Page 15 - AHATA

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local Wednesday 20 august 2025

Adriaan Laclé: One of Aruba’s richest men in the twentieth century

back streets of main street Oranjes-
tad.

Regarding his personal life, it has
been said that he was married
twice during his lifetime. He had his
first daughter during his first mar-
riage but lost his wife soon after her
birth. During his second marriage,
he fathered 16 children. However,
it has been said that only 11 of
those 17 made it past 18 years of
age. Perhaps two of his most well-
known daughters are Maria Mon-
ica Laclé and Maria Veneranda
(Oranjestad)—The name Adriaan ness ordeals, but during his hay day Laclé, who went on to marry suc-
Laclé may ring a bell to locals as he often helped people get loans, cessful brothers Eloy Arends and
one of the bigger roads on the is- was a well-established trader, and Maximilian Arends, respectively.
land, but about a century ago, owned several plots of land. In fact, Their houses are still standing; Eloy
Adriaan Laclé was a rich business- he commissioned the construction and Maria Monica’s mansion func-
man, well-known for his generosity, of the famous La Quinta Carmen tions as a townhall, used to host
wealth, and taste. manor—now a restaurant. Though civil marriages, while Maximilian
he himself never lived in the beau- and Maria Veneranda’s house
Adriaan was born in 1866 and was tiful manor, his own house also re- stands on the opposite side of the
Source: De Kolibrie op de Rots (en
the eldest of six children. Not much flected his success and good taste. road to them—though currently meer over de geschiedenis van Aru-
is known about his childhood up- Today his house still stands in good under renovation after years left in ba) by Evert Bongers.
bringing or any of his earlier busi- condition and can be found in the ruin.q

Birds of Aruba: Soaring through the blue skies

(Oranjestad)—Aruba’s nature is spotted from a far distance. Known bird of Aruba back in 2015, at the
very diverse and is home to sev- to be the first bird to sing at the first request of Aruba Birdlife Conserva-
eral beautiful and majestic wild- sign of sunrise, this beloved song- tion. The bright green, adorable
life. Among these is the bright Tru- bird likes to wake up with a tune. parakeet usually flies in flock of
pial, whose angelic voice is always But don’t let their angelic songs 30 or more, but its population has
heard with the rising sun; the cud- fools you; the Trupial can be a bit been declining since the 2010s.
dly parakeet, always in company aggressive towards any threat, pro- Prikichis are a shier breed than the
of another, and the majestic War- tective over their nesting spots— trupial, often flying away at the
awara, a mighty bird that can be nesting spots they most likely stole sign of any threat. They use termite
seen soaring in the clear blue skies. from other birds. Trupials can be nests for breeding spots and feed
seen regularly, often in trees or on mostly on seeds from the Kwihi
Trupial top of a cactus. tree, Divi Divi tree and fruits.

Photo Credit: Daniel Ruben Gon- Photo Credit: Daniel Ruben Gon-
zalez zalez

Prikichi (parakeet) Warawara its head back onto its back while
The Brown-throated Prikichi (Aratin- The Warawara or Caracara is one calling.
ga pertinax) became the national of the biggest birds found in the
Aruban mondi. At a heigh of 41 to While these birds are a beautiful
60 cm, their wingspan can mea- sight to behold, it is very important
sure up to 125 cm. Known as the to keep your distance and respect
“garbage man”, this bird of prey their habitats. This is how we protect
mostly feeds on dead animals. Its our wildlife. By admiring the beauty
coat is dark brown, with a cream- of Aruba in a safe and respectful
colored neck, orange face, thick manner, we can do our part in pro-
Icterus icterus, or known locally as beak and long legs. The Warawara tecting our sacred nature.
the Venezuelan or Orange Trou- prefers to build its nest in the mid-
pial, is a striking songbird whose dle of tall cacti and produces a Photo Credit: Aruba Birdlife Con-
bright orange feathers can be rattling, screaming sound, throwing servation