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locAl Saturday 4 april 2020
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COVID-19: The Creative Industry’s Worst Nightmare Come True

development; enhanced million Aruban florins result- has stated that they will
financial, technological ing in the GDP falling with provide 214 million to indi-
and technical support; 44.4%. This news was dev- viduals who lost their job
support domestic technol- astating and encouraged due to the Corona crisis,
ogy development; and in- the Aruban government 40 million to SMEs, and 423
crease access to informa- to account for this unprec- million to help with losses in
tion and communications edented crisis. Many policy social funds. The Minister of
technology. instruments have been Finance, Economic Affairs
The Aruban government considered to possibly and Culture, Ms. Xiomara
estimated that approxi- remedy this situation and Maduro has announced
mately 25.000 people has led to 1.3 billion deficit the Fiscal Relief plan for
would lose their jobs in due in the yearly budget, thus 2020 amid the Corona cri-
to the Coronavirus and that with money we don’t have. sis.
the Governments revenue
will experience a loss of 627 The Aruban government Continued on Page 32

ORANJESTAD — March is As the month of April ap-
usually a special month proaches, the Creative Is-
for us in Aruba. We cel- lander introduces a new
ebrate our national flag goal of the month.
and anthem day on the 18 Since the beginning of
th amongst our friends and 2020, each month we high-
families, but this year we light one of the seventeen
were quarantined inside sustainable development
while registering this new goals (SDG) from the Unit-
pandemic called the coro- ed Nations. Fortunate for
navirus (covid-19) in our us, this month we will be
minds. For a small island, discussing SDG 9, which fo-
such as Aruba, the socio- cuses on building resilient
economic impact thus far infrastructures, promoting
has been immense. inclusive and sustainable
industrialization, and foster
It has been at least 4 de- innovation. Two words that
cades since the island ex- pop out from this consid-
perienced a national cur- ering the health and eco-
few or further than that, a nomic climate we are in
partial shutdown. The sad- now are: resiliency and in-
ness experienced once the novation.
last planes full of tourists left
the island, leaving the ho- Between the five targets of
tels completely empty was goal 9 there are some in-
something we as locals teresting reoccurring con-
never dared to imagine. cepts, such as:
The reality hit so deep, the industrial diversification; in-
corona paralyzed much of clusive and sustainable in-
the socio-economic devel- dustrialization; affordable
opment, especially within and equitable access for
the Aruban creative indus- all; increase the access of
try. This loss is not only an small-scale industries; en-
Aruban experience but is a hance scientific research;
global phenomenon. The upgrade the technologi-
only difference is, for small cal capabilities of indus-
islands like Aruba, creatives trial sectors; encouraging
are hit even worse. innovation, increasing the
number of research and