Page 12 - AHATA

A16 LOCAL
Tuesday 3 sepTember 2019

Minister Schouten and Island Governor Rijna to open new DCNA office

KRALENDIJK — The Dutch Minister endangered species. Nature man- Netherlands now consists of the
of Agriculture, Nature and Food agement organizations are in dire Netherlands, the public entities
Quality, Carola Schouten, will open need of additional support from Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius
a new office for the Dutch Carib- the island and Dutch governments (the so-called BES islands, which
bean Nature Alliance during her and Europe to be able to protect are part of the Netherlands on
working visit to Bonaire, together this precious nature. a constitutional level), and three
with Island Governor Edison Rijna. “The challenges we face are im- autonomous countries, Aruba,
DCNA is honored by this important mense. And those challenges Curaçao and Sint Maarten. We’ve
visit and will use the opportunity to don't only apply to Bonaire, Saba seen a lot of financial support and
advocate the involvement of every and Sint Eustatius, which have be- project proposals for the BES is-
Dutch Caribbean island in projects come special municipalities within lands.
and plans for nature conservation the Netherlands since 2010. Our We are advocating to include
in the Kingdom's beautiful back- sister islands Aruba, Curaçao and the three autonomous islands in Maarten since 2005 to protect bio-
yard. Sint Maarten are also facing these all projects and plans involving diversity and stimulate sustainable
challenges, as well as the rest of nature conservation. At their own nature conservation. By working
Urgent call for support to all islands the Caribbean,’’ explains DCNA costs if necessary or via alternative together and sharing skills, knowl-
The Dutch Caribbean islands Chairwoman Hellen van der Wal. financing. DCNA is more than will- edge and resources, the DCNA is
have many natural habitats such ‘’If the problems we face are simi- ing to play a mediating role.’’ able to maintain a solid network
as coral reefs, mangrove forests, lar and correlated, why wouldn't and support nature conservation
seagrass beds, tropical cloud and we look for solutions together? Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance in the entire Dutch Caribbean.
rain forests, and caves with a high After all, we are one Kingdom! It DCNA is a non-profit foundation DCNA also provides the parks with
level of biodiversity (number of seems to be a logical conclusion, that has been working with dedi- sustainable financial resources. The
plant and animal species). These but unfortunately, reality is more cated nature management orga- collaboration of the six Caribbean
habitats are under immense hu- complicated than that, because nizations on the six Dutch Carib- islands, as part of DCNA, is unique
man pressure, which is translated the former Netherlands Antilles bean islands Aruba, Bonaire, Cu- for the Kingdom and, according
into fragile ecosystems with many was dissolved. The Kingdom of the raçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius and Sint to Hellen van der Wal, many other
authorities and organizations can
learn from this example.

Opening New Office
The DCNA is honored that Minister
Schouten and Island Governor Ri-
jna recognize the importance of
the DCNA's regional partnership
and that they are willing to offi-
cially open the new office. During
this opening, DCNA's new director,
Mr. Tadzio Bervoets, will also be in-
troduced. DCNA's secretariat is lo-
cated in Bonaire and has recently
moved to a new location at Kaya
Nikiboko Zuid 56. q

Honoring of Loyal and Friendly visitors at Marriott Ocean Club

PALM BEACH — Recently, Darline de Cuba
of the Aruba Tourism Authority had the
great pleasure to honor Aruba’s loyal and
friendly visitors Goodwill Ambsaadors. The
symbolic certificate is presented on behalf
of the Minister of Tourism, as a token of ap-
preciation to the guests who visit Aruba 30
years and more consecutively.

The honorees were Ralph & Lauretta Ca-
mardelli residents of West Grove Pennsyl-
vania
The lovely couple stated that they love the
island very much, especially for the year-
round sunny weather, nice sandy beach-
es, its safety, the delicious variety of foods
and Aruba’s warm and friendly people.

De Cuba together with the representa-
tives of Marriott Ocean Club presented
the certificates to the honoree, handed
over some presents and also thanked her
for choosing Aruba as her favorite vaca-
tion destination and as her home away
from home.q