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local Saturday 25 February 2023
FITCH visits Aruba for an overview of the island’s recovery

(Oranjestad)— Last month, view of the island’s finan- published in approximately
representatives from Stan- cial structure. a month or so. As soon as
dard & Poors visited Aruba. FITCH is impressed with the the pandemic hit, they im-
This time round, the island island’s recovery, and they mediately downgraded
received a visit from rep- also realized that Aruba Aruba, because they had
resentatives of the finance was one of the countries no idea what would hap-
agency FITCH to talk with that was most affected by pen to the island’s econ-
different stakeholders and the pandemic. They also omy. The hope now is that
get a better overview of the indicated that Aruba was Aruba could receive an
island’s recovery. able to see a positive re- upgraded rate, where this
covery thanks to the swift will indicate that recovery
Aruba is a country that is fi- and firm decision-making is going well.
nancially dependent on in- by the local government.
ternational trade. This was “God willing, we will pull
tradition before the pan- After this visit, the represen- through this financial im-
demic of Covid-19. In or- tatives will go back to the passe and the rating will this so the entire world can and every citizen on this
der to achieve this, it is very states to evaluate the infor- become positive very soon. see how Aruba is recover- island are the results of our
important that agencies mation they were given in We will have to wait a few ing financially. Efforts made financial recovery,” Aru-
like FITCH and Standard & order to publish a new rate more weeks to get the re- by unions and the positiv- ban Prime Minister, Evelyn
Poors have a good over- for Aruba, which will be sults, and they will publish ity from the government Wever-Croes, expressed.q

The Aruban government to continue its collaboration with Qredits

Aruba to help local businesses

(Oranjestad)—During a public meeting in also make sure to give 80 people the op-
the parlament of Aruba this Thursday, the portunity to participate in the Small Busi-
National Ordinance Draft was approved ness Academy. There was also the posibil-
in order to empower the Minister of Eco- ity for young adults to participate in the
nomic Relation, Mr. Geoffrey Wever, to program called “Be Your Own Boss.” Both
help—together with Qredits Aruba—a total programs aim to provide education for ex-
of 50 local businesses receive an invest- isting and future businesses.
ment loan with a reduced interest fee es-
pecially designed for small business and During the pandemic, the government
merchants. had to find ways to help small businesses
quickly, seeing the extraordinary situation
This is proof that the government does in- at the time, for which there was no time to
deed work with the private sector to em- wait. At that time, a donation was made
power small businesses, create jobs and to Qredits Aruba, which in return made
stimulate entrepreneurship. Based on this them able to help more than 100 compa-
cooperation, Qredits invested 1.2 million nies make ends meet. Minister Wever indi-
florins to finance approximately 50 small cated that “no policies can be made in
companies with a reduced interest rate of regards to this, and we are grateful for the
5.75%. assistence given to small businesses during
a difficult time.” The minister is also happy
This cooperation between the Ministery of that Parlament has given the aproval for
Economic Relations and Qredits Aruba will this new draft.q

The Dominican community of Aruba

celebrates their independence this Sunday

This Sunday, February 26th, the community of falls on the 27th of February, they will be cel-
the Dominican Republic in Aruba will be cel- ebrating this Sunday so that the whole family
ebrating their Independence and Flag Day can enjoy.
with a small event in which they extend an This is an important day for the Dominican
invitation to the entire Aruban community to community, as this is the biggest national hol-
participate. iday in the Dominican Republic. On February
27th, 1844, politician and member of the Do-
To celebrate a day with the family, the Do- minican army, Juan Pablo Duarte, founded
minican community living on the island in- the country together with a secret society to
formed—per tradition—that they will be cel- proclaim the country’s independence.
ebrating their day with a small event starting The most traditional way of celebrating this
from 10am at the Carnaval Village in San day is through parades across different cities.
Nicolas. Afterwards, they will unite at the This also includes military parades from the
Plaza Juan Pablo Duarte, which is located at Dominican armed forces, in which the sol-
Leeuwenhoekstraat in the down town area. diers all wear their uniform and drive around
Even though the official Independence Day in tanks and trucks. q