We have seen rough seas around our usually calm coastal sections, and the sea spit back some of the junk we have been depositing in it. To call it a disaster is an irresponsible exaggeration, this is just a seasonal occurrence, luckily, we have never seen a disaster, and we always act surprised when the wind shifts, and the sea shows us who’s boss, and who’s in charge, and under who’s benevolent protection we live here. We should remember not to leave furniture and equipment lying around overnight, because it might come back to us in pieces, as junk.
According to Windy.com, we should be OK today, the offshore wind returned.
In parliamentary discussions we were told that the old DOW building in Oranjestad will be refurbished, it has been abandoned for 16 years, it is a beautiful building and worth saving. It is destined to become a VIC, a Visitor Information Center, and it will also house the APA offices, home to the Aruba Port Authority pencil pushers.
While it is good to hear that our iconic colonial buildings get a new lease on life, introducing a VIC, across the street from the cruise ship terminal is a total waste of public funds. Our visitors use their phones for information and the tech-shy meet the army of promoters and vendors at the gates and who tell them what to do.
A while ago on a cruise to Norway, I noticed in a few ports, retirees, standing on the docks, wearing the port authority logo on their yellow, hi-visibility safety jacket, prepared to answer questions, while positioned mid visitor-stream, coming off the ship.
I made a mental note. That was a fantastic low-tech, low-cost VIC center.
The plans presented described a totally redundant VIC. It will remained airconditioned, cleaned and empty. No one will get off a ship, cross the terminal, the walkway and the busy street to solicit info. The Aruba Tourism Authority should say NO to GOA’s attempt to collect rent for a building their don’t need, abusing our tourism funds.
Moving the APA offices into the old DOW building means that their own building at the entrance of the port will be abandoned. What are the plans for that?
Aliansa Platform
The minister of Minister di Labor, Integration and Energy gathered the Aruba’s diplomatic corps, just recently to recruit them to the task of guiding and informing their countryman and woman, living in Aruba and looking for work. He called out to them as part of his efforts to integrate some of the undocumented living here, into the work force.
Another redundant PR strategy. Instead of working with DIMAS and the Labor Department to remove hurdles, he is doing his best to avoid the contact. He lost two court cases this week, in his private war against the DIMAS director. Without talking sides, who is right and who is wrong, they have to let it go, and collaborate. The diplomatic corps can do little to solve labor shortages, while the minister and the Department of Integration, Management and Admission of Foreigners, can do a lot, if they weren’t on the war path.
I noticed both the Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, and the Marriott Aruba Resort & Stellaris Casino, booked full page adz in the media lauding their long-term employees and promoting internal job mobility. With the current labor crunch, they are determined to hold on to their staffers, by proving there are the Employers of Choice for those who want a career in hospitality. Makes sense.
