RBC BANK ALWAYS UNPLEASANT SURPRISES. RBC clients know, there is never a dull moment with this financial institution. It recently so called ‘upgraded the system’ and shazam, you can no longer print a transaction backup or a statement from your net banking. Just like that, no warning, no explanation. Want more? The standing-order feature, or the recurring transfer on the RBC net banking is often forgetful. You put a request for a recurring payment in, you press the token confirming the transaction, it goes from approved to released status, and then you’d better make a notation to check on the next date, on the next payment, because 9 out of 10, the bank just ignores your instructions and the payment doesn’t go through without another token pressing. So, what is the use of a standing order feature if it fails to execute? A few days ago I started noticing a new guy in town, Mr. Sundry Debtor, whose long fingers keep dipping into my accounts, shamelessly. Apparently Mr. Sundry Debtor is employed by the Central Bank and he now has the power to freely help himself to my resources with EHEMTax, EREMTax and EEMTax, and mind you I never received notice from the bank or anything, god forbid, if they should ever communicate, that will be the end of the world as we know it. I am now thinking it’s time to move our business to a cash economy, kiss plastic goodbye, it just got very expensive to use it!
GRAFFITI A LA CARTE. If you drive down the street behind the Yrausquin garage, you will see it got an upgrade with almost 20 colorful panels of amazing street art. Apparently Ruben Yrausquin tired of having to paint his back-wall every week offered it as canvas to Elvis Lopez, and the Atelier ’89 students. So Elvis gathered some crazies to paint day and night and finish gorgeous masterpieces. Guided by Tess Miller, Aruba’s street artists included: Samuel Sarmiento, Nuris Lampe, Wil Quintero, Suzanne van Spall, Farley Croes, Ester Lamber, Lilli Peterson, Herdigein Vittorio, Facundo Franken, Romelinda Maldonado, and Kelsey Westerburger. I met Elvis as he was receiving a donation from the Salamander family members on Thursday Night, at Caribbean Queen Boutique at the Palm Beach Plaza Mall. Atelier ‘89 is annually the recipient of some funds collected by the Salamander family members from sales at that location. Elvis told his audience at the boutique that he uses the money to fund an art program in San Nicholas, in the village, taking kids off the street weekly and offering them a few hours of artistic activity, fruit, cookies and a soft drink. Some come for the treat, but more are there for self expression that is only affordable via generous donations. Elvis also shared that MinTour, also in charge of culture, but you cannot call him MinCul, it just doesn’t sound respectful, is the first minister to ever be nice to him. Yes, Elvis is sensitive, and MinTour is the first to ever endorse Elvis’ activities, and perhaps it is politically motivated, but Elvis now feels appreciated in government circles. MinTour graced Opposites Attract, the recent Fashion Show at the Nicholas Store, with his presence and he promised to show up for Undercover Spectre, the Graffiti a la carte workshop exhibition, on the street behind garage Yrausquin tonight! I can only add that when we went to Cartagena, Colombia, we took a walking tour of the city’s famous street art and graffiti sites, and enjoyed an underground experience, visiting some underprivileged neighborhood, finishing up at a bar, in a slum, drinking Hendricks Gin and Tonic cocktails with thinly sliced cucumber, which I will never forget!
