Royal Netherlands Marine Shows Willingness to Support "National Day of Care (Attention) for Aruba"
ORANJESTAD – Prime Minister Mike Eman received the new commander of the Savaneta Marine Barracks, Lieutenant Colonel Henk Buijs, at his office for a courtesy visit and to exchange ideas regarding cooperation between the Aruban government and the Marines.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister thanked the departing commander, Lieutenant Colonel Tim van Wijk, for his dedication and service over the past four years in Aruba and welcomed Lieutenant Colonel Henk Buijs to his new role.
One of the topics discussed was the Aruba Care Day initiative, which takes place on July 25. The Prime Minister invited the Savaneta Marine Barracks to consider how they could contribute to the national effort to keep Aruba clean. Commander Henk Buijs indicated that he shares the vision that caring for Aruba is a shared responsibility. According to the commander, it is important for all people and organizations in Aruba to join forces to care for the island and to show that working together can truly make a difference.
Mr. Buijs indicated that they will evaluate the possibilities for participation on July 25, but he also views the initiative from a broader perspective:
"For me, it doesn't just depend on July 25. The most important thing is what we can mean for each other in the periods that follow."
As a token of appreciation, Prime Minister Mike Eman presented a copy of the book "Volk van Veerkracht" (People of Resilience) by Luc Alofs and René Zwart during the meeting. The publication tells the story of the resilience, perseverance, and strength of the Aruban people. It also shows how Aruba has succeeded in developing its own identity through generations and its capacity to overcome various challenges.
The meeting highlights the strong relationship between the Aruban government and the Royal Netherlands Navy, built on cooperation, commitment, and a shared responsibility to contribute to the well-being of the community and the care of the island.
Day of Care for Aruba
"The National Day of Care for Aruba" is a government initiative aimed at strengthening the shared responsibility for caring for the island. With the slogan "For me. For you. For all of us," the campaign invites citizens, businesses, schools, associations, foundations, and organizations to join forces on Saturday, July 25, for a major national cleanup campaign. In addition to cleaning up various areas across Aruba, the initiative aims to raise awareness that taking care of the environment is a collective responsibility.