As seen on #DJISPAINFORMA: Seguridad di alimentacion ta cuminsa cu sanacion di nos pueblo. A visit with Petite Greens Aruba and Lorraine Cooijman V/D Bogaert.

You know that the popular Djis pa Hari platform often deals with serious issues. This time it took on food. The segment on their platform told the story of a cunukero with a different point of view.

Lorrain is proposing that Aruba’s food and agricultural policy should start with understanding people’s relationship with food—not simply deciding which crops to grow.

She would like to take many aspects into consideration:

If people heal emotionally, their eating habits could change, she says. This is a collective process of healing that would lead people to eat differently—perhaps less processed, imported, and unhealthy food, and more food that genuinely nourishes the body.

The vision entails a stronger farm-to-table movement, while the ultimate goal is an Aruba where local agriculture supplies both residents and the hospitality industry, while chefs get unique, locally grown ingredients that raise Aruba’s culinary reputation.

For it to happen we must examine the issue on a philosophical/psychological level: Why we eat what we eat? We must also debate: What should Aruba grow, for whom, and how can farmers make a living from it? Which is both an economic and an agricultural question.

Of course the first part is speculative, there is not necessarily evidence that Aruba’s food-import problem is primarily caused by collective trauma or that healing would dramatically reduce food consumption.

But it is safe to say that with all the social and mental issues on the island people do use food to calm their nerves, lower their anxiety and sooth their worries.

The debatable question contains a more practical agricultural idea: rather than trying to produce everything locally, Aruba could identify high-value foods that local farmers can grow profitably and that restaurants and hotels are willing to buy.

Overall, grow what Aruba’s people genuinely need to eat, but also grow high-value specialty ingredients that Aruba’s chefs and hotels will pay a premium for. Use those niche crops to make farming economically viable, give farmers access to more land, and water, and gradually build a local farm-to-table economy.

This moves the conversation from FOOD SECURITY to FOOD CULTURE + HEALTH + AGRICULTURE + ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

(Last week dragon fruit, one, was Awg 19 in the supermarket. I got three pitaya saplings from a girlfriend, I am planning to plant them, I am a cactophile — love cactus)

The Public Prosecution Service announced that it concluded the case against M.E de Meza and his wife, after an accepted settlement, and the criminal case against the couple, has been dropped. Both defendants have accepted and paid a settlement, Awg 2,500 each, thereby preventing criminal prosecution.

During the post-election screening to become a minister, the De Mezas became suspect of violating certain articles of the General National Tax Ordinance. According to the Public Prosecution Service, they intentionally provided incorrect and incomplete information multiple times in their income tax returns between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2021.

They claimed it was an error.

A first hearing with the Public Prosecution Service in this case took place on June 10, 2026. The De Mezas were offered the possibility of avoiding prosecution by paying a sum of money, Awg 5,000 each. The defendants did not accept this proposal at the time, but after a second hearing on August 7, 2026, the Public Prosecutor’s Office set a lower amount of money as a condition for avoiding criminal prosecution. Both suspects accepted this offer and paid the amounts on August 11, 2026.  With the payment of the transaction, the case is now definitively closed.

I collected some opinions from people in the know:

EXPERT I: The Tax Department played a central role at the beginning of this story. Its findings during the screening to become a minister, became part of an integrity process with significant political consequences.

So what does the Tax Department think now?

Does it stand completely behind how the matter was handled?

Does it believe the integrity screening worked exactly as intended?

Were there any lessons learned from the De Meza affair

Were there lessons learned?

Would it handle the same situation exactly the same way tomorrow?

Those questions are not accusations.

They are the questions we should routinely ask public institutions after an exceptional case tests the system.

It is difficult to determine if the Tax Inspector overstepped its role, this time. The Tax Department is silent or telling us they just did their job.

But in this case, that defense is not enough.

Note that, the prosecution withdrew the summonses and announced that the criminal case was definitively concluded. It also reduced the amount payable by half. Thus, understandably, both sides describe the outcome differently.

De Meza and his defense team emphasize that the transaction contains no admission of guilt and that there has been no conviction.

The prosecution, meanwhile, stated publicly that it proceeded on the basis that it considered the criminal case provable and that the lower transaction resulted from specific case-and person-related circumstances.

There will now be no trial and therefore no judicial determination of guilt.

EXPERT II: De Meza performed his victory round at radio stations granting extensive interviews insinuating the criminal prosecution was politically motivated. He did not name names, but social media positioned the former minister of finance, as a possible troublemaker and talked about her long-standing relationship with the Tax Department, in her role as a former minister pulling the purse strings. De Meza explained to anyone who wanted to listen that the island must introduce watchdogs, to watch over the gate keepers, to prevent future similar accusations from being sprung on innocent individuals.  It was just an error. He checked a box on his tax return that was incorrect.

EXPERT III: The current minister of Finance and Economic Development did a good job defending the island’s institutions, which was correct and ethical, to prevent the erosion of public trust in our system, which de Meza did his best to shake. The island’s Tax Department, and the Tax Inspector did their job based on the screening law.  One cannot blame the Tax Inspector. In our system one cannot and shouldn’t blame the one who presses charges. It’s a process and trying to blame the former minister is trash-talking, just conspiracy-theorists running their mouth. Based on the island’s screening law, the Tax Inspector had to submit. Screening was her job. Not the criminal accusation, necessarily. The accusation came later, on top of the negative screening. It is worth noting that the “formador,” has the option to ignore the screening outcome, except, in a criminal case.

EXPERT IV: I disagree. A bit. The Tax Inspector submitted the “klacht”.  That was her choice. She decided. The only issue we all agree on is the length of time it takes the Public Prosecution Service to resolve anything. Why isn’t there more outrage when the Public Prosecutor takes this long? That’s a real issue. Even after the court case where they tried to speed up the process – and the verdict comments about that too. It took over one and a half year, much fanfare, anticlimactic results,

To become a minister De Meza must undergo a complete new screening process, and one  minister must step down.

Borrowing – A state that borrows and consumes can only ever repay its debts by borrowing again.

https://batibleki.wheninaruba.com/borrowing-a-state-that-borrows-and-consumes-can-only-ever-repay-its-debts-by-borrowing-again/

Two new books by historian Dufi Kock

https://batibleki.wheninaruba.com/two-new-books-by-historian-dufi-kock/

Investors are increasing pressure.

https://batibleki.wheninaruba.com/investors-are-increasing-pressure/

Back in Aruba after 18 years, Executive Chef Frank Uphoff

https://batibleki.wheninaruba.com/back-in-aruba-after-18-years-executive-chef-frank-uphoff/

Forum on the Future of San Nicolas by Suzette Dumfries

https://batibleki.wheninaruba.com/forum-on-the-future-of-san-nicolas-by-suzette-dumfries/

The next wave of Dutch Caribbean innovation is here!

https://batibleki.wheninaruba.com/the-next-wave-of-dutch-caribbean-innovation-is-here/

Aruba Wastewater Sustainable Solutions (AWSS) would like to announce that starting August 17, 2026, AWSS will begin a 10-day preventive maintenance program on the main equipment (the aeration system with diffusers) responsible for treating blackwater.

These preventive tasks are essential to maintaining the high reliability, safety, and efficiency of the blackwater treatment process. AWSS assures that normal plant operations will continue without interruption during the maintenance period. However, during this time, there may be temporary odor disturbances in the area surrounding the Bubali plant.

AWSS reassures both the community and the commercial sector that all necessary measures are being taken to minimize any inconvenience. This type of temporary discomfort is normal during operations of this nature and poses no risk to public health.

“We thank our community and commercial sector in advance for their patience and understanding while we complete these important works,” stated the AWSS management board. “Performing this preventive maintenance ahead of the high tourist season allows us to ensure high-quality and sustainable wastewater treatment services for Aruba.”

The work is expected to be completed by August 27, 2026.

A successful Kingdom Startup Program wrapped up this week and preparations are in full swing for next year’s edition. The Kingdom Startup Program was a six-week entrepreneurship program bringing together university students from Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten to develop innovative solutions for challenges and opportunities across the Dutch Caribbean.

Through workshops, mentorship, customer discovery, and real-world experimentation, participants learn how to transform ideas into validated ventures while developing entrepreneurial skills that prepare them to create lasting impact.

Admission was free, for entrepreneurs, students, professionals, investors, policymakers, educators, or individuals curious about innovation. At the end of the six weeks the finalists were presented at an evening at the University of Aruba.

The showdown at University of Aruba featured five teams, they each got three minutes to pitch their project then a jury deliberated and awarded prizes to the top three contenders.

Waste2Wall won first prize, a group of students from Curacao, they were rewarded with $3,000 for attempting to turn local waste into strong foundations by manufacturing blocks, pavers, and curbstones changing the way construction is carried out while reducing waste. Their presentation was the most complete, quoting sources and market opportunities. It was the best thought-out pitch.

The second-place winner, KIMA, from Aruba, made a charcoal briquette alternative from coconut shells and coffee grinds. The students were trying to replace the imported charcoal bought in stores with KIMA charcoal. They walked away with $2,000 toward further development of their idea, and a promise from Aruba Wine & Dine CEO, a member of the Jury, to support them in their quest and involve his company’s chefs in evaluating their product and improving the BTU per pound, the briquette’s heating value, and the temperature output.

The third-place winner, was picked as a special mention by the jury, DRS Solutions from Sint Maarten. They deserved encouragement, and $1,000, for their idea of making building materials from the offensive sargassum seaweed that is choking the beaches and disrupting tourism. The sargassum seaweed challenges many countries, and attempts are being made to turn it into fertilizer, biogas, building blocks, and any useful commercial products.

Two more teams presented half-baked idea, or maybe I just did not get them, one idea from Sint Maarten focused on free solar panels as a solution for families struggling to pay their electric bills, a noble idea, that would require sponsors with very deep pockets, and another startup, Impact Action Hub, that had the good idea to connect young talent with potential employers even before graduation. The idea is solid, but it still needs to be worked out. No CEO would hand over his company to an inexperienced student, no matter how smart. But the idea of involving students in business early, is a winner.

The audience enjoyed the energy of all participants from the Dutch Caribbean islands, and the fact that they grew together in their entrepreneurial journey. They were full of exuberant youthfulness and pizzazz. Most importantly, university students from Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten were exposed to the idea of being their own boss, self-supported, and living off their innovations.