Member of Parliament Otami Thomasia was 100% right, when she eloquently condemned the use of blackface at the Sinterklaas arrival, last weekend — a much-loved public event attended by a multitude of children and their parents. She was met with an avalanche of verbal abuse, nasty personal attacks, and commentary of the lowest level of discourse — bigoted, narrow-minded and prejudiced, from media personalities and listeners. Apparently in an online survey of locals, 3,900 people who voted were pro blackface, and just 590 against.

The public is ignorant and must be educated. That is the media’s job!

Personally, I thought we transitioned. In 2023 all Pieten had multicolored faces and looked adorable, then in 2024 there was a mix and this year, blackface was back again. Why? What motivated you to overrule a good decision from 2023, by the earlier minister of culture. You must have noticed that in the Netherlands, most Pieten had soot smudged on their face, reportedly from delivering toys down a chimney, not a blackface in sight.

I thought we all agreed that blackface is a symbol of racism, and mockery — many people find it offensive, especially when public funds are used to promote it.

Tradition is NOT a good enough excuse. They used to bind girls’ feet in China to cripple them, so feet remain small, in the name of tradition. I read that in 2026 fireworks will be banned in protection of domestic animals.  Even in a traditional institution like marriage, you do not ‘give away the bride’ anymore and the obey part, was removed from the ‘love and cherish.’

Times change. In churches around Aruba mass is celebrated in Papiamento, and they do not burn widows anymore in India, on their deceased husband’s pyre. I can give you a lot of examples where change was adopted despite the notion that we must hold on to traditions. Some traditions are worth ditching, NOT worth holding on to. Blackface is NOT worth holding on to.

Firestorm

As expected, a fire storm broke out with the Salary Cap Forgiveness, and big protests are on. According to BonDia Aruba, several entities, such as Central Bank, APFA, Stichting Ziekenverpleging Aruba (SZA) and Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA) are seeking to have their case also recognized and denial by the government will result in a court case. While it is difficult to predict how each case will unfold, it is clear the government CANNOT use the following argument: The comparison of size and scale of the operation that a director or CEO manages in Aruba, compared to overseas companies, because it did not matter in the case of the airport CEO, he was granted compensation on par with the BIG boys.

This will work in favor of the local entities in court. It set up a precedent.

One of my friends reminded me that some of those state-owned companies are not running optimally, they waste public funds and underserve their clients. Their CEOs should not merit the big bucks.

And while we are talking about big bucks, we should question the need for THREE companies, that are in fact just ONE. Why does Aruba have Elmar, Web and Utilities, three CEOs, three top heavy organizations when in reality it is just WEB.

Last week the Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs and Primary Sector, Geoffrey Wever, met with the board members of Free Zone Aruba N.V. (FZA).

Last year the organization removed its director, and the business has been run by a committee since them, with attorney Patrick Brown at the helm

They reorganized, and are showing an increase in revenue, of 400 thousand (27.5%) compared to 2023. This was seen as a turn around. A positive development.

But in actuality it is probably just the savings from the director’s salary, which reinforces my suggestion to give up TWO of the THREE companies mentioned previously. The savings will be substantial.

Botica di Servicio is proud to announce the successful completion of the 8th Annual Diabetes Run & Walk 2025, which took place this past Sunday under beautiful, sunny skies. This year, the event reached full capacity with 1.500 participants, including several runners who flew in from abroad to join the cause, making it its largest and most diverse turnout to date.

Runners and walkers from Aruba and beyond came together to support the fight against diabetes. This cause remains deeply significant, as the prevalence of the condition in Aruba is nearly double the global average. The atmosphere was filled with energy, positivity, and community pride as participants completed the course in solidarity with those affected by diabetes.

This year’s event raised AWG 17.500, which will be donated to Jump18 for the third consecutive year. The funds will support their ongoing cohort program that guides children living with obesity or at risk of developing diabetes. Led by Dr. Busari and his team, the program provides practical workshops and long-term lifestyle support to help children and their families adopt healthier habits.

Botica di Servicio extends heartfelt thanks to all participants, volunteers, sponsors, and partners—CMB, Punta Brabo Diagnostics, Subway, and longtime partner Patrishi Sports Aruba, who supported the event with timing services and logistics management.

We look forward to welcoming everyone again next year for another inspiring edition of the Diabetes Run & Walk.

Click the link to check out more from our amazing event: Diabetes Run 2025

A.T.A. ta sigui utiliza e plataforma Lighthouse pa monitorea y analiza e sector di STVR. Si compara october 2025 cu october 2024, e nivel di ocupacion promedio a subi pa 53%. E ADR (Average Daily Rate) pa october 2025 ta USD $288, mientras cu ingreso total YTD te cu october 2025 ta USD $23.4 miyon, compara cu USD $17.5 miyon na october 2024.

From a friend: While the numbers prove outstanding performance, I find that lately the subject of STVR is covered negatively, and the industry is being blamed for every issue we have.  There is much positive about it, behind many of the island’s vacation rentals stands an Aruban family making a living, and we always wish for more interaction between locals and visitors, which is our secret sauce.

Alex Cybul on Vacation Rentals

When we talk about the increase in alternative accommodations, the first thing to understand is that this is part of a global trend. Travelers today want options. They want more space, they want to stay in neighborhoods, and they want a more personal and authentic experience. Aruba isn’t an exception. We are simply responding to what modern travelers are looking for.

What often gets overlooked is how positive this shift has been for the island. More than half of these accommodations are owned by locals, so when visitors choose them, the money flows directly to Aruban families. It helps people pay their mortgages, maintain their homes, invest in their futures, and stay financially secure.

We are also seeing tourism reach parts of Aruba that never used to be touched by the traditional hotel flow. Restaurants like Kamini’s, Huchada, and Urataka Center, which locals have always loved, are now welcoming international visitors as well. This spreads the economic benefits far beyond the hotel corridor and into communities across the island.

Another important outcome is the growth of local entrepreneurship. The rise of vacation rentals has created demand for cleaning companies, pool and garden services, construction and maintenance teams, private chefs, bartenders, massage therapists, and many other service providers. We are also seeing more locally owned tours and experiences thrive. In the past, only a few larger companies had access through partnerships with resorts. Now visitors are connecting with small, authentic, Aruban-run experiences.

We in the vacation rental industry believe that Aruba should embrace this trend instead of using it as a scapegoat for issues that are unrelated. This sector is not the cause of the island’s broader challenges. On the contrary, it is contributing to economic growth, job creation, and new opportunities for local families.

It is also worth noting that Aruba is seen by major platforms as a leader in the region because of the high quality and impressive number of Super Hosts on the island. That recognition reflects the professionalism, dedication, and hospitality of our local community.

And something people forget that this is not about one type of traveler versus another. Many guests choose both hotels and vacation rentals depending on the occasion. The same person might stay at a hotel for a short business trip and choose a vacation rental when traveling with family. It is simply about offering the right fit for as many people as possible, so Aruba remains competitive and welcoming to all kinds of visitors.

Of course, we support regulation and compliance. That is necessary. But those regulations should come from real data, not assumptions or fear. We need policies that reflect how the market truly works, policies that support a balanced and informed approach.

In the end, this is not about hotels versus vacation rentals. It is about keeping Aruba’s tourism strong, diverse, and beneficial for the entire community.

Despite a negative article published not long ago by AweMainta, AHATA is all for choice and options, AHATA says the following: Vacation Rental (STR) is as important a segment of the accommodation sector, as hotels and timeshares.

After agreeing one the importance of choice and options it continues: In Aruba, accommodation at the vacation rental segment has grown by 70% since 2018 ……The vacation rental segment has low tax compliance and lacks regulation enforcement. Clear Short Term Vacation Rental regulation, registration, and enforcement of regulation is needed to ensure safety of our visitors and residents, and tax compliance by all. All businesses need to follow the law, including acquiring needed business permits and hotel or lodging licenses, and comply with taxes. To operate a hotel or vacation rental, an appropriate lease land (erfpacht) needs to be acquired from the government, and the location needs to comply with zoning laws.

A single sheet document found its way into my inbox this week. It told us that GOA has approved an exception to the standard salary cap for top officials, specifically for the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Aruba Airport Authority N.V.

For the past years, the CEO of AAA has been nominated by the company’s strategic partner, Royal Schiphol Group. And it is clear to all of us that this is a crucial cooperation, ensuring operational continuity at the airport, our most important gateway.

To run such a complex operation we must retain essential expertise, safeguarding Aruba’s international aviation position.

Bottom line, this hired gun, running the show at AAA must be paid generously, on par with the industry, with housing, insurance, travel, all standard benefits plus salary.

BUT…. a few years ago a standard rule was set, namely the LNT, Landsverordening normering topinkomens, the National Ordinance on Standardization of Top Incomes that decreed the salaries of all directors of state-owned companies are capped, at the 1.7 level of Aruba’s Prime Minister, just slightly above Awg 600,000.

In all fairness, this thing must be changed for all managers holding complex and crucial roles in our economy.

In the airport’s case, there was a deadline. If GOA did not grant preferential treatment to the airport CEO, Schiphol would ditch the partnership.

GOA dragged its heels, because granting preferential treatment to imported talent, over local talent has unpleasant political implication.

So they waited and waited, almost ruined the island’s economy, delaying the decision on salary cap forgiveness, and finally with their backs against the wall agreed to make an exception because a higher salary is necessary.

Aruba Airport Authority N.V. was finally authorized to agree on a salary of Awg 1,089,396 for its CEO, as an exception to the standard rules set in the LTN.

GOA agreed that in this case it was justified by the unique and exceptional circumstances of the strategic partnership with Schiphol.

My sources imply the tension between the Minister of Public Transport, AVP, and the minister of Finance, FUTUTO, only added to the powerplay, with Aruba’s Prime Minister lacking a sense of urgency, thus important decisions are held up.

Late the Minister of Finance came out with a declaration that GOA granted special permission to pay the airport CEO a higher salary than normally allowed, to preserve a vital partnership with Schiphol Group and ensure the airport’s stability.

This will not sit well with the local troops, not fair. Stay tuned.

Bar 25 is a restaurant and cocktail lounge in Newburyport MA, serving middle eastern and Mediterranean cuisine paired with a sophisticated list of new age and prohibition era cocktails, in an ambiance to match. As described by one of the patrons: A modernized roaring-twenties speakeasy vibe.

It is co-owned by Rezā Rahmani, a well-known and successful restaurateur, based in New England, who is involved is quite a number of other stylish F&B locations, in this very upscale, sophisticated and historic corner of the world — a kind of place everyone wants to move to.

Exactly like Aruba, in that respect.

Rezā visited here a number of times, drank our water, had a pastechi and fell helplessly in love. He decided to import Bar25, from Newburyport to Aruba as a unique Craft Mediterranean fun spot. He found just the right place, in Noord, at the Racquet Club, and celebrated the opening of Bar25, Aruba, on Saturday, with a great number of locals and visitors. We noted some of his friends/clients, from back home, who came especially for the opening, first-timers in Aruba.

Helping him navigated the choppy waters of permits and licenses, our good friend Mo Bagheri, former F&B Director of La Cabana Beach Resort, later Managing Director of Smokey Joe’s and Iguana Joe’s restaurants, Iguana Cantina. Mo, famous for his creativity, and people skills, helped make the dream come true. He hired some cool staffers, I noticed familiar face.

Mo says it’s the most spectacular bar on the island with the best drinks, an amazing chef and terrace seating overlooking the tennis courts. Nice opening party, we will drop in for a cocktail or two, your culinary artistry, warm interaction and hospitality.