Page 15 - HOH

a8 local
Friday 9 december 2022

The blue buoy and platform located at Palm beach undergo restoration

ORANJESTAD – On Decem-
ber 5, 2022, the Minister of
Tourism and Public Health,
Mr. Dangui Oduber, an-
nounced the restoration of
the blue buoy and wooden
platform located behind
the RIU Antillas on Palm
Beach.

In 2018, the government
partnered with the RIU An-
tillas to renovate the blue
buoy, a landmark well vis-
ited by locals and tourists.

Sadly the renovation did
not last long as bad weath-
er and natural elements
destroyed all the efforts, traction where visitors can
and the landmark now For the renovation, the enjoy and take pictures
needs another renovation. wooden platform will be and post these on social
This time, the Minister ap- built in the shape of an oc- media, a valuable promo-
proached the Aruba Tour- tagon and will include lad- tion for Aruba. It is a small
ism Authority for funds to ders in each corner. The project but with a signifi-
give the blue buoy and sur- government will approach cant impact.
rounding platform a com- local artists for a stunning
plete makeover. This time art design on the buoy. Tourism remains our most
they will use materials that important economic driver.
resist the harsh elements for Once ready, this project Therefore, we should keep
a longer time. will become another at- investing in our island.q

Gold rush! And more about the history of Aruba

ORANJESTAD - Evert lished many articles on his
Bongers, author of several website (Historia di Aruba)
publications, such as 'Au- and in the local newspa-
gustus scur' and 'The hum- pers. After his retirement,
mingbird on the rock: And he was able to develop this
more about the history of interest and passion and
Aruba' publishes his next dedicated more time to
book titled 'Gold Rush! And research. He can happily
more about the history of count on the support of his
Aruba'. wife, Heleen Bongers, who
proofreads and edits his
Library Director Mrs. Astrid work. "Gold rush! And more
Britten received a few cop- about Aruba's history is just
ies from Mr. Bongers to add like 'The hummingbird on
to the National collection the rock', a series of articles
and public library. that also appeared in Ami-
These books will soon be goe di Aruba.
available to the public.
Mr. Bongers has delved fur-
Evert Bongers has always ther into some of the topics
been very interested in Aru- that appear in 'The Hum-
ba's history and has pub- mingbird on the Rock', such

as the Native American the book, the author writes Aruba with his wife Heleen,
petroglyphs, the gold in- about some popular, no and worked until 2005 as a
dustry, and the fascinating longer existing, restaurants. French teacher and then
story of World War II. New until 2018 as dean at Cole-
topics such as the history Evert Bongers spent his gio Arubano.
of the carnival, the migra- primary and secondary
tion to Cuba, and life in the school days in Aruba and Evert Bongers dedicates this
Lago Colony will appeal to later studied French. In Au- book to his father, Huibregt
lovers of Aruban history. In gust 1977, he returned to Pieter (Huib) Bongers.q