Summer vacation found me at the Salento peninsula, in the south of Italy, at the heel of the boot, a region called Puglia, with 800km of beaches, historic town center, olive groves and mostly elderly people.

As you know some Italian vacation destinations are over popular, but the south is perfect, sleepy, unhurried, still semi-discovered, nothing plastic fantastic and everything to do with food and drink perfect.

Friends who lived in Aruba are now quasi-retired in Puglia. They got there by accident and decided to stay. They are among my favorite people, and friends like that is smart to keep. They put their lives on hold to tour, wine and dine me!

Europe has been suffering from a heatwave, all activities had to come to a standstill at 11am and resume at 5pm. Because there is still light outside at 9pm, the heat did not take away from the vacation experience. On the contrary, the extended three-hour siestas, in air-conditioning, made my trip even better, and most homes and businesses in the south of Italy are air-conditioned.

Just like the south of Portugal and Spain, the south of Italy has been emptied of young people, in past decades. They moved all over the world in search of jobs, leaving the elderly behind.

This will sound familiar. Many of the small towns in the region are now enjoying a resurgence with Europeans and Americans buying the abandoned, down on its heels real estate at reasonable prices and making the investment to upgrade and update the old mansions.

(Just like the Malmok area, in Aruba.)

Everything grows in Puglia, tall palm trees, figs, almonds, cypresses, cacti of all kinds, giant size lemons, all dwarfed by the picturesque umbrella pines, with the easily recognizable flat canopy. Not all olive groves look perfect. They have been suffering from a deadly bacterial disease, and locals have been burning those afflicted, while launching reforestation efforts to replace the estimated 20 million trees gone, since 2013. Driving around the beautiful, extremely flat, countryside, many dead and charred trunks and severely damaged trees are visible. I saw a 60-minute episode on the subject, but looking at it with my own eyes is sad, as olive trees usually get to celebrate hundreds of birthdays, and they have been feeding communities around Puglia, with their quality olive oil, for at least one thousand years.

(The epidemic reminded me of the red palm weevil invasion a few years ago, also introduced here through imported ornamental plants. I lost a few palms at the time.)

I was headquartered at my friends’ apartment in Nardo, an unrushed town with a gorgeous 15th century historic city center, moat, ancient walls, citadel, palaces, churches, and towers included – just like Puerto Rico or Cartagena, only in Puglia, every little town is graced with Baroque architecture, elegant piazzas and winding little streets. Also laundry, hanging out to dry, across balconies.

If you are in search of an authentic Italian atmosphere, head to Nardo. Other picturesque towns are within 20-25 km, and both Santa Caterina and San Maria al Bagno beaches have nice facilities including lounge chairs for rent, and bartenders mixing Campari or Aperol spritzes. The water is lovely, cold, and deep blue.

These beach areas, called Lido-, dot both the Adriatic and the Ionian side of the peninsula, guarded by a series of Torres, coastal towers, built in the 16th and 17th century as watchtowers and defensive structures against raids by the Ottoman Turks, and North African pirates. We had dinner at a seaside restaurant at Torre Sant’ Isidoro, most of the fresh seafood is served raw, mussels, langoustines, fish, just sprinkled with lemon. It’s an experience.

And talking about restaurants. Dinner is served from 7:30/8pm, not a minute earlier. The pasta typical to the region, Orecchiette, translates into little ears, and Cavatelli, little hollow pipes, is served everywhere. I was introduced to handmade ears at the Circle of Gluttons, Il Girone de Igolosi trattoria. Dinner for three with wine, 100Euro.

I landed in Brindisi, a coastal town with a decent airport. Never made it to famous Bari but enjoyed Lecce, 13k residents, a must visit, with an incredibly charming city center, filled with bars, restaurants, fashion stores, art galleries, Baroque churches and palaces, a roman amphitheater, and tall city walls. White limestone is the prevalent building material. The effect of the stone is dazzling, as the facades, ornate balconies, columns, secret courtyards, archways, figurines, and holy statues glimmer golden in the heat.

From 5pm on, the streets are hopping, residents venture out en mass. They have been cooped up at home all day, it’s their time to stroll, sip and smoke, just hanging around — Dolce Far Niente. The Piazzas become living rooms, with locals enjoying their lives over aperitivos. They speak Italian, very little English, they understand Spanish, and in some areas a Greek dialect, Griko, is common, as well as Greek inspired food and architecture.

Two totally discovered seaside towns, Gallipoli on the east coast, kissing the Adriatic Sea, and Otranto on the west coast, overlooking the Ionian Sea, with Albania in the distance, are must visits. I had a most memorable fig ice-cream at Otranto and a perfect Aperol Spritz at sunset in Gallipoli, on an island off the island, with tiny mid ocean islands, and a lighthouse, as my view.

We visited sleepy Martano, with just 9K residents. The elderly were sitting with their walkers along the tree lined boulevard in small groups, men and women separated – men discussing futball, ladies, ailments?! Three empty cafes in the Piazza offered coffee, lemon or mint granita, and gelato. They expected to be full later in the evening, they were preparing a music program, lining white plastic chairs, on the piazza.

At Monteroni di Lecce we visited an old mansion, bought by my friends, pending renovation. A wow. This will be a complex yet amazing project. It’s a three-level beauty, with original floor tiles and the signature star vaulted ceiling, constructed stone by stone. The exposed bricks are the style of building in the area, reflecting 18th century architectural heritage. The property with an enchanting overgrown garden will become a vacation rental, and the permanent residence of my friends. I am so looking forward to visit.

Meanwhile you may rent their Lecce apartment, Casa Dolce Far Niente Lecce, on Airbnb.

Nearly 300 entrepreneurs, government representatives, professionals and other stakeholders gathered during the Aruba Chamber Business Event 2026, which took place last Saturday in the ballroom of The St. Regis Aruba Resort. The starting point was the fundamental challenge that Aruba faces: how can we continue to create prosperity without losing the qualities that have made our island unique?

With the theme “Beyond Tourism: Building Aruba’s Next Economy – From Volume to Value. From Dependence to Diversification”, the event opened dialogue and focused on how Aruba can increase the value that tourism creates, protecting quality of life, nature and its unique character. In his opening speech, Chairman of the Board of Directors of KvK, Diederik Kemmerling, emphasized that Aruba has reached a decisive point. Tourism has contributed enormously to Aruba’s prosperity, but the next step requires difficult decisions and a shared vision for the development of our economy.

The two speakers were Tony van Veen, entrepreneur who grew up in Aruba and is currently CEO of DIY Media Group in the United States and Miles Mercera, CEO of CINEX Curaçao. According to the speakers, Aruba has achieved extraordinary success thanks to tourism, but precisely the same success is now a growing pressure on infrastructure, traffic, nature, housing and more importantly, on the unique experience that residents and visitors have always associated with Aruba. He referred to a shift from growth based primarily on number of visitors to a model that emphasizes quality, sustainability and added value. Aruba has the opportunity to use the success of tourism as an engine to build a more resilient and less dependent economy on a single sector.

The recommendations of the speakers were a management with more control of tourism growth, limit cruise tourism to a maximum of one ship per day, reconsider permits for new hotels and review approved projects that have not yet started construction, register, regulate and limit the expansion of short-term rentals such as Airbnb. Also, to protect the tourism product itself, it was proposed to introduce an Environmental Impact Tax for activities that have a negative impact on nature and public space, following the principle that the one that causes damage also contributes to the cost of protection. On the issue of housing, a two-tier transfer tax system has been proposed, with a more favorable rate for residents and local families, while non-resident buyers and commercial investors will contribute with a higher rate. The goal should be to keep housing more affordable for locals. Create an Aruba Future Fund, where a fixed percentage of tourism-related taxes will be automatically reserved to invest in economic diversification, housing and local entrepreneurship. He also stressed the importance of investing in fintech, digital economy and the creative and cultural industries, simplifying the process of starting a business, expanding access to micro-finance and incorporating financial literacy, digital and artificial intelligence into the education system. Economic success should not be measured exclusively by GDP growth, but also by indicators that reflect well-being, quality of life and opportunities for the community. Emphasis was also placed on structural collaboration between Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao to strengthen regional competitiveness.

Entertainment the local artist, Elvis Tromp, illustrated live on a canvas the Aruba of today and a transformation and diversification of our economy. The young Phillip-Johnson Martinus, student and also Youth Minister of Culture of Youth Parliament gave an explanation on the painting via a poem.

Panelists were Omar-Steve Lejuez (Privada Stays), Vincent van Rutten (Sentoo) and Humphrey “Fito” Croes (Cas Bon Group) and Gavril Mansur acted as moderator and master of ceremonies. Each of the panelists brought a practical perspective from their own sector. During the conversation it became clear that the transition to a more sustainable economic model is not an exclusive responsibility of government, but also of the private sector. It focused on housing construction for local families, which is an investment in Aruba’s economic and social stability. International models can also be considered where hotel developers also share responsibility for the impact that tourism development has on the housing market. The right to develop large projects can also be accompanied by a certain social responsibility. In any future regulation of short-term rentals a clear distinction must be made between the local owner who generates additional income and the commercial operators who manage many properties.

Although different opinions were shared, there was a broad consensus that Aruba has reached a decisive moment, where tourism, housing, infrastructure, sustainability and quality of life cannot be considered as separate issues, but as part of and the vision for the future.

KvK would like to thank all speakers, panelists, moderator/MC, other participants, the main sponsor CMB and the co-sponsors Aruba Tourism Authority, AFAS Software, Aruba Airport Authority, Setar and Ennia.

With this event, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry wishes to stimulate dialogue on the future of tourism and the next phase of economic development of Aruba. The event touched on an important topic for Aruba and KvK expresses its desire to continue facilitating this dialogue in collaboration with the private sector, government and community.

Aruba, June 29, 2026

Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KvK)

We repeated the performance for the main course ordering Lamb Lollipop, served with mint garlic aioli, roasted chickpeas, asparagus and cous cous salad; Braised Short Rib al Vino Tinto, slow-braised beef short rib in a rich red wine au jus, served with patatas bravas and grilled asparagus and Grilled Spanish Beef Steak, char-grilled beef steak topped with traditional Spanish chimichurri, served with mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus.

At the recent IPKO, the Inter-Parliamentary Consultation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, attorney Johan Sjiem Fat, from Aruba, gave an executive summary regarding the Democratic Deficit in the Kingdom. It was the keynote speech, at the Tweede Kamer conference in The Hague, the Dutch Parliament.

IPKO invites delegates from Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten, as well as politicians from the Netherlands to discuss kingdom affairs, geopolitical development, financial relations, cybersecurity, aviation connectivity. demographic trends and climate adaptations.

The keynote speech of attorney Sjiem Fat provided an update on the work of the Expert Group on the Democratic Deficit in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The group was established to identify, analyze, and evaluate proposals aimed at reducing the democratic deficit affecting Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten within the Kingdom’s constitutional framework.

The Expert Group consists of four members nominated by the Kingdom’s constituent countries and the Dutch Parliament: Dr. Aubrich Bakhuis (Chair), Dr. Nilda Arduin, Prof. Dr. Leonard Besselink, and Johan Sjiem Fat, supported by secretary Gytha Boerwinkel. Their task was to examine long-standing concerns about unequal political influence and participation within the Kingdom.

The central issue highlighted in the speech was the persistence of a democratic deficit despite more than twenty-five years of studies, reports, and reform proposals. Caribbean citizens continue to have less influence over Kingdom-level decision-making than citizens in the Netherlands. In addition, the Kingdom Government often acts as the final authority in disputes involving the Caribbean countries, raising concerns about equality, accountability, and trust within the constitutional system.

The Expert Group distinguished its work from previous studies by taking a broader perspective. It examines not only legal structures but also historical and political factors such as colonial legacies, slavery, distrust, and perceptions of inequality. The group also investigated why earlier reform efforts failed, having identified 31 proposals from past studies that were never fully implemented. A key priority was ensuring that Caribbean perspectives are properly represented and recognized in Kingdom decision-making.

To organize its analysis, the group developed a framework based on five dimensions: representation, influence, control, balance of power, and capacity. These dimensions address issues such as limited voting rights, restricted parliamentary influence over Kingdom legislation, weak accountability mechanisms, unequal decision-making power within the Kingdom Council of Ministers, the absence of an independent dispute settlement mechanism, and the institutional resources needed for meaningful participation.

So far, the group has catalogued 31 reform proposals ranging from modest institutional changes to major constitutional reforms. These include expanding the powers of special delegates, creating a Kingdom Secretariat, increasing Caribbean involvement in legislation, and strengthening dispute resolution procedures.

The group is currently conducting research, consultations, and visits across the Kingdom. Its final report, expected in autumn 2026, will focus on practical and achievable reforms aimed at strengthening equality, representation, trust, and cooperation while helping to move beyond decades of discussion without implementation.

The speech’s core argument was that the Kingdom’s democratic deficit remains a significant unresolved constitutional issue.

(The speech was highly praised for its form and content. Form? The speaker’s flawless Dutch accent. Content? The eloquent level of public discourse. Islanders are often judged for their giveaway island-flavored accents – not in this case.)

He has been in legal proceedings for a while. As you recall he could not become minister because the tax department objected, based on their experience with him as a taxpayer.

His integrity came into question.

Apparently, there were some questionable tax returns, he agreed to pay the disputed amounts then, as far as I know, it never happened.

But to wrap up the case the OM, the general prosecutor, offered the former minister, who is currently a not-particularly-active parliamentarian, to buy his way out of the pickle by means of a fine — modest Awg 5,000 each, for him and his wife.

Write a check. Wipe the slate clean.

This write-a-check method has been applied before.

BUT… we were informed that de Mesas rejected OM’s proposal, because it is based on false legal and factual information, they claimed.

The couple is making light of filing late, year after year since all documents were finally submitted and accepted by the authorities. They also state that too much time has lapsed and deny any undeclared assets or income.

OM came out with a declaration not too long ago, about personnel challenges within the detective/investigations division of the Aruba Police Force (KPA).

Because he believes it is important to respond on a timely basis so that locals receive proper responses regarding criminal investigations and prosecutions, he raised the alarm, he did not have enough detectives, and the public has been kept in the dark.

That is the reason why de Mesa was offered a deal, because OM cannot spare people to investigate and would like to close the file.

Several months ago, OM informed the Minister of Justic in a letter that the shortage of detectives within KPA had become so severe that a large number of police reports could no longer be handled. That letter was necessary because, in many cases, OM could no longer explain to the public why its reports are not being investigated.

This is not a new challenge. It has been around.

And the tactic de Mesa picked to reject offer, carries great risks if we learned anything from the experience we had with former minister Benny Sevinger, who pressed on, and got dealt a heavier sentence.

One of my friends writes: Both choices, to continue the legal battle or to accept the proposal, can have consequences. It is not only a legal battle, as a politician you must also deal with public opinions ALL the time, pressure & judgement of a small community and voters. The politician’s career, reputation, are at stake. What people don’t see is the strain and damage a case/conflict like this can put on one’s health and peace of mind and that of your family, especially when it lasts for a long time.

Return to OM: According to the OM, the cause of the problem is that successive governments have, for years, did not provide the resources needed for the officially set up staffing levels of institutions such as the KPA, KIA (the prison service), and the OM itself. Those staffing plans are based on the number of people needed to perform all legal duties. The KPA staffing plan shows that there should be many more detectives.

The agencies within the justice system do not have their own personnel budgets and are therefore completely dependent on the government. If insufficient funding is provided, it is foreseeable that not all legal duties can be conducted.

In addition, the government imposed an extra 10% budget cut on the justice services in March 2025. This 10% reduction comes on top of existing shortages.

(But the government is going to have a surplus. It can report an overall budget surplus while specific departments still experience funding shortages. A surplus simply means government revenues exceeded expenditures overall. It does not necessarily mean more funds were distributed to every agency or that staffing requests were approved.)

The statement from the OM is essentially arguing that, despite the government’s broader fiscal position, the justice sector has not received funding sufficient to meet its approved staffing levels, and that further cuts worsened the problem.

However, in relations to the surplus some issues will be helped. Gas will continue to be subsidized to keep prices from going up, and all employees in the private sector earning minimum wage currently receiving an allowance from the government (“reparatietoeslag”) Awg 125 per month, will increase. The allowance for all employees earning between minimum wage and Awg 2,500 per month will increase with an average of Awg 100 per month, based on a scale.  A total of 18,262 persons are eligible for this allowance, which is 37.4% of private sector employees. Welfare (bijstand) for those that cannot work, is increased with AFL 100 per month.

And then the Prime Minister announced his stepping down from his job on January 1st, 2027, and he did not announce a successor!