Page 8 - aruba-today-20210116

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Saturday 16 January 2021

The history of Aruba

In 1986, the outdated Lago in August 1977, the call for
closed but the refinery was independence was recog-
soon reopened by another nized by the Dutch govern-
oil company. ment, which resulted in ob-
taining the so-called 'Sta-
Aruba and World War II tus Aparte': in 1986, Aruba
Aruba was home to one became an independent
of the biggest refineries in country within the Dutch
the world, supplying a sub- Kingdom.
stantial part of the fuel to
the allied troops. That's why Betico Croes
the island was targeted by The young and dynamic
a German submarine. For- politician Gilberto François
tunately, the attack was a (‘Betico’) Croes from Santa
major failure. Aruba had Cruz founded the political
been spared massive dam- party Moviemento Elector-
age al di Pueblo (MEP) in 1971.
As leader of this party, he
Striving for Separation was an advocate of the
In the beginning of the thir- realization of the 'Status
ties of the past century, Aparte' for Aruba in the
Aruba officially announced seventies and eighties. He
to the Government of the died in the year the Status
Dutch Kingdom its wish to Aparte took effect, 1986
ORANJESTAD — Many of the island was inhabited by century. separate from Curaçao.
our visitors consider our Indians, first by the Arawaks Jan Hendrik (Henny) Eman Tourism
One Happy Island as their and later the Caribs. They The Lago and Shon A Eman were the In 1959, the first major resort
home away from home, so lived of catching fish and The most important advocates of 'Separación' on Palm Beach was con-
we thought it is a good idea collecting natural food. change in the past century (separation). structed. Next to the Aruba
for you to know the history for Aruba was the establish- Caribbean Hotel, other so-
of Aruba. Here’s our story in The Spaniards, the Dutch ment of the Lago Oil and The struggle for 'Status called High-rise hotels were
a nutshell. and the English Transport Company. The Aparte' built. Several smaller hotels
Aruba was discovered by founding of this refinery In the course of the seven- were built as well, like those
What’s in a name the Spaniards in 1499. In the prompted the need of for- ties, a movement came on Eagle Beach. Tourism
Most probably, the name 16th century, the Spaniards eign labor and they came about that aimed to dis- has grown to become the
Aruba is of Indian origin, a deported the entire Indian mainly from the English solve Aruba from the ad- major employer on the is-
combination of ora (shell) population and sent them speaking islands in the Ca- ministrative unit of the land, next to the refinery.
and oubao (island). But it away to the island of His- ribbean. They established Netherlands Antilles. After a Source: http://www.histo-
might also be from Spanish: paniola to work in copper themselves in San Nicolas. couple of turbulent weeks riadiaruba.aw/. q

oro hubo (there was gold). mines. In the 17th century,
The earliest mention on a the Dutch conquered the
map spells Orua. Windward islands. On Aru-
ba horses and mainly goats
The pre-Columbian era were bred. Between 1806
Before the discovery of and 1816, Aruba was oc-
Aruba by the Spaniards, cupied by the English.

Aloe, gold and phosphate
De aloe plant was particu-
larly suitable for the soil and
the climate of Aruba. As of
the 19th century, the juice
is exported and since 1947
there is an aloe factory on
Aruba. In 1824, gold was
found on Aruba and phos-
phate in 1859. Both indus-
tries were the first important
source of income for the
Aruban people. De gold
digging continued up to
the First World War (1914)
and the exploitation of
phosphate was also halted
in the beginning of the 20th