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local Friday 29 July 2022

Minister of Transportation agrees on bus fare increase

Bus fare for Elderly Adults (60+) will remain fixed

ORANJESTAD – On wednesday, According to the press release it proposal to increase the fare in ac- price of gasoline and diesel.
July 27, minister of Transportation, is also important to note that now cordance with the increase in the
Mr. Ursell Arends held a meeting the legal process will be started.
with the United Bus Drivers (Chauf- Thus it is not fruitful to begin spec-
feurnan di Autobus Uni). After delib- ulating at what moment the new
erations, minister Arends informed fare will come into effect at this
that the Government of Aruba moment. Minister Arends said that
and United Bus Drivers reached an he will make it a priority to execute
agreement with which both parties the process as efficiently as possi-
are satisfied. ble, and will keep the group of bus
drivers and the community of Aru-
For this new agreement reached ba informed of all developments.
between the Government of Aru-
ba and the United Bus Drivers, it Minister Arends thanks the United
was taken into consideration that Bus Drivers for the way in which they
the last time the bus fare was ad- organized themselves, the way in
justed was in 2015. The standard which the deliberations were car-
fare will be increased with Afl. 1. ried out, and he also thanks them
It’s important to note that the fare for the cooperation and under-
for Elderly Adults will remain fixed standing the keep the fare with-
at Afl. 3. out change – more favourably –
for the Eldery Adults. “This proves
Minister Arends said in a press re- that when we deliberate with re-
lease that he understands that for spect and professionalism, we can
some time already the situation achieve goals to benefit our com-
was financially difficult for the bus munity”, the minister commented.
operators. With the drastic price
increase for fuel, this group found As Aruba Today reported, on July
themselves ‘in red’. Minister Arends 15, small bus drivers came together
said he was aware of the situation, and gathered in the parking lot of
and that first he approached the the Linear Park to march together,
University of Aruba to task them guided by the police, to the Bestu-
with executing a study on the car- urskantoor – the government seat
rying capacity and after this, come – to deliver a letter. The group Unit-
with proposals for a management ed Bus Drivers handed a petition
change, including a change in to the government to increase the
bus fare, amount of permits issued, bus fare with 1 florin, because their
etc. The results of this study are still expenses are becoming too high
spending, and it is planned to con- to manage.
clude in september 2022.
The drivers in their letter brought a

Plans underway for Carnival 2023

ORANJESTAD – In a friend- Carnival), Mr. Darren van discussed various impor- release, they also talked for Carnival 2023.
ly encounter, minister of Ommeren and the secre- tant topics regarding Aru- about the vision of the new
Sports and Education, Endy tary of SMAC, Mrs. Edelysse ba’s carnival and they board of directors for the On July 13, SMAC an-
Croes met with president of Nicolaas. exchanged ideas and biggest cultural celebra- nounced its new board,
SMAC (Foundation for the preparations for Carnival tion of Aruba, for example, consisting of the following:
Management of Aruba’s During this meeting the 2023. According to a press the possibilities to expand President: Darren Van Om-
the celebrations for chil- meren (Gruponan Uni);
dren. Here they discussed Treasurer: Kiala Kock (Stich-
evaluating the possibility ting Musica);
to have schools cooperate Secretary: Edelysse Nico-
and see if there are more laas (Gruponan Uni).
school groups which can
be incorporated into the Board of directors:
Children’s Parade. Sharisa Kamperveen (Gru-
ponan Uni), Clarissa Ar-
The second topic discussed rindell (Gruponan Uni),
was the possibility for SMAC Inky Richardson (Stichting
to have its own office, a Musica), Kathleen Green
place from which they can (Stichting Musica), Cher-
carry out their operations. ryldine Buckley (Stichting
Currently SMAC doesn’t Musica), Haydy Boekhoudt
have a fixed place. (independent member),
Zuleika Willems (Miembro
To conclude, minister Croes Independiente), Javier van
wished the new board suc- der Biezen (independent
cess with the preparations member).