba deserves a genuine commitment to the common good—one that is inclusive, practical, and durable. One that produces results, not just rhetoric. A concept that bears fruit, rather than remaining a seed with potential that never quite grows.

I attended a small ceremony this week at the University of Aruba, in its packed to the gills lecture hall, the launch of a commemorative book: 40 years Status Aparte, a compilation of articles by thinkers and movers in the community. They wrote in English, Dutch & Papiamento. The book is available on sale on line for those who are interested in our recent history, in the past decades.

This is what Lincoln Gomez, who complied the book said to me, when he handed over his opening remarks:

I wanted to share a copy of the remarks I delivered last Monday at the University of Aruba for the launch of 40 Jaar Status Aparte.

It was a special evening, not just for the book, but because it gave us a chance to honor the people—the families and citizens—who actually did the work to build this country 40 years ago.

I thought the text might be useful for your coverage of the anniversary or the upcoming Royal Visit. I’ve attached it here.

A few points that might resonate with your readers:

REMARKS BY DR. LINCOLN D. GOMEZ

Occasion:        Launch of 40 Jaar Status Aparte: Tussen voortgaan en stilstaan

Location:         University of Aruba

Date:               February 2nd, 2026

Title:                40 Years: The Conviction to Choose

Good evening, dignitaries, fellow authors, friends, colleagues, and guests.

If you had asked me on December 31, 1985, where I wanted to be, I can promise you-it was not standing in a crowd, waiting for a flag to rise.

I was sixteen. It was New Year’s Eve. I was at home with my siblings and our neighbors. We were eager. We were ready. We were just waiting for the moment to light the fireworks and lose ourselves in the noise and excitement of the night.

But my mother had different plans.

She told me, “We’re going to town.” She was a journalist. It was her job to be there. She had no choice. And at that moment, neither did I.

She took me away from the neighborhood, away from the anticipation, and she brought me to witness the birth of a country. At the time, it felt like an inconvenience. Today, I know it was a gift.

She understood what I could not yet see: That history isn’t something you read in books. It is something you feel. Something you live. Something you help create.

That night, when the smoke of the fireworks cleared and that flag went up, I watched Aruba change forever. And I was alone.

My father wasn’t there, not in the crowd, but in the effort. He was one of many who gave his time, his thought, and his conviction to make Status Aparte a reality. He passed that commitment on to me, not as a lesson in politics, but as a lesson in responsibility.

Tonight, we present a book. But really, we are here to honor the shoulders we stand on.

Because Status Aparte was never the work of one man, or one movement. It was the work of a people. It was the work of leaders who dared to dream, and followers who dared to trust.

We honor those who sat at the negotiating tables when the odds were against us. We honor the governors-past and present-who stood as steady as our lighthouse at Westpunt. Who listened when voices were loud, and who provided light when the path was unclear. And we honor the thousands of citizens whose names were never recorded in a speech, but who built the foundation of this land with their daily labor.

If you served Aruba with care and conviction-whether in the spotlight or in the shadows-this night belongs to you.

It is fitting that we stand here, at the University of Aruba. I graduated from these halls as a young law student in 1997. Tonight, I return not with a student ID, but with deep gratitude. This institution is more than a building; it is the guardian of our intellectual autonomy. It is where we learned that to love a country is to understand it, to question it, and to help it grow. Thank you to my alma mater for opening these doors-for this gathering, and for what it represents.

This book began as a spark. Together, we invited voices from across the Kingdom. From different islands. From different generations. From different disciplines.

And those voices said yes.

Even in the midst of full schedules, personal setbacks, and missed deadlines-they said yes. They wrote. They rewrote. They gave their time and their hearts.

This book is not mine. It is ours. It belongs to everyone who contributed, and to every reader who will now engage with what it contains.

And in that spirit of contribution, I must thank Brechtje Huiskes. Thank you for your strength, your clarity, and your persistence. You brought order to chaos, and you made this project possible.

Earlier today, I received word that The Majesty, the King, will visit Aruba to commemorate these 40 years. What an honor. But more than that-what a validation.

It is a recognition of the path we chose. A recognition of what Aruba has achieved. And a reminder of what we can still become.

I hope his visit sparks a reflection that goes beyond the headlines. Because we must remember: When we started this journey, we didn’t have the internet. We didn’t have Google. We certainly didn’t have Artificial Intelligence.

We built this country with paper, with typewriters, and with sheer human will. We did it. You did it.

So let us embrace the tools of today-the technology, the speed, the connectivity-not to replace our will, but to strengthen it. To build an Aruba we all want. An Aruba we all need. An Aruba we all deserve.

Before I close, I want to speak to the future.

To my two sons, Gavril and Gavin, wherever you are in the world tonight: You are Aruban. This book, this history-it is a map of where you come from.

And to all the young authors, the young thinkers, and the young citizens who believe in this island: The pen is now in your hands. May you learn from the past, act in the present, and write a future that makes us proud.

We stand here not at the finish line, but at the continuation of a great journey.

Let us walk it together.  With humility.  With unity. With hope.

Masha danki.

Lincoln D. Gomez

I met Sandra Brown ten years ago at a Woman’s Day Conference, she was one of the speakers. The event took place at the Marriott Aruba Resort & Stellaris Casino, and was given by Michelle Hooyboer-Winklaar, the Minister of Education, Lifelong Learning and Family Affairs, at the time, in 2016.

Sandra gave a good talk about raising successful kids. She is an authority on the subject. As the woman who raised Xander Bogaerts, a major league baseball star of the Boston Red Sox, now the San Diego Padres.

As a social worker, she also talked passionately about CEDEHM, Centro di Desaroyo di Hende Muher, dedicated to the professional, emotional, and social wellbeing of women on this island. Conference-goers applauded wholeheartedly.

That project was bagged since with the change of government 9 years ago, but I still remember.

I caught up with Sandra again this week. I heard about her new project, Mama Brown’s Soup to Go, yes, a soup kitchen, on the main street in San Nicolas.

Last Saturday, the planets finally aligned, and we visited her in the late morning, just before the lunch rush.

Indeed, Sandra runs a soup kitchen out of a tiny store, with a takeout window facing out, almost at the end of the main street, mid redlight district.

She reports she couldn’t sit home, and knitting is not her style. She rented a vacant building, to share with her daughter. One side serves Sun Kulture, her daughter’s fashion line, selling colorful, designed in Aruba swimwear for men. The other side in a sort-of corridor, her soup operation.

She buys all ingredients, then the great cooks of the neighborhood pitch in, each making one soup a day, from a traditional menu, Pigtail soup, Lentil, Wonton, Goat, Chicken, Jampo and BullFoot soup.

The Bullfoot always sells out first.

The soups are available in three sizes Awg 10, Awg 15 and Awg 18, and may be accompanied by a fat, moist roll of funchi in silver foil. The window is open until food sells out around 2pm.

The homeless are fed for free, the ladies who cook get a little pocket money for their artistry. I saw some homeless lineup side by side with the neighborhood pensioners — the elderly, all nicely dressed. I suspect the line for soup also serves as the social hour, an opportunity to catch up with neighbors.

Sandra raised her twin sons, Xander and Jair, on her own. An uncle taught them to play baseball. They were both scouted early, and Xander went on to enjoy a career with the Boston Red sox, for ten seasons. Following the 2022 season he signed an 11-year deal with the San Diego Padres. He also represents the Netherlands national team in international competition.

We got Lentils and Chicken to go. They were hearty, flavorful, just the way Sandra described them, they put meat on your bones, brimming with real food, carrots, celery, green bananas, sweet potatoes, corn, yucca, okra, beans of all colors, all swimming in a rich broth, made from bones, no shortcuts here. The collagen is good for you, says Sandra.

Just three months after opening, Terra by Jeremy Ford at the award-winning Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort has been recognized by Forbes as one of the best places to eat in Aruba, praised as a culinary destination so exceptional it is worth planning an entire trip around. The recognition by renowned global dining journalist Lanee Lee for the prestigious international media outlet places Terra at the forefront of Aruba’s evolving culinary scene and further cements Bucuti & Tara’s role in elevating the island onto the global stage.

A dining experience worth planning a trip around

Forbes declares Terra “the island’s most talked-about dining room,” hailing it as the new benchmark in Caribbean fine dining. According to the outlet, Terra distinguishes itself through its refined approach to modern cuisine and its ability to translate Aruba’s flavors into a globally relevant fine dining experience. Helmed by Chef Jeremy Ford, of Michelin Star and Michelin Green Star fame with his restaurant Stuboorn Seed in Miami, together with local culinary forces Jeanclaude Werleman and Moises Ramirez and their talented Aruban team, Terra delivers a modern culinary journey where seasonal ingredients sourced from land and sea and bold flavor combinations showcase precision, creativity, and a deep respect for and collaboration with Aruba’s farmers, fishermen, and chefs.

Guests are invited to choose between a thoughtfully composed tasting journey or an inventive à la carte experience, each designed to deliver a sense of discovery and anticipation that contributes to Terra’s reputation as a reservation worth pursuing.

A fusion of intimacy, exclusivity and craftsmanship

Terra’s deeply immersive setting and carefully paced service are central to its appeal, where diners easily slip away from the outside world. The intimate dining room basks diners in Aruba’s cherished golden hour lighting. Handcrafted interiors and natural textures create a setting that feels personal, immersive and rare. Staff are exceptionally knowledgeable and extend their family feel as they invite diners on a culinary journey that transcends from meal to life-long memory. Every detail from menu composition to presentation is intentional, reinforcing why Forbes describes Terra as a coveted experience rather than simply a place to dine.

This balance of artistry and soul has quickly elevated Terra into one of the most talked-about restaurants in Aruba.

Shared stewardship

Forbes notes that Terra “sits inside the ultra-eco-conscious Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort,” a placement that is both deliberate and deeply aligned. Terra by Jeremy Ford was selected as the ideal culinary counterpart to the Caribbean’s most eco-certified resort, whose uncompromising commitment to sustainability, world-class luxury, and award-winning service has earned it the distinction of being ranked the #1 hotel in the Caribbean and #5 in the world on TripAdvisor. From responsible sourcing to meticulous execution, Terra mirrors Bucuti & Tara’s action-driven stewardship ethos — a philosophy that has also made the resort the only hotel globally to receive the United Nations’ most prestigious Global UN Climate Action Award.

Together, the resort and restaurant exemplify how environmental leadership, impeccable service, and elevated experiences can coexist at the highest level of luxury hospitality.

“Aruba is quietly turning into the Caribbean’s culinary overachiever”

This Forbes recognition underscores Aruba’s growing reputation as a serious food destination while further solidifying Bucuti & Tara’s global leadership in shaping elevated travel experiences. Terra stands as a defining moment for the island’s dining scene and a benchmark for culinary excellence in the Caribbean.

To experience the adults-only Terra by Jeremy Ford, reservations can be made online. Read the full Forbes Article. Learn more about Terra by visiting terraaruba.com and the resort by visiting Bucuti.com.

Stimami Sterilisami marked another year of significant impact, continuing its unwavering mission to reduce animal suffering in Aruba through sterilization. In 2025 alone, the foundation successfully funded the spaying and neutering of 6,405 dogs and cats, a powerful achievement that brings the organization’s total number of sterilizations since 2016 to 46,352.

The 2025 milestone was reached through a collective effort, resulting in the following breakdown of surgeries:

These are not just numbers; they represent lives changed, suffering prevented, and a safer, healthier future for animals, our community, and public health.

Gratitude to Our Donors and Partners That Make This Possible Our heartfelt thank you goes out to our donors and volunteers who support our mission, including Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, Tourism Product Enhancement Fund (TPEF), Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA), One Love Foundation Inc., Setar N.V., Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association (AHATA), and every organization and private donor who has supported this mission in 2025 and the years before. Your belief in prevention, compassion, and responsibility makes this meaningful work possible.

“We are also profoundly grateful to the partners who made this impact possible, including our dedicated veterinary clinics, VSH Veterinary Specialty Hospital and Caduary Veterinary Clinic, whose collaboration with Luna Foundation has been instrumental. We are also grateful for our partnership with the Animal Welfare Alliance Aruba (AWAA), a no-cost spay and neuter clinic dedicated to helping cats and dogs of low-income families. In total, AWAA performed 4,687 surgeries in 2025, of which 1,322 were subsidized by Stimami Sterilisami.

We further thank the rescue organizations that worked tirelessly to bring animals to the clinics, and the Aruban community and pet owners who chose to spay and neuter their pets, protecting their health and preventing unwanted litters.

We are also grateful to partner with and support the Snoop Doggy Foundation, whose educational books on responsible pet ownership help inspire the next generation to care for animals with compassion, responsibility, and respect.”

A Proven, Humane Program Aruba Cannot Afford to Stop The impact of sterilization is cumulative, and the risk of overpopulation grows rapidly if the work stops. In Aruba’s year-round breeding climate, even one unsterilized animal can lead to exponential population growth. In just six years, one unspayed female cat and her offspring can produce over 11 million kittens, while a single unsterilized dog can result in more than 67,000 offspring. These figures clearly show how quickly overpopulation can spiral out of control without timely and widespread

intervention.

Without sustained sterilization efforts, thousands of new litters would be born each year, overwhelming shelters and rescue organizations, increasing animal suffering, and negatively impacting our community and Aruba’s tourism-driven economy.

While stronger laws, enforcement, and responsible pet ownership are essential, animal overpopulation is largely a prevention challenge. Sterilization remains the most effective, compassionate, and sustainable solution within our control to reduce suffering, protect public health and the environment, and safeguard the well-being of our community.

Keeping Sterilization Free and Accessible in 2026 In 2026, Stimami Sterilisami is proud to confirm that sterilization procedures within its national program will remain 100% free, ensuring that sterilization remains accessible in every corner of the community. As always, our subsidy at qualifying vets VSH Veterinary Specialty Hospital and Caduary Veterinary Clinic include antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medication, anesthesia, and a complimentary microchip with professional installation.

To register your pet for our subsidy, please visit www.stimamisterilisami.com and follow the instructions.

With your continued support, we are committed to making 2026 another groundbreaking year in our efforts to promote animal welfare in Aruba. Join us in this noble cause.

For more information or to contribute, visit www.stimamisterilisami.com.

About Stimami Sterilisami Foundation

Stimami Sterilisami is a non-profit organization dedicated to humanely and effectively reducing the number of abandoned dogs and cats in Aruba through its national spay and neuter program. Every donation is used to cover the costs of spaying and neutering of dogs and cats for individual pet owners and rescue organizations, including Luna Foundation, AWAA, Nine Lives Foundation, and many others. Our books are audited and open to the public. To contribute to this important cause, you can make a direct contribution to Stimami Sterilisami Foundation via bank transfer:

Bank: Aruba Bank

Account Number: 6012630190

Account Name: FUNDASHON STIMAMI STERILISAMI

Swift Code: ARUBAWAX