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LOCAL Tuesday 29 augusT 2023

Aruba Tourism Authority honored a loyal visitor at Sasaki Apartments

The Aruba Tourism Authority re- secutively visiting Aruba)
cently had the great pleasure of Goodwill Ambassador (20>years
recognizing a Goodwill Ambassa- consecutively visiting Aruba)
dor of Aruba. This Ambassador was Emerald Ambassador (35>years
respectively honored with a cer- consecutively visiting Aruba)
tificate acknowledging his years
of visits, loyalty, and love for the The honoree was:
island of Aruba.
Goodwill Ambassador
The honor certification is presented Mr. Joseph Hyman from New York,
on behalf of the Minister of Tourism United States. and his home away from home. home.”
as a token of appreciation and to • Aruba’s friendly people.
say “Masha Danki” to guests who Ms. Kimberley Richardson repre- Top reasons for returning to Aruba,
have visited Aruba 10, 20, or 35 senting the Aruba Tourism Author- provided by the honorees were: On behalf of the Aruba Tourism
years or more consecutively. ity, and staff members of the Sasaki • Aruba’s year-round sunny Authority, we would like to express
Apartments bestowed the Ambas- weather. our sincere gratitude and appre-
The three honoring levels are as fol- sador certificate to the honoree, • Aruba’s Tradewinds. ciation to the honoree for his con-
lows: presented him with gifts, and also • “Reuniting with my Aruba fam- tinued visits to the “One Happy Is-
thanked him for choosing Aruba ily and friends.” land”. q
Distinguished Visitor (10>years con- as his favorite vacation destination • “Aruba is my home away from

The Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins and its history

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