The
AHATA sponsored Media Eco Tour
The Media Eco Tour organized by the AHATA environmental
committee took an interesting assortment of people around the island in a big yellow bus,
courtesy of de Palm Tours. The activist of the Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association
decided to reach out even further and strengthen their alliances with press, NGOs, public
and private sector entities. That alliance, says Astrid Muller the
committee’s chairperson stems from the committee’s realization that we are all
family on this planet, mother Earth, and that we are interrelated whether we realize it or
not. It is time, she says, to start sharing responsibility of taking care of our planet,
our island and for building a just, sustainable and peaceful global society.
With that vision in mind, Astrid solicited the
services of an air-conditioned bus and driver; she ordered soft-drinks and sandwiches
– thank you Bucuti, for the tasty club triple deckers; she summoned the Arikok
National Park head-ranger Eddie Croes; The ultimate archeological
authority, Egbert Oerstra; City Inspector, Marlon Pieters;
The recycling plant manager of ECOTEC; Wide-Cast official, turtle expert Tom
Barnes, marine biologist Byron Boukhoudt, plus representatives
of Renaissance hotels, La Cabana All Suite Beach Resort, Costa Linda and Amsterdam Manor;
the marketing director of the Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association, media personalities
and TV reporters. The following is a small resume of issues, and yes, issues are like
tissues, you deal with one, the next pops up!
EAGLE BEACH
The resorts flanking Aruba’s famed sugar white sandy beach, among them Bucuti,
Amasterdam Manor, La Cabana Beach Resort & Costa Linda are all Green Globe Certified,
strictly adhering to environmental practices. Those resorts have put together an Eagle
Beach Coalition action-plan presented to the previous government. They are now planning to
dust it off, says Jurgen van Schaijk and present is to the current administration. Among
the document’s recommendations: building a small retainer wall protecting the beach,
keeping cars off the sand. Jurgen demonstrated to the press by means of a small experiment
how urgent the proposal is. He collected sand from the edge of the water and compared its
color to the sand at the edge of the road which was considerable darker and speckled with
debris. Jurgen would like to see a ban on trucks and cars instituted, also a ban on all
motorized watersports which are a great source of pollution. They bring gasoline and oil
to the beach, Jurgen explained, causing irreversible damage to the sand. Not to mention
the traditional Camping Season during the Easter holidays which culminates in barbeque
charcoal remnants and a great deal of litter.
TURTLES
Eagle beach is a hatching ground for the largest species of marine turtles. Leatherback
egg-laying females visit the beach each year. The ban on cars, says Tom Barnes, will help
further protect the nests, and the babies, sleeping under a blanket of warm sand, waiting
to be hatched. Last year 34 nests were registered, 7 this year. Of those, one was washed
over by the sea as the female picked a low-lying spot. Six were hatched successfully with
an average of 75 babies finding their way into the water unharmed. One of Tom’s most
burning issues is the suggested ban on plastic bags, so popular among supermarkets and
take-out places. It takes the females months to get here, he says. Then egg-laying
in10-day intervals and the return trip to the Atlantic leave the animals exhausted and
famished. The Caribbean is poor in jelly-fish population, the turtle’s favorite food.
Unfortunately, the females often mistake plastic bags for jelly-fish and die agonizing
deaths, as they attempt to ingest the suffocating substance! Also to Tom’s great
chagrin, the Dunes, excellent hatching grounds for green turtles and carets, are
crisscrossed by ATV’s and dune-buggies. The Marriott beach, patronized by
Loggerheads, sustains much activity often too much to also accommodate an egg-laying
turtle.
DUNES & MANGROVES
Again, ATV’s and dune buggies have just recently soared in popularity. This is an
example of making a fast buck, Astrid vehemently complains. The dunes are fragile; this is
not a sustainable business as it creates irreversible damage to the dune environment, once
gone, it’s gone! Also the Mangroves which help protect the coast from erosion, must
be preserved, shielded from pre-construction clean-ups and irresponsible development.
HORSES
Taking horses out on trails is an activity supported wholeheartedly by the AHATA
environmental committee, however bringing the horses down to the beach is a health hazard,
and an environmental faux-pas: Horse dropping, along Malmok beach make the beach unusable
to visitors and their kids.
ZONING
The word zoning was one of the most recurrent during the trip. Byron Boukhoudt, a marine
biologist reports that the people of this island will have to get used to more laws, more
legislation, more regulation. A healthy environment and sustainable development requires a
well regulated and disciplined society, he states. Proper zoning laws will allow us to
remove jet-skis from Eagle Beach, and force the horses off the beach. They will also help
preserve residential areas by keep commercial activities out to where they belong, in an
industrial/commercial zone.
ARCHEOLOGY, HISTORICAL SITES
According to Oersta, the island’s primitive pre-ceramic people lived close by the
sea, the source of their economic survival. More evolved agricultural societies, lived
in-land close to sources of water – which are few and hard to find on Aruba. Oersta
would like to see a more respectful attitude towards historical sites and building.
He’d like to see the people of this island embrace preservation and a deep
appreciation for the island’s cultural heritage.
CONSTRUCTION
The AHATA environmental committee asked the press to help, urging those building homes to
rent trash-containers during the work-period to prevent cement bags, debris, take-out
boxes and plastic bags from flying in the wind. It’s a simple, easy solution to
prevent debris from sticking to cactus, says City Inspector Marlon Pieters. The practice
of razing properties pre-construction must also cease. Save some of the indigenous trees
to incorporate them in your garden suggests Byron.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMA
The AHATA environmental committee formed an alliance with 38 local elementary schools.
Four among those schools are environmental leaders. Cristo Rey for example has adopted a
beach and cleans it regularly. Others such as Ora Ubao, Washington and Conrado Coronell
are teaching student to Reuse, Reduce, Recycle & Refuse, on a regular basis. ECOTEC
has an ongoing program called Eco-Kids, working hand in hand with local school to deepen
students’ understanding of environmental issues. AHATA also sponsors the quarterly
meeting of local Head Masters. They treat the educators to breakfast, lunch and a nice
meeting room and in return talk to them about the importance of sound environmental
practices. They basically help coordinate the environmental curriculums at school.
RECYCLING
ECOTEC is recycling aluminum, cardboard, paper and glass, says plant manager Robert
Carrasquero. When tipping fees are introduced on the island and the hotels will be asked
to pay Afls 100 per ton for the collection of garbage - resulting in big monthly bills,
they will step up recycling to further reduce their quantities of trash. We ship seven
containers of bailed cardboard a month, says Robert, and about three hundred tons of
aluminum cans per year. Robert reports ECOTEC picks up about 50% of the recyclable trash
on the island. That number increases every day he says, as the population gets
increasingly conscientious.
NATIONAL PARKS
Over 900 visitors explore Arikok Park in the off-season, that number grows to 2000 in the
high-season, reports ranger Eddie Croes. The park is one of three planned, as Spanish
Lagoon and an Underwater Park are on the drawing boards. The idea of creating a park was
sparked in the 60s. It came to fruition in the 90s, and Eddie is proud of the hiking
trails and the beauty of the stark nature reserve. The park has dedicated areas for
motorists; hose back riders; hikers, as well as silent areas, where nature is left to its
own devices with zero interference. The beaches get cleaned by the rangers every day, and
indeed on our visit to Boca Prins, the place is beautifully maintained. The park will
receive additional international funding should its ownership transition from the
government to a not for profit foundation, says Eddie, hopeful that the transition will
indeed take place.
We see great progress, Marlon & Byron report, but we also see much more development,
thus the need to talk and educate and alert is ever-growing.
[courtesy of
Rona Coster]
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Terns are marine birds spending most of their life
searching for fish and other marine life such as squid. They spend very little time on
land, do so primarily to nest, and rise young. On Aruba about ten tern species nest from
March up to September in San Nicolas Bay on four small coral barrier Islands. These tern
species are Cayenne tern (Sterna sandvicensis eurygnatha), Sandwich
tern (Sterna sandvicensis acuflavida), Royal tern (Sterna
maxima), Roseate tern (Sterna dougallii), Common tern
(Sterna hirundo), Bridled tern (Sterna anaethetus), Sooty tern (Sterna
fuscata), Least tern (Sterna albifrons), Brown noddy (Anous
stolidus) and Black noddy (Anous tenuirostris). They seem to nest on
Aruba since before the arrival of humans according to some ornithologists. It is probably
because of their nutritious and easy to take eggs that humans were able to establish on
this Island. 
At Cas di Cultura Prince Willem Alexander and Princess
Maxima enjoyed an evening of culture as they viewed the works of Glenda
Heyliger, Ryan Oduber and Gilbert Senchi. The
exposition titled Saprofiet, was especially curated for their visit here. 
At the entrance to the complex the royal couple unveiled a piece of
art representing the identity of Aruba's Cas di Cultura. The piece "Caparazon"
was made of a chair made out of driftwood, burlap, and metal, reflecting the role of
culture in our community. Created by Maria Teresa Madariaga and Luis
Alonso Castaño Benjuma it was designed to convey the message
that Cas di Cultura transcends generations and time, envelopes, contains and carries its
people on the roots of folklore, and creativity. 
In the patio works by Belinda de Veer and Eliza
Lejuez, were on display while the royal couple and their local hosts enjoyed a
lively cocktail party mingling with local artists. 
Polar's team on Aruba introduced the new Maltin image, at a press
conference at the 
During the press conference, Polar's local Director of Marketing Desiree
Sporkslede announced that the company's Back to School campaign is
designed to involve children and award them for their brand loyalty. The press was also
introduced to an attractive array of hand picked gifts which winners will be receiving if
they hand in their empties, cans or bottles, to TEC for the duration of the
campaign.
The
campaign is open to kids ages 12 to 18, says Claus Rauch, of Cerveceria
Polar in Venezuela. Rauch who is the Beer and
Shaggy will be here in Aruba, September
20th for a live concert at the Piedra Plat Entertainment Center. The
show will be open by two local bands, namely Angelo and Sonic Lab 297,
followed by Giovanni Trim & The Aruban Roots. 
The magazine depicts Aruba as a fun and happening
place featuring a crop of interesting original articles and prize winning photographs.
Cover girl Alexandra Ochoa is a famed local beauty and a former Miss
Universe Aruba, she is photographed among rock at Arashi, by director of photography Steve
Keith. Among articles in IT's second edition: "Breathing Fresh Air into
the Wedding Scene," "Kite Surfing," "Club Hunting,"
as well as "Island Living."
Danny worked in the tourism industry for a number of years as an
executive with the Radisson Aruba Resort & Casino. He then interrupted his hospitality
career to become a publisher. His first effort, Food & Wine Magazine met with
success on the island. 
Four speakers occupied the morning portion of the conference, then
following a delicious lunch the panel of experts took questions from the audience; later
small work groups were formed to identify challenges and opportunities serving the
conference stated goal: Develop a richer understanding of the strategies that want to
be undertaken by Aruba’s Minister of Tourism and Transportation in the aftermath of
September 11, 2001; Identify how active change can help in reshaping Aruba’s
tourism industry. 
She called the tireless Roy Mezas and arranged for
a lobby meeting. There in the presence of family members father Tom,
toddler Garret, baby Katherine, teenagers Emma
& Joe and Nanny Tanya she handed over the sturdy, well used
seat to Roy and Chibi v/d Horn, the Kiwanis' representatives and praised
them for their good community work. The kids know, Ray says, the car doesn't start without
them being buckled up and strapped! 
The Kiwanis, says Mezas, will be busy promoting child car seats for
one full year and hope to make a difference in our local driving habits. Pictured here the
Ray family, also Miss Aruba Malayka Rasmijn who works at the
resort. 
