Once a week (on Sundays) I make a recap of the most recent news on Aruba that’s relevant to you.

If this is your first time reading my newsletter – welcome!

News on Aruba

If you want to keep up with what’s happening on the island – this newsletter was made for you!

The newsletter gets published every Sunday and it’s free thanks to generous readers who give a small donation to cover all website costs (maintenance, hosting fees etc.)

The Government Decides To Raise Minimum Wage

The government announced this week that the minimum wage will be raised.

With the adjustment of the minimum salary, a person 18 years and older is going to get 1.711.15 Aruban Guilders as minimum wage (around $977.80) – this is per month.

If you are interested in working in Aruba, check the new website for the department of labor, for job vacancies in your field.

Aruba has a law in regards to minimum wage, this means a general obligatory instruction, backed by the government and parliament members which is in line with Aruba’s constitution.

Everyone who earns under 3.935.65 Aruban Guilders (about $2.248.94) are protected by the law and all rules within apply for them.

The news wasn’t accepted very well by business owners, chamber of commerce and Aruba trade industry association (ATIA) and other organizations

According to the president of chamber of commerce, they weren’t informed or involved in the decision to raise the minimum wage.

They don’t agree with the government’s decision, because the difference in pay raise has to be paid by the business owners, which they find unfair and some say it’s illegal.

Or is this a political stunt to get more people to vote for them the current election, and not fulfill the pay raise anyway?

Want To Work in Aruba?

The government is organizing a labor fair “Expo Labor” to lower the unemployment rate.

According to the minister of finances (also in charge of labor), the unemployment rate on Aruba is 7,7%. Which equals to about 4000 thousand people that don’t have a job (Aruba’s labor market produces about 56.000 jobs).

Last years labor expo was a success, because a lot of people found a job. This year the amount of people who are looking for a job has increased, so the expo labor is promised to be big again this year.

Expo labor will take place on August 19, 2017 at the renaissance convention center ( 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM).

The event is a great opportunity for you if you want to work in Aruba.

Politics (POR)

It’s nearly election day in Aruba (September 22, 2017), but before the smaller parties can officially participate in the election, they have to gain enough votes to be eligible for the next election.

They have to get a total of 578 signatures (or more) to qualify – this indicates that they have a strong following during elections.

If you live on the island and are going to vote for a small party, support them by signing their list at the building known as “dependance” in the downtown area in front of wilhelmina park.

The last day to sign is on August 15, 2017 (9:00 AM – 8:30 PM)

Political parties that already reached the required amount of votes are – POR (Pueblo Orgulloso Y Respeta) – PPA  & UPP ( Combination of 2 parties) – RED – RAIZ.

New Nurse Calling System

The two latest hospital buildings in Aruba are going to have a new nurse calling system.

According to the director of the hospital, the old nurse calling system is outdated and not as effective as the new one.

For example, when a patient rings the bell at night, it can be disturbing to other patients who are sleeping.The old nurse calling system also doesn’t indicate how serious the emergency is.

When a patient presses the button of the new nurse calling system, it pages a nurse assigned to the patient for assistance – without making any loud disturbing noises.

If the assigned nurse doesn’t respond within 90 seconds, all other nurses will be paged.   

In case a patient sus the nurse calling system in an emergency situation, a blue light will turn on, indicating a case of emergency, and the nurses have to respond as quick as possible.

Now the nurses will know which patient is paging and where they are located with the new nurse calling system.

Buying Organic Fruits & Vegetables

A traditional house that was built during 1923  in the district of Alto Vista functions as a rehabilitation center and a agriculture company that sells organic fruits and vegetables.

The name of the house is speranza nobo meaning new hope.

The company was founded by Goshen Sustainable Development Corporation to help the addicts work towards a better future and also to give back to the local community.

All fruits and vegetables are grown in the cunucu (backyard), which is maintained by those that live in the rehab center.

They grow all kinds of fruits and vegetables, cucumber, okra, beans, watermelon, dragon fruit and peppers..

All their products are carefully selected, organic, fresh and inexpensive.

You can find more information by visiting their Facebook page – Goshen Sustainable Development Corporation VBA.

If you love to cook your own meals during the vacation and like to use organic products, visit the cunucu located in the district of Alto Vista.

Renovating The Yellow House

Stichting Monumenten Fonds Aruba (SMFA) maintains all monuments on the island.

One of the recent buildings to be renovated by SMFA is the California lighthouse.

The lighthouse was closed to the public for years, but now it’s been restored and is open everyday for tours.

FMSA also renovated other monuments in the downtown area for example, the town hall, huisje wild.

Now it’s turn for the “casita geel” (yellow house) to be renovated (located in the downtown area, in the back of the central bus station).

The casita geel was built in 1860 and was used as a town country house.

The walls will be fixed, the yard will be maintained and the house will be repainted (yellow of course).

Renovation of casita geel should be completed in the end of September 2017.

Gasoline Price

The price of gasoline and diesel increased on August 9, 2017.

Gasoline is now 4,4 cents more expensive – 1.776 cents per liter ($1.00 is valued at 1,75 Aruban Florins – 175 cents).

Diesel is now 1,416 cents per liter – an increase of 5 cents.

Take these changes in price for petrol into consideration for gas money budget.

Don’t have a car yet? Click here to get a car rental quotation by me.

Campaign Against Mosquitoes

After the department of public health (DESPA) launched their awareness campaign against mosquitoes, they started to fumigate around the island before the rainy season.

Raining season already started since June (hurricane season), but it hasn’t been raining a lot yet, fortunately!

However, DESPA isn’t taking any chances ad plans to fumigate all areas in Aruba that are known to have mosquitoes.

The government and DESPA are more alert than ever to combat mosquitoes.

Largest Vow Renewal Ceremony in the Caribbean

Over a 160 couples renewed their wedding vows on Eagle Beach!

The event is known as the largest vow renewing ceremony in the Caribbean.

Aruba’s tourism board made an open invitation to couples all over the world who were coincidentally on vacation in Aruba during the vow renewal ceremony to participate.

It was magical seeing all the couples say I do all over again….

Watch the short after movie to see what it was like during that magical day on Eagle Beach….

Ben Weider Bodybuilding Event

Aruba hosted the “Ben Weider Caribbean Classic” bodybuilding event.

Ben Weider is a well known figure in boxing (founder of the international federation of bodybuilding & fitness (IFBB) – he was in Aruba for the event.

The bodybuilding event took place in Marriott Aruba Resort & Stellaris Casino, with a total of 90 participants from all over the world.

Participants competed in different pro-card categories (men’s bodybuilding, men’s physique, men’s classic bodybuilding, women’s bikini, women’s body fitness and women’s physique).

One of Aruba’s female bodybuilder, Monica Sanchez became the first local to win the Ben Weider Caribbean Classic.

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You’re awesome!

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