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local Thursday 26 January 2023

Floral offering for Dia di Betico at Arubahuis

THE HAGUE –Plenipoten- tion as a commonwealth Betico was born on Janu-
tiary minister of Aruba, mr. within the Dutch Kingdom ary 25, 1938. Croes had four
Ady Thijsen and acting and Betico is honored for children: two sons—Glen-
interim director of Aruba- this outcome since 1989 bert Croes and Gilberto Ju-
huis, drs. Glenda Hernan- by celebrating the Dia di nior Croes and two daugh-
dez on the 24th of January Betico. The official holiday ters— Glendeline Croes
laid a wreath on the eve of normally features perfor- and Guisette Croes. Both of
Dia di Betico at the bust of mances, sporting events Croes’ sons served as Min-
Betico Croes to remember and games throughout the isters and Glenbert is cur-
the birth of Mr. Gilberto Fra- island. rently in office as Minister of
çoise “Betico” Croes, Aru- Croes himself was not able Labor. Betico was also the
ban politician and states- to enjoy the results of his uncle of Aruba’s current
man. ongoing struggle; he was Prime Minister, Mrs. Evelyn island. During the Round was set for 1986, the sec-
involved in an accident Wever-Croes. table Conference of 1981, ond was set for ten years
On the 25th of January, on December 31, 1985, The father of the Aruban he was responsible for for- later and enhanced the
Aruba celebrates our na- and went into a coma. nation or the Liberator (Lib- mally setting the date for independence from the
tional hero, Betico Croes. He passed away on No- ertador) as he is called of- Aruba’s independency. Netherlands. However, it
Gilberto Francois (Betico) vember 26, 1986. For the ten, was an active man in Betico also became leader never came to a total in-
Croes. He helped the island Aruban people, his words Caribbean organizations of the political party Mov- dependence of Aruba in
attain the Status Aparte – will never be forgotten. He while he studied in the imiento Electoral di Pueblo 1996; it was dropped in
the status of autonomous told his people: “Si mi cay Netherlands. Betico was a (MEP), now the main party 1990. The Status Aparte
country within the kingdom na caminda, gara e ban- social man, participated that forms the current gov- within the Kingdom of the
of the Netherlands, sepa- dera y sigui cu e lucha” in sports and the social ernment that was elected Netherlands was to be a
rate from the other islands which means “If I fall along and cultural community. in September 2021. permanent one.
of the Antilles. the way, grab the flag and He worked as a teacher There were two stages in
continue the struggle.” and instituted the official which the Independence Images of the wreath-lay-
Aruba was allowed to func- seal, flag and hymn for the was formed: the first one ing courtesy of Arubahuis.q

According to minister of Energy, Glenbert Croes:

Meeting for possible purchase of HFO from PetroEcuador very positive

ORANJESTAD – During a ity, this means that minister is currently paying. Conse- ter travelled to Ecuador to cooperate with Aruba’s
press conference this week Croes did his utmost effort quently, utilities company meet with the new minister request to reach a direct
by the minister of Labor, and he feels that there is WEB till also receive a dis- of Energy, Fernando Santos relationship between the
Energy and Integration, an opportunity to reach count which can be trans- Alvite and vice-minister Es- national companies was
Mr. Glenbert Croes, he in- agreements that can ben- lated to the community pin Zapata. expressed, in this case, for
formed about his recent trip efit the Aruban people. through the reduction of RdA and FMSA to purchase
to Ecuador, where he held the price for electricity and They were accompanied the fuel that WEB needs di-
varios meetings with the Seeing as national petro- water, according to the by General Consul of the rectly from PetroEcuadro
minister of Energy and Min- leum company of Ecuador, minister. Netherlands in Ecuador, Di- without intermediaries.
ing, Dr. Fernando Santos Al- PetroEcuador has been ego Almeida
vite, vice-minister of Hydro- supplying HFO to Aruba According to a press re- Guzman. Croes thanked Additionally, Croes said
carbons, Ruben Dario Espin for a few years already, lease, the government is the Dutch embassy for the that because RdA and
Zapata, and executives of through some intermediar- aware of the concerns with- support received because FMSA are 100% property of
PetroEcuador. ies, it was advised to search in the community regard- for Aruba, the diplomatic Aruba, he urges PetroEc-
for possibilities to eliminate ing the cost of life being platform of the Dutch em- uador to not let our com-
Croes explained that last the intermediaries. Doing very high. For this reason, bassy is instrumental to panies take part in a ten-
year he was in Ecuador to this, Aruba can through efforts continue that could open doors and show the der like any other private
meet with the minister in the Refinery of Aruba (RdA) lead to a reduction in price seriousness of intentions of company, but rather to
charge of Energy at the and Fuels Marketing & Sup- for water and electricity, the Government of Aruba allow negotiations to take
time with the intention to ply Aruba (FMSA) purchase which are fundamental to for every country that they place directly finding fair
search for possibilities that HFO directly from PetroEc- reducing the cost of life for are approaching, in this and balanced terms with
could result in a reduction uador. the entire community. case Ecuador. a win-win for Ecuador and
of the price of water and Once it is no longer neces- Aruba. Concluding, the
electricity for Aruba. Con- sary to pay commission to It is for this reason that During the meeting, the minister emphasized that
sidering that the goal of the intermediaries, FMSA can Croes together executives willingness of the govern- the meetings went well and
government of Aruba is to obtain HFO with a discount from RdA and the govern- ment, Ecuadorian minis- Aruba was well-received
lower the price of electric- compared to the price it ment’s adviser on this mat- ters and PetroEcuador to by Ecuador.q