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local Saturday 4 March 2023

Minister Ursell Arends attends the Our Ocean Conference in Panama

(Oranjestad)—The Our rine life. Synergy and ambi- earth, provides food for
Ocean Conference is a tion for efforts that create more than 3 billion people
space created for dialogue resilience for resources and on earth and is a medium
about collaborations be- marine biodiversity will ben- for global trading. How-
tween chiefs of states, the efit communities around ever, the ocean is at risk
private sector, civil society the world. due to global warming,
and academic institutions Our Ocean Conference fo- non-sustainable practices,
to discuss how to preserve cuses on 6 areas of action illegal fishing, imprudent
marine resources, promote to protect and revitalize the contamination and loss of
sustainability and educate oceans, for example areas marine life.
the general public about of marine protections, sus- Panama is the first country
the oceans. tainable Blue Economy, in Central America to host
climate change, marine this event, which has em-
The conferences took security, sustainable fishing phasized the importance
place on March 2nd to and marine pollution. for contribution by Latin
March 3rd in Panama. The The ocean is one of the America in marine preser-
minister of Environment is most valuable resources vation and world leading
a participant in the event which is designed to pro- and productivity, which is for humanity. The ocean related to the oceans in
Blue Leaders, which was tects marine life and re- vital for maintaining life on houses 80% of all life on the last few years. q
organized by Belgium to sources across internation- earth. The goal is to protect
open the Our Ocean Con- al waters. at least 30% of the world’s
ference with this year’s Blue Leaders called for all oceans.
slogan: “Our Oceans, Our countries to seal the deal As a participant at the
Connection.” on BBNJ, with is set to be event, Minister Ursell Ar-
The goal of the event was finalized this year. Imple- ends presented a promise
to encourage support for mentation of the jurisdiction of Aruba and the Dutch
the Biodiversity Beyond Na- is essential for the preserva- Kingdom to preserve our
tional Jurisdiction (BBNJ), tion of the ocean’s health oceans and protect ma-

Minister Geoffrey Wever met with the new president of the

Chamber of Commerce

(Oranjestad)—The Cham- of Commerce. The top- of Commerce and Minister
ber of Commerce and ics discussed included the Wever discussed plans for
Minister Geoffrey Wever of progress of the UBO regis- developing the city cen-
Economic Relations met try, which is advancing as ters of Oranjestad and San
several times to discuss planned. Furthermore, the Nicolas.
topics relating to Aruba’s Chamber of Commerce
economy. brought forth various points “It is always a pleasure to
related to the prosecution interchange ideas with the
Yesterday, Mr. Gavril Mans- reform and the introduc- Chamber of Commerce;
ure met with Minister Wever tion of tax at the border. they always provide a posi-
for the first time as the new tive contribution,” Minister
president of the Chamber To finalize, the Chamber Wever stated.q

Energy security is an urgent priority to Minister Glenbert Croes

(Oranjestad)—During a ter further explained: explained that all good
press conference held by parts of the refinery will be
the government, Minister “Gasoline supply cannot reactivated with clean en-
Glenbert Croes elaborat- fail, diesel supply cannot ergy and technology. All
ed on the work for recov- fail. Everything that is impor- those that are no longer
ering the infrastructure of tant and indispensable for functional, will be a part of
the local refinery, which our local economy cannot the Aruba Hydrogen Val-
has been closed for many fail, as well as the infrastruc- ley. Even though some may
years now. tures needed to ensure the think that this is a dream for
importation and distribution the future and that this will
One of the aspects that the of essential combustibles take a long time to realize,
minister of Energy is putting for our economy. So, there but the minister shared the
pressure on is the security for needs to be investments to news that 4 Nordic coun-
energy, which is something ensure this.” tries in Europe are investing
that always concerned the in Green Hydrogen which is
minister as he sees it as ur- While answering questions already ready to be distrib- a reality, bringing with it a ity that our island deserves.
gent and in need of atten- from the press related to the uted this year. new economic outlet that
tion. In terms of what he refinery, the minister further Aruba needs and creating Minister Glenbert Croes
means with “the essential explained that a closed re- This shows how fast the proj- a second economic pillar took on his task to ensure
infrastructure for ensuring finery cannot generate rev- ect for the Aruba Hydro- that can push the country that Aruba is the first region
energy security”, the minis- enue. Minister Croes further gen Valley could become in the direction of prosper- with a hydrogen valley.q