FIRE IN THE BOILER ROOM. It is my perception that the Riu people handled the fire incident very well, and that the island’s fire department showed up in record time. It was an unfortunate incident in the boiler room, and in reality it could happen in any boiler room on the island, or around the globe. But what was remarkable about that specific Saturday morning was the spirit of One Happy Island that manifested itself five minutes into the emergency when the Fire Brigade the Police Department, representatives of the Aruba Tourism Authority and the Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association all showed up to form a Crisis Board, sending 200 guests to the airport in time for their flights and booking all others into the neighboring Palm Beach resorts. The Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino, the Occidental Grand, the Holiday Inn and the Riu Palace Antillas, all welcomed guests for an all inclusive stay, as they transferred from the Riu Palace to continue their vacations. I imagine that Riu Palace Aruba was the island’s best client Saturday night as it booked about 800 guests into its neighbors, while the government technical department would be inspecting all systems, before flicking the electric switch of the resort’s front tower back up.
Compliments for the loving, supportive and caring Riu Palace staffers who assisted guests above and beyond and performed very well under stressful situations.
A reader suggested: We need to dip the island in seawater to chase away the FUKU – apparently the fireworks for New Year’s were not enough!
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ZIKA SHMIKA. It seems that Zika is hurting the island as far as the willingness of people to travel, clumping South America, Latin America and the Caribbean, into one Zika infested swamp. That’s such BS. It’s just the Scare Du Jour, and as a result some of our hotels are not doing so well, this winter.
The Aruba Tourism Authority, and the MinHealth decided to take a reactive stand, state some facts, and hang back. I think the time has come to venture out BIG and to tell the world it’s all baloney!
I checked out the latest information on the CDC website, the Center for Disease Control & Prevention and they tell you: “We Don’t Know.” We don’t know how the virus affects pregnancies, we don’t know how likely Zika will pass to a fetus, we don’t know if a fetus infected, will develop birth defects, in short there is NO evidence that the Zika Virus causes anything more than a mild flu. The whole Zika Virus scare is a media fabricated story, for lack of other good headlines.
We have to go out slugging this week, and kill that theory that there are Zika carrying mosquito under every Divi tree, otherwise we’ll lose bookings. And I can see by the special rates posted on line that the resort’s are discounting, which is never a good sign, in the high season.
- The same is happening in Curacao, and on the other former Netherlands Antilles.
In fact almost the entire Caribbean has the problem, and we should do what St. Lucia does, when it announced: ZIKA FREE stays, being proactive instead of sticking their heads into the sand. St. Lucia recommended itself as an alternative vacation spot to Zika infected countries, and we should do the same, recommend Aruba as Safe Babymoon Destination Where You Can Avoid the Zika Virus, and have a great time.
The “scare du jour” will blow away, meanwhile please Don’t Fall For The Zika Virus Hoax.
Show me a sign…
According to one of my deep throat sources, it was 2010, that the new MinInfra launched an initiative which was supposed to create a better “Product Aruba.” And by Product Aruba we mean many things clumped together, basically the complete island experience from cleanliness, to ease of communication, safety, service excellence, you name it, we were out to improve “Product Aruba,” with a new majority government in place.
One of the highlights of that overall improvement strategy was a high-rise Public Policy, which everyone on Palm Beach had to adhere to. The policy was designed to un-clutter and streamline the area, free it from street signs, and unauthorized buildings, awnings, fences, everything build without proper documentation, which believe me, was a handful to pursue.
The policy worked for about twenty minutes: A structure promoting Paseo Herencia and the cinemas was torn down, for lack of permit, and so was a terrace and Jacuzzi near Buster’s Garage, and Rembrandt’s Restaurant at the South Beach Centre. Signs too close to the road had to disappear, and the kiosks at La Hacienda, in the area across the Playa Linda Beach Resort were instructed to vacate a 4 meter walkway, so that pedestrians could have plenty of room to maneuver. As I said, having torn down two signs, and two structures, the authorities gave up on the enforcement of the policy, and what you see today, with triangle signs everywhere, and totally blocked and occupied sidewalks is the result of giving up on enforcement. I used to tell my son when he was twelve, “I don’t want to ground you because then I will be grounded too,” if you catch my drift, the enforcement of a policy is equally hard on the ‘receiver’ and the ‘transmitter.’
So what happened to the Public Policy a few years down the road? I checked around and got this answer: The infra team that was to supervise the policy expressed that it was not worth their while so the whole thing fizzled, and the outrage that ensued when people had to take down their unauthorized garish loud signs, fizzled too. It was a storm in a waterglass. Too bad for those who had their structures torn down!
Years later and as you can see, there is no walkway of 4 meters to be found anywhere. Government is not for the faint of heart.
The ultimate Relaxation, at Pure Indulgence, Divi Phoenix Beach Resort
We were invited on Saturday for a pampering session at Pure Indulgence at Divi Phoenix Beach Resort. We, meaning the Pica Girls, my radio partners Tabitha Fecunda and Jacqueline Wernet. We obviously like each other and we spend quite some time together in the studio at 96.5FM. But Saturday afternoon was special, as we enjoyed four-hours of self-centered renewal and rejuvenation, which we all needed and deserved, according to Angie!
The spa overlooking the pool and the beach is gorgeous, new, modern, with floor to ceiling glass windows. It was designed by spa owner Angie Wallace, with attention to every detail. Angie put all her creative energy into the space, having run spas in St Martin and Aruba for at least ten years. This girl knows what she is doing, she knows what it takes to unwind and untangle the knots in our backs, the wrinkled on our faces, nothing like a therapeutic massage, graceful hands and elegant feet, she says.
We were greeted with a flute of mimosa, and invited to stick our feet into a lovely foot bath with rose petals, each. I know it sounds ridiculous, but it was actually very nice, to lounge in a comfy, soft robe, midday: Cool champagne rolling off my tongue, warm water on my tootsies.
The spa protocol designed by Angie is long and rich and layered. There is something delicious happening every minute. My massage started face up. Osiris, the therapist worked on the back of my neck, my chest, arms, and legs, then flipped me over gently and did the same thing on my other side, neck, back, arms, and legs, fifty minutes of relaxation. I was aware of my surrounding, immersed in a sort of non-REM sleep that delivers melting muscles and zero thoughts. The spinning wheels in my head came to a complete stand still.
Later in the Mani-Pedi leather upholstered chair, a kind of recliner, lazy boy throne with automatic massage system, armrests, foot rests, and whirlpool bath, we looked at the beach, and the pool, while having our nails done. The treatment included all kinds of exfoliating potions and hydrating lotions, including paraffin baths, and resulted is soft skin, and gleaming nails.
The sun was setting when I left the spa, with a pink rose. As I said before, Angie Wallace pays attention to every detail.
The spa at the Dvi Phoenix Beach Resort is open every day, 9am to 6pm and on Sunday from 10am to 4pm. call 586 6066 ext 7069 or E-mail:[email protected], for an appointment, give me best regards to Osiris, my Egyptian goddess spa therapist!
OLDIES GOLDIES
I recently went with the Riu Palace Aruba to San Pedro Pavilion and with the Riu Palace Antillas to Marie Stella. Both homes for the elderly are run by a local foundation called SABA, Stichting Algemene Bejaardenzorg Aruba, with highly trained and qualified nurses and caretakers who baby about 400 elderly, the island’s Alzheimer patients, adults with physical disabilities and adults suffering from different stages of dementia.
The MinHealth just announced that he is aiming at reducing the size of SABA, sending as many elderly as possible home, with some form of home-care, because most people would prefer that. They would prefer to live out their lives at home. He said he was not replacing vacancies within SABA, instead he was growing the number of people employed by the White & Yellow Cross, so that just like in the Netherlands, the frail elderly may continue to live home aided by regular visits of the White & Yellow Cross professionals.
It sounds good in theory, so I spoke to some of the angels working at SABA and they painted a different picture, for me. They said the MinHealth is emulating a Dutch model, which is possible in the Netherlands with higher pension payments and more social benefits. This home care dream is not feasible in Aruba where elderly will surely be left alone to fend for themselves, not because they have cruel and unloving kids, but because their family members are working two different jobs, struggling to make ends meet, and provide adequate child care, to their own kids.
The SABA angels speculated this whole brouhaha was about personalities, not principles, as there is an existing clash between the SABA CEO and the MinHealth, who don’t see eye to eye.
What they said is the following: You cannot copy a social or medical structure from one continent to another. SABA is a wonderful foundation, it’s not a sinking ship, it is a highly functioning organization with supportive and skilled people, and instead of starving it for funds and shrinking it by attrition, a dialogue should take place, totally client-oriented, for the good of the elderly who deserve a better quality of life.
What else they said? When the elderly need to go to the doctor their SABA caretakers often take them in their own car for lack of an institutional gasoline allowance; When the wash machine breaks, the SABA caretakers take laundry home, which is the case now at Marie Stella, where the wash machine recently died; And any little extra, even a soda or a soft drink, is covered by the SABA caretakers, determined not to let their clients down. I was very touched by that story.
My friends at Marie-Stella suggested expanding the day care facility, so that family members could leave their elderly, impaired relatives for the day, while they go to work against a fee, and that would be extra income for the home; they also suggested diversifying the services they offer, to adapt their modus operandi to current needs. It’s not all about finances they reiterated, it’s about people, frail, often demented and we have o advocate on their behalf.
LOCAL TREATS. The other day I saw FRIO frozen treats for sale at a local gas station in Tanki Leendert, in a small designated fridge with a glass door. I asked for recommendations and bought the coconut flavored frio, in accordance with the cashier instructions, also the pineapple, if you have to know the truth. Yum. So sweet and refreshing. The frio finds its roots, in the pre-ice-cream era, when syrup mixed with water served to cool kids off mostly in the summer, because there was hardly any time for frio on a school day. Who makes it? Do you know? It’s an interesting mini local business venture.
THE WOMEN’S CONFERENCE. I went on Tuesday to the Marriott Aruba Resort & Stellaris Casino to the Women’s Day conference given byMichelle Hooyboer-Winklaar, the Minister of Education, Lifelong Learning and Family Affairs. The conference is organized by her office every year, and sometime it is bombastic, long and hyped, and sometimes down to earth. This time it was the later, held in the evening hours, with modest catering, and thankfully, no big sponsor participation. I have to thank Aruba Aloe for the generous gift of Desert Bloom bath gel. SpeakerSandra Brown always gives a good talk. As the woman who raised Xander Bogaerts, of the Boston Red Sox, she is always a source of inspiration especially when she talks about CEDEHM, Centro di Desaroyo di Hende Muher, dedicated to the professional, emotional and social wellbeing of women on this island. Then the minister took center stage, dressed in white – she has a great sense of style, and was very noticeable in this simple and striking outfit – she talked about shame and his crippling cousin guilt. She pointed out the terms were often confused but they were not interchangeable because Shame is about who you are and Guilt is about what you did. Then she elaborated on embarrassment and humiliation, as toxic personality forming factors, and how women struggle to free themselves from their after-effects. The audience listened with great intent, and appreciated the well put together communication.
Key note speaker Crystal Andrus Morisette, “committed to empowering women worldwide,” did not deliver what was expected of her, although she was dressed tastefully, and sported a pair of swanky shoes. She was all over the place, she lacked focus, and basically, I have no clue what she said, but it was relatively short, so I did not have to embarrass myself by walking out. The expo next door with works of art by local female artists was a nice touch.
Women on the island have a formidable presence. I heard that Subway, yes, the sandwich shop sent 10 of its female employees to the conference. They all had their hair done, and they all showed up nicely dressed. The following morning they thanked their boss for the opportunity to meet their peers, the equality ambitious and relentless women of Aruba, determined to create their greatest lives.
On the road with Aruba Doet
ARUBA DOET 2016 started on Thursday at Fort Zoutman. The governor, his excellence Fredy Refunjol, symbolically hit a nail on its head which signified the opening of the volunteer weekend, with more that 3,250 people working on a variety of not-for-profit projects.
The gathering at Fort Zoutman brought many of the island’s NGOs together, for a networking opportunity under the stars. They were the ones benefitting from Aruba Doet effort and they came together for the opening ceremony, officiated by Daniel Tecklenborg, director of CEDE Aruba and ARUBA DOET coordinator, Mariëlle Hoeijmakers.
I met Audrey Lacle that evening. She told me that for the past seven years she has been supporting a halfway house in Moko which she founded and which she funds from private sources. I knew Audrey was involved in getting addicts off the main street and into treatment centers in the Dominican Republic, but upon their return they had nowhere to go, so Audrey opened and now operates a halfway house with more than a dozen recovering individuals, in long term residence.
Grace Maduro told me about the Girl Scouts Organization, which she is involved with, and her ambitious plans to grow the ranks of the group to 500 girls so that they could be recognized internationally by the Girl Scout global authority.
I knew Audrey and Grace were women of valor but I did not know the extent of their involvement with the community,
As a volunteer photographer I showed up on Friday, at 8am at the CEDE Aruba headquarters and we went on the road, taking pictures and checking that all projects registered were indeed happening. We started at Foundacion pa Nos Comunidad in Ponton where Sabine v/d Berg was orchestrating the move of the warehouse to a new location in Madiki. She had the men of Formation Social helping her and that job went very well.
At Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa a large group of FADA clients, addicts in recovery, enjoyed breakfast in the pavilion before going on an island tour with Fofoti Tours. The group also included some of the elderly from SABA’s St Nicholas home and a group of recovering addicts from Eliezer, a recovery farm, a green initiative by a single visionary which provides a home and structure for lost souls, tending to animals and a vegetable garden, and finding their way back into society, living close to the land.
One of the best projects, at Club Kibrahacha 60+ mixed a great large of volunteers with the retirees for a huge mosaic project. They had a wonderful time creating the mural together and I have fun pictures to prove it.
At Sonrisa and Pasa Dia Briyo Di Solo the buildings got a new coat of paint, bright yellow, by a music playing, fun loving group of volunteers. The residents there bottle Aruba Ginger, a ginger hot sauce. Please buy it, where you see the label, to support the Sonrisa home, home of adults with limitations.
In Dakota, we watched a huge wall being painted. Yellow is the color of the day. The Centro Di Bario Dakota looks a bit shabby and in need of everything. Most of the work will be done on Saturday, by Banco di Caribe volunteers, I am told.
We visited the EPI campus and found the volunteers from Mediq, and Visser Trading working very hard at landscaping. Wow, outlining flower beds, and digging in the dirt. One of the pick’s handle broke. It was that strenuous.
At Bon Nochi Drumi Dushi, a story telling, reading facility for kids, volunteers took inventory and straightened up the book shelves.
At SABA, the elderly home, a small outdoor area was created, so that residents could sit outside with their guests, in the great outdoors and enjoy the birds in the tree over their heads. It turned out nice.
We had a most interesting day. The pictures turned out fine. On Saturday another, much bigger group of volunteers hits the road for another set of jobs, as part of the 4th edition of Aruba Doet, what an amazing project!
