Page 15 - AHATA

a7
local Wednesday 12 november 2025

Aruba’s first Ombudsman and what she can mean for you

(Oranjestad)—Last year of Aruba can still receive
Aruba marked a milestone and handle your complaint
with the introduction of the even from abroad. You only
first Ombudsman of Aruba. have to provide a way for
Jurima Bryson, appointed on them to reach you.
October 1st 2024, is proud to
represent Aruba and is pre- Because this is the first time
pared to help both locals Aruba has an Ombudsman,
and tourists with their con- the bureau office is still not
cerns. in operation, but Ombuds-
man Bryson assured that the
What is the role of the Om- office will be open in about
budsman? three weeks. In the mean
In a nutshell, the Ombuds- time, you can follow the
man is the middle man be- bureau on Instagram and
tween you and government Facebook. “We provide
or semi-government agen- almost daily information so
cies. This means that as a lo- they can understand the role
cal or as a visitor of Aruba, of the Ombudsman, what
you can file a complaint to she can do for them and
the bureau of the Ombuds- which kinds of complaints
man against government they can submit.”
and semi-government agen-
cies. Follow the ombudsman on
Instagram: @ombudsmana-
Already left the island? No ruba and Facebook: Om-
problem. The Ombudsman budsman Aruba. q

Place names in San Nicolas and their origins

(Oranjestad)–If you’re ever to offer. But did you know by the famous Red Anchor The origin of this name is to “Saint Nicolas”, leading
taking a tour of Aruba, San that you are also pass- at what was once the en- part historical and specula- many to believe that this
Nicolas would definitely ing through areas whose trance to the Colony resi- tion, as there are slight de- district was named after a
be on your itinerary. From names have historical ori- dential community and be viations from what actually Spanish saint. Though one
relaxing on the white, san- gins? Here are a few place greeted with red soiled hills happened. account does support this
dy beaches of Baby and names in San Nicolas and by the coast. This is Sero with the theory that the dis-
Roger’s Beach, to explor- their origin story. Colorado. Named after the In 1829, Pieter Lampe was a trict was named after the
ing the prehistoric caves 30-meter, deep red, lime- planter and the person re- saint by Spanish colonizers,
of Quadirikiri and Fontein, Sero Colorado stone hill, “Sero Colorado” sponsible for governing this the other account is much
you are taking in a full view On your way to Baby or translates to “Colored Hill”. remote area. As the story less divine, but does refer to
of what San Nicolas has Roger’s Beach, you’ll pass Sero Colorado has deep goes, Pieter was well known an influential figure in the
historical ties with the once- and beloved for his kind- area.
thriving phosphate industry ness and good treatment
in the area. Matter of fact, of his employees, and was Nicolaas van der Biest was
there are still underground therefore also called Vader a successful landowner
shafts and passages deep Piet (Father Piet). Howev- during the time of the phos-
in Sero Colorado from the er, he was tragically mur- phate boom in late 19th
time of phosphate mining. dered—some speculate at century Aruba. Back then,
In 1958, the refinery at the the hands of a slave. For his landowners (most, if not all
time, Lago, adopted this work and good heart, the of them men) were referred
name for the residential area was named after him. to as “Shon” by their subor-
section of its employees. dinates. So, the district was
San Nicolas originally named after Shon
Vader Piet Of course we can’t forget Nicolaas. Over time, the
Another well visited area, San Nicolas itself. Much name evolved into what is
Vader Piet is located in the like Vader Piet, the origin now San Nicolas.q
Arikok National Park. Rec- of the name San Nicolas
ognizable sites within this has so far two different ac- Source: “Aruba: Short History”
area include the Wind Mills counts. In the literal sense, by Dr. J. Hartog.
and the Quadirikiri Cave. “San Nicolas” translates