Once a week, on Sundays I publish a recap for news updates about Aruba with all the latest information and happenings on the island.

Subscribing to my newsletter is an ideal way to stay up to date with what’s going on in Aruba – whether you’re living on the island, miles away or your first visit!

News Update About Aruba

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CITGO Slows Down Refinery Refurbishment Project

“In 2016 CITGO launched the San Nicolas refinery refurbishment project with a firm vision and steadfast commitment to work with the Aruban government to bring jobs in the local economy, increase economic activity and contribute to energy security in the region.

While CITGO remains committed to the project, the U.S Government imposed sanctions related to shareholder Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) which doesn’t allow additional funding for the rehabilitation of the refinery.

CITGO has been actively working since August 2017 to obtain relief from these sanctions, but since relief has yet to be granted we must slow down the project immediately.

We understand the hardship this situation has caused for employees and the people of Aruba.

We continue to actively work on a solution and hope to resume the full project in the near future…”

These were the exact words of CITGO’s announcement in the media to slow down the refurbishment of the refinery.

Aruba is caught in the middle of an impasse between the US and Venezuela government. And about 300 employees were already forced to go home.

The government is revising the contract with CITGO for possible breaches and claims.

According to the prime minister, the executives from CITGO will be on the island to discuss the situation, and a possible reconsideration to slow down the refurbishment of the refinery.

More information will be released during the upcoming press conference by the government.

Mandatory Yellow Fever Vaccine

The ministry of Health of Aruba established that, as of March 1, 2018, the requirement for the Yellow Fever Vaccine proven by an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), also known as the Yellow Book, will enter into force.

The decision was made at the suggestion and guidelines of the World Health Organization and  International Health Regulation.

Yellow fever vaccine is mandatory for all passengers arriving from Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela, Paraguay, Panamá, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo and Uganda.

The new measure does not apply for Chile, Uruguay and other countries that are not considered at high risk for yellow fever transmission.

If you’re travelling from one of the aforementioned countries, you must be vaccinated at least 10 days before the trip.

In case you’ve been vaccinated before for yellow fever and have the vaccination document, you don’t have to be re-vaccinated.

However, if your vaccinated, but lost your card, you need to get re-vaccinated.

Visitors who were born in areas classified as high risk for Yellow Fever transmission, but live in Europe and the United States and travel to Aruba, do not need to get the vaccine or present the yellow book.

Passengers who reside in Europe or the United States and travel from countries classified as high risk to Aruba do need to be vaccinated and present the yellow book.

Except for:

• Passengers who have been in countries at risk and are in transit through Aruba. This also includes those who have to leave and re-enter the airport or cruise ships in less than 24 hours.
• Passengers on their way to Aruba who have been in transit through countries at risk (in their airports and ports).
• Passengers who, having been in the countries considered at risk, before entering Aruba have remained for a period of at least 6 days in a country that is not considered at risk and have not developed fever during that period.

Important to note the for airlines and cruises:

• The same rules that apply to passengers, also apply to cabin crew and non-flying management.
• Regardless of these requirements, it is recommended that all crew members be vaccinated against Yellow Fever if travelling regularly to countries considered to be at risk.

The yellow book is not required for…

• Those who are coming on a connecting flight (including cabin crew) or cruise and will be less than 24 hours on the island.
• Children under 9 months of age.
• People with a history of acute hypersensitivity reaction to any component of the vaccine (including gelatin, eggs, egg products, or chicken protein).
• People with a thymus disorder.
• Immunocompromised individuals from the following: symptomatic HIV infection or AIDS, malignant neoplasms, primary immunodeficiency diseases, transplantation, immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory therapy, radiation, therapy.

The yellow book (ICVP) must be presented to the immigration officers of the Department of Immigration, Security and Alarm of Aruba (IASA).

If you have any of these (medical) contraindications for yellow fever vaccination, an up-to-date medical waiver can be issued instead of administering the vaccine.

Pregnant or breastfeeding women and people 60 years of age and older should consult with their doctor and in case they do not recommend administering it, they should provide the person with a medical letter with an official letterhead and stamping.

Mosquito Free Resort Awards

The Department of Public Health (Yellow Fever and Mosquito Control) awarded the hotels on the low rise, high rise and several other apartments for complying with their mosquito controlled resort program.

Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA) and Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association (AHATA) continue to focus on awareness campaigns in order to keep the hotel area and the rest of the island mosquito free.

The department of public health inspects the hotel area for possible mosquito breeding grounds at least 3 times a year, usually in March, July and November.

Mosquitoes should be the least of your worries when thinking about visiting Aruba.

Help Plastic Beach Party Keep Aruba Clean

Aruba is known as “one happy island”, and it’s also a beautiful one.

In order to maintain the islands beauty, protect the environment and marine life, we need to keep it clean.

A new non-profit organization called plastic beach party is focused on reducing Aruba’s dependance on plastic and you can help them achieve the goal.

The government already banned plastic bags at the supermarket and retail stores to reduce the circulation of plastic on the island.

During the recent carnival season, plastic beach party collected over 15 kilos of plastic, 10 kilos of aluminum cans, and more than 50 kilos of glass bottles.

The cans and bottles will be recycled and up-cycled. All the other plastics waste will be recycled by plastic beach party. They use the plastic to create relevant, useful and reusable products.

With the use of plastic recycling machines they create relevant, useful and reusable products. Plastic beach party processes between 100 – 200 kilo of plastic a month.

They offer plastic waste recycling for households and businesses. With a variety of plastic recycling pricing packages that make recycling accessible for anyone.

Give plastic beach party a hand by keeping the beaches clean after your visit.

Together we can make and help keep Aruba clean and plastic free!

Start of Camping Season in Aruba

The Aruba Police Force informs that the camping season in connection with Semana Santa (Holy Week) will start this year on March 28, 2018 and will end on April 8, 2018.

Aruba’s beaches will be dotted with tents, and families getting together to celebrate Easter.

Camping is a tradition by locals for many decades already, and anyone can join in on the adventure. However, there are some rules for camping on the island.

It’s not allowed to camp outside of the season or pitch a tent anywhere.

In order to camp, you need a permit.

Application forms for camping permit will be available until March 9, 2018 at the administrative office of all police stations.

Camping is only allowed on certain beaches like baby beach, near the bays of savaneta, surfside, arashi, malmok and small area on eagle beach next to costa linda resort.

It’s prohibited to barbecue on the white beach sand and campfires are not allowed.

Camping is one of my favorite pastime, we usually camp on baby beach!

Camping isn’t for everyone, but I do enjoy the beauty of sleeping under the stars on the beach.

There’s something magical about it.

Eagle Beach Top 4 in The World

TripAdvisor recently announced the top 25 beaches in the world and Eagle Beach is number 4 on the list.

The travel sites picks the best beaches in the world according to the quality and quantity of travelers that visit the destination. Eagle Beach is the best, no wonder it ranks in the top.

Tripadvisor quoted eagle beach as “awesome sand, ample shade, great for swimming”.

If you’re wondering what’s the best time to visit Aruba and dip your toes in the sand on Eagle Beach, it’s all year around!

Book your flight to Aruba as soon as possible…

Learn Words in Papiamento

The department of education re-launched their website for those who want to look up the correct spelling for words in Papiamento (the native language on the island).

The website has been around for a while already, but it was recently updated with over 17.000 words. All the words on the site are spelled according to the official Aruban orthography, which was published in April 2009.

The list of words will be updated in the future.

Learn more words in Papiamento at www.papiamento.aw

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