Delegation from La Guajira Visits Aruba to Strengthen Cultural Ties
ORANJESTAD – Recently, a delegation from La Guajira (Colombia) visited Aruba at the invitation of the Rancho Foundation (Stichting Rancho). The delegation actively participated in the commemoration of Emancipation Day on July 1, a national holiday honoring the abolition of slavery.
During the visit, Clifford Rosa, president of the Rancho Foundation, introduced Hiadees de Kom and Anthon de Kom. They are relatives of the Surinamese national hero Anton de Kom and currently reside in La Guajira. Additionally, Prime Minister Mike Eman received Maria Isabel Cabarcas Aguilar, director of SER Caribe Magazine and the InspirARTE Aain Foundation.
During their meeting, the delegation presented the Prime Minister with the first physical edition of SER Caribe Magazine. They also presented the second edition, which had been digitally launched earlier during the "Brug entre Generacionnan" (Bridge between Generations) symposium at the University of Aruba. The cover of this latest edition is dedicated to Ramon Todd Dandaré, who is recognized as one of the most prominent guardians of our Papiamento language.
Furthermore, the delegation extended an official invitation to Prime Minister Mike Eman to attend the XV International Bolero Festival, scheduled to take place from November 13 to 16, 2026, in Riohacha, Colombia.
The meeting also served as an opportunity to share updates on the collaborative work being done by the Rancho Foundation and the Fundación InspirARTE Aain to strengthen cultural, linguistic, academic, artistic, and literary integration between Aruba and La Guajira. Finally, they highlighted the outcomes of the Dutch-Colombian Caribbean gathering "Mma Pe' ipaasu," an initiative celebrating 200 years of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Colombia.