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News
Briefs for August 1-31, 1999
New concerts lend musical spice to Aruba’s nights in August CHAYENNE is returning to Aruba for the second time this year to give a concert this August 14 at the Havana Beach Club. Described as the "Latin American Michael Jackson" as much for his pop music talents as for his dance moves, Chayenne is definitely the hot ticket this month. With his star ever rising, having just completed a tour in Europe, and fresh from a recent concert in Venezuela, Chayenne will perform in Aruba for one night only but will spend a few days here in order to relax, recharge and take in all the island’s pleasures. Tickets for his August 14 concert are going for US$20, pre-sale, US$25 at the door on the night of the show. Opening for Chayenne will be the local bands of Creators and Crystal Breeze. Adding a bit of diversity to the musical scene, Don Carlos will add his REGGAE SOUNDS to Aruba’s nighttime scene with a concert to be given August 13 at City One nightclub. Already on the schedule is a concert by Grupomania, from Puerto Rico, scheduled to perform in Aruba on August 27. The group’s merengue beat will be complemented by the rock sounds of its opening band "Upstairs" from Orlando, Florida. Tickets are priced at US$20, pre-sale, and US$25 on the night of the concert.
Back to top With an attention-getting FULL COVER WARP, with Aruba featured on the cover, both back and front, of the August 26th edition of travel weekly, travel agents will undoubtedly be encouraged to book their clients on the perfect Aruba vacation this fall and winter season. The promotion, which stems from Aruba being named as American Express Vacations’ "September Island of the Month", allows travel agents to book their clients on an Aruba vacation, full of value-added features, through the operator of Travel Impressions. Armed with general information about the island, provided through the spread, as well as the promotional details, travel agents can tempt additional clients with offers of a $100 American Express gift check (per room, per stay) a $100 Food & Beverage credit (per room) and a coupon book full of discounts at Aruba’s stores, restaurants and attractions. (The offer is limited to participating resorts, with vacations being booked between September 1, 1999 and October 13, 1999, and travel competed between September 15, 1999 and December 15, 1999) In addition to the recent coverage through travel weekly, a reprint of the material (excluding the American Express/Travel Impressions offer) will be reproduced in September, allowing the attractive spread to be used as general collateral material for the island for the long term. The excellent placement of the American Express/Travel Impressions promotion in Travel
Weekly was spearheaded through Aruba’s U.S. advertising partner, Fitzgerald &
Co. With cooperation from American Express and Travel Impressions, and working with
input from ATA Aruba, ATA U.S. and AHATA, Fitzgerald’s Angela Bradus, was able to
submit a winning spread, highlighting the best of Aruba for travel agents. Aruba’s airport is showcased at ACI/LAC conference The Aruba Airport Authority (AAA) proudly displayed the Queen Beatrix International Airport as a model for the Latin American/Caribbean region during last week’s 8th ACI/LAC (Airports Council International/Latin America, Caribbean) conference and tradeshow. The event welcomed delegates from the Netherlands, Antilles, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, Honduras, Mexico, Bermuda, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Switzerland, Austria, the United States and Aruba. Speakers, from airport authorities and advanced technologies companies, from various countries, including the U.S., Spain, Germany and South Africa, helped further explore this year’s conference’s them, "New Technologies: The Airports’ Stepping Stone to the Next Millennium. With technology as its theme, AAA proudly led the delegates on a tour of the airport, pointing out that, with the implementation of the Beatrix 2000 plan, Aruba’s facility will utilize only the best in state-of-the-art equipment. The renovation and expansion work at the airport will reach its first milestone, with a soft opening of the facility going forward for September 1, 1999. With the completion of Phase I, the new departure terminals will be open and temporary shops and eateries will be in place. Phase II will be complete, its grand opening, as of August 31, 2000. The new airport is not only to provide a pleasurable and secure traveling experience
for passengers, but will also serve as a transfer point for mail and cargo. The
technologies that the airport will utilize will ensure that security is the number one
priority in all activities performed at the Queen Beatrix International Airport.
Aruba prepares for a Royal visit In preparation for their visit, a commission has been installed in order to assess the tasks ahead and to create the appropriate itinerary. Nilda Koolman, of the government Information Bureau (BUVO) heads the commission, with Marinus Wegereef as vice-president, in charge of protocol. Other commission members include the Chief of Police, Department of Public Works Director, Marine Camp Savaneta Commandant, Director Social Affairs, Director of Education, a representative from the Department of Finance and a representative from the "Orange Foundation"
Arikok National Park plan moves forward The improvement of the infrastructure of the Arikok National Park continues with work (clean-up, restoration, footpaths, and the installation of benches, trashcans and signage) at the sites of Plantage Prins, Miralamar (gold mine) and Conchi (natural pool) to be completed by the end of this year. The area of Arikok Center is already complete (walking, hiking trails, signs) all except for the main Visitors Center at the entrance. Construction for the center is to start in January and is expected to be complete by mid-2000. One of the most recent projects implemented by the Arikok Project Bureau (APB) includes an educational program offered through schools, the "Hofi Educativo Shon Shoco". This regular education program for kids, kindergarten through 6th grade has been made possible through the APB, working together with the Section for Curriculum Development of the Department of Education. The goal of program is to teach children about Aruba’s flora and fauna as well as island’s history and culture, through examples that are preserved in park (Cas di Torta, Fontein Garden). Park officials would like to see projects and field trips to the park as a regular part of curriculum (kleuter, basico) by 2000.
Year 2000 to come in with a bang Bringing in the New Year in Aruba has always involved a big bang, with the tradition of lighting firecrackers and fireworks on New Year’s Eve firmly entrenched in Aruban culture. Plans to bring in 2000 are to rival all past celebrations with the commission of "Nos Caya 2000" seeking to raise funds for the World’s Largest "pagara", string of Chinese firecrackers. Both individual families and companies traditionally purchase pagaras at the end of each year in Aruba. While families light the pagara right before the midnight hour, with the loudest bang saved for last, chiming in the New Year, different companies traditionally light their pagaras before closing their doors for the last time that year. The size and length of the pagara roll usually corresponds to how well that particular company did that year. In order to help celebrate a successful 100 years and to ensure a prosperous 2000, the recently installed commission proposes to purchase the pagara, with the financial assistance of both the government and private companies. As worlds largest, the roll would constitute over a mile of firecrackers, laid out from the Governor’s house on one side of Oranjestad, to Ling and Sons Supermarket, on the other. Aruba’s Governor Olindo Koolman would light the fuse, starting the chain of mini explosions that will travel through Aruba’s streets and end in a final bang approximately a half hour later. A fireworks show, presented annually by Ling and Sons Supermarket, would begin at the conclusion of the pagara’s run. If all is a go, and plans do get off the ground as hoped, a Guiness Book of World
Records representative would be invited in order to witness this momentous occasion.
Aruba’s Xanadu dance group is a hit in New York Aruba’s Xanadu dance group was featured entertainment at the recent NAACP conference held at the Hilton Hotel in New York City. The group, represented by Dione Tromp, Sharitza Figaroa, Jade Padron, Jerney Harms, Charles de Groot, Urvin Robert, Aneude Cabral and Robert Charles, displayed Aruban folkloric dance and a carnival presentation during the conference’s trade show. The recent presentation helped put the spotlight on Aruba for the hundreds of delegates
attending the conference.
SNDA developes new action plan Plans for a Street Fair and Caribbean Festival, to take place in downtown San Nicolas, originally scheduled for August, have been pushed back until November, according to San Nicolas Development Agency (SNDA) President Mario Croes. In a recent SNDA meeting, board members made an assessment of available finances against the many projects that they have currently on the table. It has been decided that the cultural event remains the first priority. The cultural event is to consist of a Street Fair along the streets of downtown San Nicolas, followed by a Caribbean Festival, which is to spotlight the Caribbean cultural heritage of Aruba’s sunrise side, with performances in the newly renovated Theresita Center. After a successful debut of the festival, SNDA then plans to look into plans for the
renovation of such San Nicolas landmarks as the Uncle Louis Store, Galeria Harmonia and
the Water Tower.
The Aruban Carnival Foundation (SAC) will hold its first meeting at the end of this
month, beginning preliminary preparations for the island’s 46th Carnival
Celebration Parades, contests and
street parties will once again be on the agenda for the carnival in 2000, which will run
January 27 through March 7. SAC will release the official calendar of events in November.
With two different umbrella task forces in place, one comprised solely of government officials and the other with representatives from both the private and public sector, Aruba continues to meet its goals in being Y2K compliant in all sectors including governmental, commercial, transportation and utilities.
Water and electricity guaranteed During a press conference held recently at Aruba’s Water and Electricity Bureau (WEB), officials proudly displayed their Y2K certification. By instituting a Y2K group back in October 1977, and implementing their action plan on January 23, 1998, WEB was able to recently announce that all its computers are now Y2K ready, ensuring uninterrupted production and distribution of water and electricity. Attesting to the fact that WEB is indeed Y2K compliant and certified were representatives from SSI, SIEBE, EQUIPEX and KEMA. A total of three million florins were invested into WEB’s Y2K plan in order to make the recent accomplishment a reality.
In June 1997, the Beatrix 2000 project plan was put into action, beginning a multi-million dollar expansion and renovation to the island’s Queen Beatrix International Airport. At a recent presentation given by Aruba Airport Authority (AAA) Managing Director of Finance, Commerce and Human Resources Simon Arends, it was revealed that the project, which includes AAA’s Y2K compliance program, is on track. Arends point out that, as part of the project plan, much of the airport’s computer systems, including radar, has already been replaced with Y2K-ready, state-of-the-art equipment. Only an additional one million florins were necessary to invest to complete its Y2K compliance program goals. The entire facility is expected to be ready for the millennium by August, with the first phase of the Beatrix 2000 project operational by September, 1999. Travelers will be able to enjoy access to all of the airport’s new facilities with the official grand opening of the renovated Queen Beatrix International Airport slated for August 31, 2000.
SETAR promises a clear connection in 2000 Aruba’s telephone company SETAR has already spent more than three million florins on reaching its Y2K compliance goals. The continued implementation of its Y2K action plan is to ensure a clear connection for all its clients, both visitors and local residents, at the dawn of the new millennium.
With the green light given by the Caribbean Sailing Association, registration for Aruba’s Seaport Yacht Race is officially open, welcoming sailors from around the world for a racing event scheduled to take place November 14 – 18, 1999. Kicking off at Aruba’s colorful Seaport Marina in Oranjestad, he race route will consist of different legs, including sponsor races, races encircling Aruba and an international stopover at Falcon (Venezuela) with the finish at the marina in Seaport Village. The Seaport Yacht Race will be according to the Caribbean Sailing Association rules and regulations, and will be sailed in two divisions: cruiser and racer. There will be prizes for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. Main sponsors for the Seaport Yacht Race include Seaport Village, Meta Corporation, The Aruba tourism Authority, Estado Falcon (Venezuela) and Club Nautico Punta Cardon. Additional race information and registration is possible through Henk Grim, tel: (297)-839190 or fax: (297)-839197, or by visiting the website: www.seaportyachtrace.com.
Over 200 Aruban students are setting their sights on promising futures ahead as they look forward to beginning their studies abroad in a variety of different disciplines. A total of 180 students, the largest single group, are headed off to the Netherlands, but, as in past years, some Aruban students have also chosen to pursue their higher education in the U.S. and countries in Central and South America. In an annual tradition full of drama, the Queen Beatrix International Airport was flooded with "becadonan" (students on government loan) who were wished a tearful farewell by friends and family this past Saturday, July 31. A sense of community surrounded the event as the crowd enjoyed a presentation of Aruban folkloric music and dance, before being wished well by Minister of education Mary Wever.
ASF (Aruba Scholarship Foundation) aids students headed to the U.S. Among the Aruban students that will head off to universities and colleges in the states, a total of 11 will be able to accomplish their goals thanks to the Aruba Scholarship Foundation (ASF). At a recent official ceremony, eight students, including ATA Aruba Intern Sjeidy Feliciano, were granted renewals of their scholarships for the 1999/2000 school year, and three students were granted scholarships for the first time. In order to be eligible for an ASF scholarship, a student must express a desire to go to college in the states, be in good academic standing and be able to demonstrate a need for financial assistance. In order to maintain scholarship assistance, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA and agree to return to Aruba upon graduation to work on the island for at least the same amount of years that they were sponsored by ASF. In this way, ASF fosters a commitment to the island, not limiting the best and brightest of Aruba from pursuing their goals in the states while requiring them, in turn, to return and work for the betterment of the island.
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