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LOCAL Friday 18 august 2023

Aruba Tourism Authority honored loyal visitors at Renaissance

Wind Creek Resort

The Aruba Tourism Authority re- The honorees were:
cently had the great pleasure to Goodwill Ambassador Mr. Michael
recognize a Goodwill Ambassa- Choma from Ontario, Canada
dor and an Emerald Ambassador Emerald Ambassador Mrs. Anita
of Aruba. This lovely couple was Bartolini from Ontario, Canada
respectively honored with a cer-
tificate acknowledging their years Ms. Kimberley Richardson rep-
of visits, loyalty, and love for the is- resenting the Aruba Tourism Au-
land of Aruba. thority, and staff members of the
Renaissance Wind Creek Resort
The honor certification is presented bestowed thecertificates to the
on behalf of the Minister of Tourism honorees,presented them with
as a token of appreciation and to gifts,and also thanked them for
say “Masha Danki” to guests who choosing Aruba as their favorite
have visited Aruba 10, 20, and 35 vacation destination, and astheir
years or more consecutively. home away from home.

The three honoring levels are as Top reasons for returning to Aruba,
follows: provided by the honorees were:
Distinguished Visitor (10>years con- To spend time with friends
secutively visiting Aruba) Aruba’s friendly and welcoming
Goodwill Ambassador (20>years people The variety of restaurants to choose thority, we would like to express our
consecutively visiting Aruba) The staff at the resort from sincere gratitude and appreciation
Emerald Ambassador (35>years Beaches – trade winds – carnival to the honorees for always having
consecutively visiting Aruba) celebration On behalf of the Aruba Tourism Au- Aruba dear to their hearts.q

The Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins and its history

Aruba Island Gold Mining Compa- lump for $70. Unbeknownst to the out gold from the rocks. Aruba Is-
ny Ltd, the gold mill at Bushiribana boy and his father, they quite liter- land Gold Mining Company Ltd.
was constructed in the area where ally struck gold, and as word got was no different, but used a unique
most gold was found by locals. The out, a gold fever spread among method that involved grinding the
story of gold on Aruba actually the locals who started searching rocks and letting the dust be blown
dates back to 1725, when a first for more gold. About 25 pounds away by the strong northeast wind,
exploration for gold on the island worth was found. leaving clumps of gold behind. The
was commissioned by the Dutch next step was melting the gold and
West India Company. Under the At the same time, the Aruban gov- letting it attach to quicksilver in or-
leadership of Mr. Paulus Printz, a ernment took immediate actions, der to obtain pure gold. All these
(Oranjestad)—The Bushiribana three-year search was conducted and informed Curacao that gold processes were done at the Bushiri-
Gold Mill Ruins is one of the most on Aruba, to no avail. Though they was found. At first, everyone could bana Gold Mill.
visited places by tourists on the is- found some gold, it was enough to look for gold, as long as they sold it
land, as it lies along the northern motivate a further search, and the to the government. However, after The gold mill itself had a short life-
coast line near the mini pool and assignment was discontinued by some time, the government decid- span: only 10 years in service, but
on the way to the Natural Bridge. Printz himself. ed to implement stricter rules and its structure remained relatively sol-
Despite its seemingly plain ap- banned local search parties. id till this day, and is now a histori-
pearance, this ruin represents one It wasn’t until 100 years later, in cal remnant. q
of the most important histories of 1824, when a young boy found a Over the years, concession-holding
the island: The Aruban Gold Rush. lump of gold while out herding his had seen different companies from Sources: Etnia Nativa & goldminer-
father’s sheep. His father took it to a around the world, all of which used anch.com.
Built in 1872 by English company local merchant who then sold the primitive methods to dig and carve