Page 13 - AHATA

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local Saturday 5 July 2025
Meet Aruba’s biggest hero

Boy Ecury

(Oranjestad)—This past May demeanor. Boy also partici-
4th, Aruba as well as The pated in the multiple sabo-
Netherlands commemorat- taging operations against
ed those who sadly perished the German military oc-
during the Second World cupying The Netherlands.
War. As is known around the These included bombings on
globe, this chapter in world German military trucks and
history is one of the most trains. The group also helped
tragic yet, and many soldiers people go into hiding, as well
and rebels have died on the as opened fire against allies
frontline during this time. of the Nazi regime. In these
operations, Boy really stood
One of those rebels who out for his cold bloodedness.
have fought against the
Nazi regime, was an Aru- an activist, to stand up and In 1943, he received a no-
ban named Segundo Jorge fight against discrimination tice to be placed for work in
Adelberto “Boy” Ecury. Born and oppression. Germany. This he refused, of
in Aruba on April 23rd, 1922, course, and went into hiding
Boy spent his childhood on After seeing the horrific using multiple addresses in
the island, before being sent bombings of Rotterdam first- multiple cities. Because he
to The Netherlands by his fa- hand, he decided to join the was a wanted man, he of
ther when he was 15 years resistance. At the same time, course could not continue Eventually, he proved him- Ecury was buried with mili-
old to continue his studies he was still studying and living to be active as a rebel. How- self right. On November 5th, tary honor. In 1949, the Aru-
abroad. This was in 1937, with family in Tilburg. It was ever, stubborn and naturally 1944, Boy Ecury was arrested ban Government erected
three years before WWII there where he met people rebellious as he was, he al- by German soldiers. He was a monumental bust of him
broke out. who printed and distributed ways tried to join in on the placed in the “Oranjehotel” in front of what is now the
the rebellion newspaper. This operations regardless. prison in Scheveningen, The linear park trail, and in 1984
During the war, he actively would be the first of three re- Hague, where he was ques- he received the Resistance
participated in the rebellion bellion group that he would In 1944, after his friend Luis tioned. Despite being given Memorial Cross postmortem.
in The Netherlands against join throughout his 4-year ser- de Lannoy, a fellow rebel away by an acquaintance,
the Nazi regime, but his re- vice to the resistance. from Curacao, was arrested he himself never gave away Boy’s life motto was this: “In
bellious streak and constant and executed, he moved the names of his comrades. my father’s house, there is no
drive to fight for justice began Boy’s primary task as mem- to Delft, where he joined his Famously, he told his cell place for a traitor.”q
even before the war broke ber of the group was to dis- third and last group in Rot- mate: “I will die with a smile
out. Being a person of color tract the German soldiers terdam. During this time, he on my face.” Source: “De Kolibrie op de
with a Haitian heritage living while others ran into hiding wrote a goodbye letter for On November 6th, 1944, Rots (en meer over the ge-
in The Netherlands made him into alleyways. This he was his family, possibly knowing Ecury was executed. He was schiedenis van Aruba)” by
vulnerable to discrimination, able to do because of his the risks of him being active only 22 years old. Evert Bongers.
and this inspired him to be skin color and confronting again in the big cities.

Lessons from our elders:

Plants and fruits for medicinal use

(Oranjestad)—Though western said that this tea can also be drank lup” (porridge) for stomach pain or
medicine is now widely used for after an operation on the ovaries or when you’re feeling weak. You can
common illnesses and to keep our uterus. This gets rid of irritation and make it with milk too, but it is advised
bodies healthy and happy, it is still inflammation. to best use just water. You can also
very common in every household add prunes for a bit of sweetness.
in Aruba (and around the world) to When the fruit is unripe and green, Arrowroot shalup is also good to treat
have staple home remedies that is this can be used to stimulate men- an unhealthy gut or for diarrhea.
passed on through generations. Here struation flow in women. This also
are some tips that our elders have stimulates the passing kidney stones. To make arrowroot shalup, boil a bit leaves in boiled water and drinking
passed on to us over the years. When ripe, the fruit can be used for of water and add one tablespoon
poisoning in the gut and can help of arrowroot powder and stir con- it. You can also make eggplant juice

Pineapple treat rheumatic diseases, like arthritis. tinuously until you reach porridge to help purify your blood. However,
Pineapple has more uses than consistency. If you make a shalup do make sure to drink slowly; let it
mix with your spit and then swallow.
topping it on your Christmas ham. However, breastfeeding women with milk, add a pinch of salt. Raw
According to elders, the skin of a who cannot produce much milk are arrowroot powder can be used to Eggplant kataplan* can also be used
pineapple is great to use to refresh advised not to consume too pine- powder babies.
your body. Clean the skin thoroughly apple, and people with acid reflux to treat skin tumors, abscesses and
hemorrhoids. Eggplant kataplan
and make tea or warapa* with it. It is are recommended to not consume Eggplant/Aubergine
any pineapple at all. Eggplants, or aubergines, are easy can also be used externally to treat
to find in supermarkets around the arthritis.q
Arrowroot world and can be grown all year *warapa: term referring to a water and
Arrowroot is native to tropical Amer- round on the island. Related to pota- sugar solution, a.k.a simple syrup.
ica and can be sold as a powder to and tomato, eggplants are good *kataplan: porridge-like mixture used
or whole. It is said that you can take to calm nerves. It can also be used to externally for wounds or parts of the
arrowroot powder and make a “sha- lower blood pressure, by steeping its body that are painful or swollen.