Cuida Aruba: Two Days of Unified National Action to Clean Our Island

The Aruban government is once again bringing together the community, the private sector, and various institutions for two days in a coordinated nationwide effort. The goal is cleaning up, volunteering, and preparing for the rainy season to ensure better readiness for potential emergencies.

Prime Minister Mike Eman emphasized that the success of the first edition confirmed that when the government, the private sector, and the community join forces, Aruba can achieve concrete results that benefit the entire society.

'Cuida Aruba has demonstrated that our people are willing to join hands to care for our island. The second edition expands this effort and invites all residents, organizations, and businesses to take part in a national movement of shared responsibility,' declared the Prime Minister.

Cuida Aruba has grown into more than just a cleanup drive. The initiative is part of the government’s broader vision to strengthen community engagement, raise awareness about maintaining public spaces, and prepare Aruba for the challenges of the rainy and storm season.

'Every initiative that contributes to a cleaner Aruba is a valuable contribution. Whether it’s cleaning a sports field, a community center, a school, or any other public space, the main thing is that we work together. Taking care of Aruba is everyone's responsibility,' he added.

The Prime Minister called upon schools, sports clubs, foundations, neighborhood organizations, businesses, and residents to make full use of these two days to organize actions in their own communities, contributing to a national effort that reaches far beyond the government alone.

He also expressed gratitude to the various partners involved in coordinating the initiative, including CMO, DOW, Serlimar, Bureau Stadsinspectie, CEDE Aruba, and Ecotech, emphasizing that public-private collaboration is essential to achieving a national impact.

One of the main reasons for hosting this second edition during this period is to prepare Aruba for the upcoming rainy season. According to the Prime Minister, clearing drainage systems, canals, and public spaces can lower the risk of flooding, while removing debris that traps standing water directly helps prevent dengue and other public health risks.

Every tire, refrigerator, stove, or other object that can collect water and that we remove from the streets reduces the risk to our community. Cuida Aruba invests in hygiene, but equally in health and prevention," emphasized Mike Eman.

Rino Hermans of CMO, coordinator of the initiative, explained that the program for this second edition was adjusted based on experiences from the first national campaign. Improvements include expanding logistical capacity, better distribution of collection points, and more efficient coordination of waste transport and processing.

Hermans also emphasized how important it is for the community to sort waste before bringing it to the collection points. This will speed up unloading and ensure that dumpsters operate at maximum efficiency throughout the initiative.

Daniel Tecklenborg, director of CEDE Aruba, stressed that volunteering is the core of Cuida Aruba. According to Tecklenborg, the first day, Friday, August 28, will focus primarily on volunteer activities with participation from businesses, hotels, schools, scouting groups, community organizations, and youth groups. Saturday, August 29, will then allow residents to clean up their own homes, neighborhoods, and surrounding areas.

Serlimar confirmed that it will expand its operational capacity with additional staff and waste bins to facilitate collection across both days. DOW is making heavy equipment available to clean canals, roadsides, and other areas requiring specialized machinery.

The Aruban government also reminded the public that the waste management center is open all week, inviting the community to continue making responsible use of the available facilities—not just during Cuida Aruba, but as part of an ongoing commitment to caring for our island.