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local Friday 4 November 2022

Aruba National Park Foundation Aruban media icon, Ruben

continued with consultation process for Garcia passed away

management of Marine Park

ORANJESTAD – Aruba Na- the stakeholders in crucial the results of a SWOT analy-
tional Park Foundation positions for the manage- sis (Strengths, Weaknesses,
(FPNA) as an independent ment of the Marine Park Opportunities and Threats) ORANESTAD – Yesterday afternoon, the Aruban com-
munity was shaken by the news that beloved media
organization in charge of Aruba. and a situational analysis.
conservation and man- personality – radio host and DJ – Ruben Garcia had
agement of terrestrial and The Zoning and Regula- The participants also de- passed away after some time in the hospital. Tributes
marine protected areas tions workshop was a ses- liberated on how to incor- began pouring in on social media as the community
mourned the loss of an icon.
in Aruba, announced that sion where participants porate these results in the
they have completed the from various organizations zoning for the four marine Ruben Luis Garcia was of Latin American heritage,
consultation process for the involved in nature, commu- protected areas (MPAs)
management of the Marine nity, authority, fishing and that together form the Ma- and his mother wanted him to be an English and
Spanish teacher. However, in 1970 he got the oppor-
Park Aruba in collaboration tourism contributed to the rine Park Aruba.
with more than 50 stake- regulatory management tunity to begin working in Radio Kelkboom as opera-
holders. of the Marine Park Aruba. Sietske van der Wal, Interim tor. One day, when the host left the studio, Garcia
During this workshop, the Marine Park Manager of began his career in radio broadcasting.
The two sessions took place team of Marine Park Aruba FPNA commented: “We
on the 35 and 27 of Oc- which falls under the Aruba are very satisfied on how During a special interview with our reporter in 2020,
th
th
the radio host and one of the most well-known peo-
tober and were a great National Park Foundation the workshops went. The
success, seeing interactive presented the results of ses- participation of our stake- ple in Aruba told how his trajectory in radio and tele-
vision were the most successful moments of his life.
participation and many sions that took place in Oc- holders is extremely im-
different perspectives from tober 2021, which involved portant so that FPNA can In 1971, he was chosen as part of the duo of Prins and
finalize a management
plan that takes into con- Pancho during the Carnival season, and this is how
everything began. Garcia said that he gained a lot
sideration not only the pri-
mary goal of conserving of confidence on stage, which led to his own music
show for the youth. He created his own discotheque
nature and marine life, but
also incorporate social and called Scorpio, which made him very famous. From
there came the idea of Scorpio disco, nowadays Nik-
economic aspects. In the
name of FPNA, a want to ki Beach, which was one of the biggest discotheques
in Aruba.
thank all stakeholders for
taking the time to meet In 1981, Garcia became a promoter bringing inter-
with us and also for their
valuable contribution.” national artists to Aruba, and was responsible for
bringing UB40, Juan Luis Guerra, Wilfrido Vargas, Kool
& the Gang and others to the Aruban public.
The consultation sessions for
the management of Ma-
rine Park Aruba that have Garcia later dedicated his time to radio and tele-
vision combined with promotion, and in 2020 cele-
just concluded will pres-
ent their results and these brated 20 years in the entertainment industry. Garcia
said that in this world he achieved many important
will be incorporated in the
management plan for the milestones, for example, when he brought UB40 to
Aruba in 1994. He said that what for many seemed
Marine Park Aruba. This will
be shared with all stake- impossible, he managed to get 12,500 people to at-
tend the concert, a record that according to him, 25
holders in the first quarter of
2023 so that they can give years later was not yet broken.
their point of view and af-
ter this process, FPNA can “Aruba lost a legend”, the government of Aruba
posted on its Facebook page. “A great person. In the
publish the management name of the government of Aruba, we extend con-
plan officially. q
dolences to his family. May Ruben rest in peace.”q