INTELLECTUAL MIDGETS. I got a message on FB from an intellectual midget by the name of Filomena Croes, advising me I should write my Bati Bleki column in her “Materno Lega.” Lucky for her, I am intelligent, I understand her gibberish, she wants me to write in Papiamento. I have been writing on the island since the early 90s, always in English. I got my start in the NEWS with the late Sonia Schouten as the capable editor, and that’s where I am still at. If Filomena Croes doen’t like my choice of language, she can avoid the Bati Bleki Buzz web page. Everyone deserves to have a voice on this island, in whatever language they choose. Gone are the days in which you are required to blend and assimilate to become a new person, in the mold of your adoptive country; against today’s eclectic landscape you may retain your identity, and continue to be who you are, albeit, at a new address. In the words of the late Jamaica Mi Krazy’s Daniel T. Wilson, “Aruba allows you to be who you is.”
Admittedly, it was our Dia Internacional di Lenga Materno on February 22nd and in honor of the day I suggested the following: The time has come to establish a Papiamento Language Academy, made of local writers and scholars, teachers and poets, let them come up with new words and structures weekly, in order to develop and formulize Papiamento further. A language cannot be left to fend against English and Spanish without intellectual help. A Papiamento Language Academy, affiliated with the Minister of Culture, or the Minister or Education is greatly needed to enrich and supplement the existing vocabulary and syntax.
NEW BOARD MEMBER. Having resigned as a director from the public/private sector supervisory board of the Aruba Tourism Authority, local restaurateur and businessman Harry Koeman was replaced by Simon R. Arends, a family member of the MinTour, but to his defense I will say he knows about aviation, business and tourism, having been involved with Reina Beatrix Airport and ERA Real Estate for many years, in addition to serving as Senior Advisor to the MinTour. Simon is used to sitting in meetings, and serving on boards, so it’s a good fit! Harry on the other hand will be continue to watch over his business, Aruba Wine & Dine, a group operating popular bars and eateries on the island and hopefully remain the generous sponsor of this blog.
TORTURING GUESTS EVERY DAY. One of my friends, a long-time retailer from downtown called me on the phone, fighting back tears of anger and frustration. The parking situation in town is ridiculous, she said. The other day on Schelpstraat, a handicapped tourist found his car clamped. Naturally, he couldn’t walk the entire Via Dolorosa to the parking office on crutches, and had to be helped by empathetic locals. Dear nincompoop AruParking: Why don’t you listen? Tourists do not distinguish between yellow and white spaces; they just park and attempt to go shopping, visit the Pharmacy, or go for lunch. We should valet their cars and for them, in gratitude, instead of harassing them. Shame on you and the lame way you instituted parking downtown, you are endangering our livelihood, and endangering retail. And sadly, you know what’s going on, and you know how many visitors you inconvenienced, yet you don’t mend your ways to make it EASIER on them. Figure it out how NOT to torture tourist downtown every day, make it pleasant, not dreadful!
