Page 9 - AHATA

A5
LOCAL Tuesday 14 January 2025

Aruba bids farewell to its first Prime Minister, Henny Eman

the AVP party. Henny not only man-
aged to revive his party but also his
homeland. In 1986, he was elected
as the first Prime Minister of Aruba
after convincing the Netherlands
and the Antilles that the people's
desire for self-determination was a
sacred right.

Henny served as Prime Minister for
three terms. A humble man who
never sought attention, he was a
no-nonsense leader and always
sharp in making difficult decisions.
His vision remains legendary.

Henny Eman: A statesman with a
simple life in the countryside Arends. He personally contributed
A humble and tranquil life in the to much of the carpentry work. This
Yesterday morning, with a state fu- From a young age, Henny was pre- countryside characterized the life simple wooden house, surrounded
neral, the people of Aruba bid farewell pared to enter politics someday. of a man who left his mark on the by the natural beauty of the Aruban
to Aruba's first Prime Minister, Jan Like his father, Shon A., who passed highest state platforms within the landscape, became his sanctuary.
Hendrik Albert "Henny" Eman. Eman is away too young, Henny studied law Kingdom. This sensible and simple He was always surrounded by family,
remembered for his political legacy. in Leiden with the mindset that a life was the one Henny chose after friends, and his two beloved pets.
The eldest son of politician Shon A. great challenge awaited him once serving Aruba in the most critical
Eman and Blanche he completed his studies. In the positions. Embracing the land with the same
Eman-Hartog, early 1970s, Henny received news dedication he applied to his public
he was born from Aruba that the political party The visionary of a New Aruba chose service, Henny began cultivating a
into a fam- his grandfather had founded was to spend his later years in quiet humil- small piece of land near his home in
ily where facing significant issues. The party ity, embracing a life close to nature Jaburibari. With the help of friends
politics was fractured. and the tranquility of Jaburibari. and family, he planted peanuts and
was the Henny returned to Aruba to restore the beans, installed an irrigation system,
order of AVP party and revive the struggle— Despite his immense achievements, and personally cared for the crops.
the day. the dream of being "masters in our Henny Eman opted for a life of sim- His harvests, known as "Jaburibari Pea-
own house"—for which the people plicity and humility in retirement. He nuts," were sold in small neighborhood
of Aruba had fought so hard. The never sought or aspired to positions stores in Noord, packaged in simple
AVP party was in disarray. Henny, as an advisor, commissioner, or any plastic or brown paper bags that
together with Alicio Quandt and Chibi of the other attractive and lucra- reflected the simplicity of his work.
Croes, led the party as a triumvirate, tive roles often offered to someone
securing one seat in 1977. with a career as impressive as Henny During his retirement, Henny remained
Eman’s. deeply connected to his roots and
After the election, Henny returned his community in other ways.
to the Netherlands, completed his When he moved to the countryside Henny's humble life after such a
studies with a thesis on Aruba's Sta- in Jaburibari, together with friends, distinguished career is a profound
tus Aparte (separate status), and Henny built a modest wooden house example of leadership rooted in
immediately returned to Aruba to for himself and his wife, Iris Eman- service, gratitude, and simplicity.q
continue in politics and keep the
fight for self-determination alive.

In 1979, the party received 1,200
votes, more than half of which
were cast for Henny personally. In
1978, Henny was elected as leader
of the AVP. The Status Aparte once
again became the central theme of