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LOCAL Saturday 23 July 2022

Border between Aruba and Venezuela remains closed

Last Thursday, Spanish-language
media in Aruba published an arti-
cle in which it was assured that the
border between Aruba and Ven-
ezuela was opened, and that from
last Thursday, direct flights would
begin from Aruba to Venezuela
and vice versa.

This news was also published in oth-
er Venezuelan media, which cre-
ated hype among the residents of
Aruba who have Venezuelan na-
tionality, who want to travel to the
country, as well as those who are
in Venezuela and want to come to
Aruba.

Regarding this news, our reporter
contacted prime minister Evelyn
Wever-Croes – who currently is in
the Netherlands – to find out if this
information was true. Wever-Croes
said that the news “is incorrect.
[The border] is still closed, pending
colaboration with Venezuelan au-
thorities. We are, however, working
on it.” with three months – as usually the more cooperation with Venezu- motivated on the political, eco-
border closing with Venezuela elan autorities”, Wever-Croes said. nomical and social situation that
The news came up after a lawyer is updated in Aruba every three Venezuela was going through. At
specialized in aeronautics, Rodolfo months. Our reporter also found on Twit- the time, Aruba registered an in-
Ruiz A. from the firm Clyde & Co., ter a tweet from the “Netherlands crease in the amount of Venezue-
asserted on Twitter that “Aruba The government of Aruba pub- Embassy in Venezuela’, which an- lan migrants arriving, which had an
eliminated the NoTAM that restrict- lished a press release indicated nounced: “News is going around impact on public order and secu-
ed flights from Venezuela to Aru- that the information that was cir- regarding the elimination of flight rity in Aruba, which is in the general
ba”. The NoTAM was dated from culating in social media was incor- restrictions between Aruba and interest.
10 June 2022 until 22 July 2022. rect. “We inform that the govern- Venezuela. This is incorrect. Please
ment of Aruba is still negotiating do not contact your travel agent.” From that moment, no boat or
Notices to Air Misisons (NoTAM), with Venezuelan authorities”, it plane, commercial or cargo, could
according to the International Or- said. Wever-Croes accentuated It all began when the president enter Aruba coming directly from
ganization of Civil Aviation, are that the negotiations are going of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela. This caused that fruit
notices containing aeronautic in- well, but it’s not easy to just open closed the border with Aruba for and vegetable with a more acces-
formation which is indispensable the border, as this requires diplo- a period of 72 hours, on the 5th of sible price was not able to come
for personnel who carries out flight macy from both countries as well Januari 2018. This measure was also to the island. Aruban residents can
operations. It includes all types of as concrete agreements regard- directed to the islands of Curaçao travel to Venezuela only through
personnel relating to aviation, and ing various control measures that and Bonaire. Back then, Maduro other countries, like Panama and
is presented to aviation authorities need to be in place. The prime assured that this decision was in the Dominican Republic, which
in order to alert the flight crew re- minister asked every citizen in our order to put ‘pressure for a healthy carries the consequence of very
garding possible dangers in a flight country; particularly Venezuelan exchange’. high cost for the travellers.
route or a place which can com- citizens who have made this island
promise flight security. their home, to remain calm and to In 2019, prime minister Wever- Meanwhile, Venezuelan citizens
not believe news not coming from Croes noted that Venezuelan vice- both in Aruba and Venezuela con-
However, a few minutes later, an- the government of Aruba. “The president declared that they were tinue waiting for the necessary co-
other NoTAM was published but government of Aruba continues all ready to open the border, but on operation for this from Venezuelan
dated from 21 July 2022 until 21 efforts to achieve the opening of the 10th of may she signed a de- authorities, although it must be not-
October 2022. From this, it can be the border in a respectful and con- cree to close the border between ed that Venezuelans require a visa
understood that it was extended trolled manner, but this requires Aruba and Venezuela. This was in order to enter the island.