courtesy of: The Morning News
written by: Rosalie Klein
One of the most anticipated events during the three days of the Aruba Green Energy Conference 2011 was the unveiling of the new Europe House/TNO headquarters located on the Sasaki Highway just outside Oranjestad. This landmark occasion not only heralds what will hopefully be the beginning of increased EU assistance and support of Aruba, but was also a tribute to one of its most accomplished native sons, Dr. Edward Cheung. Prime Minister Mike Eman and his cabinet uniformly expressed their admiration for the Aruban electrical engineer who has risen high in the ranks of NASA, and spent decades playing a vital role in the maintenance of the Hubble Space Telescope, as well as designing and developing some of the most advanced technology that enables the Hubble Space Telescope to deliver images of the universe never seen before.
Island dignitaries and parliamentarians were all present for the opening ceremonies on Thursday evening at sunset. Also attending were representatives of institutions that will be headquartered within the Dr. Edward Cheung Center for Innovation. Addressing the gathering were Mr. Mart Bracht, Director of Energy for TNO, (Netherlands Organization Applied Scientific Research), Dutch Minister of the Interior, Piet Hein Donner and European Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs.
A highlight of the evening, and closing the official ceremony, was the signing by Mr. Piebalgs and Aruba’s Minister of Justice and Education, Arthur Dowers, of a Summery Plan Description on Education, with the 10th European Development Fund underwriting improvements to Aruba’s school system.
Dr. Cheung did not speak at the opening ceremonies and left his mother, Yok Fun Cheung, to perform the unveiling of his name along with Prime Minister Eman, Minister of Finance, Telecommunications, Utilities & Energy, Mike de Meza, Mr. Piebalgs and Minister Donner. The same gentlemen then triggered the fireworks marking the official opening of the building; a final flourish to the grand event was the dramatic arrival of the key to the front door the Forza Hydrogen Car, driven by Aruban Andrew Hagens, a student at TU Delft and part of the team to develop this clean fuel car of the future.
Mart Bracht of TNO stated in his remarks that he is approached by countless people with interesting ideas for developing technologies, many of which he regards with some skepticism. However, when coming to investigate the proposal of a TNO Caribbean Branch on Aruba, his imagination was immediately captured by what an ideal environment the island embodies for the development and testing of solar, wind and hydro energy solutions. Jan Ebbing of TNO will be their representative on Aruba, and he echoed Mr. Bracht’s sentiments.
Prime Minister Eman expressed his great hope for the future of Aruba, which he described as becoming a tourism leader in the region since achieving autonomy within the Dutch Kingdom, but which now he feels must lead the way for other islands in achieving oil independence and protection of the environment. He cited young Aruba’s next generation, such as Dr. Cheung and Andrew Hagens, showing the world the caliber of intellect and innovation of which Arubans are capable, as the future of the island and the region. He also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to those innovative individuals within the EU hierarchy who were willing to open their doors and minds to considering a small Caribbean island as a place for technological advancement, worthy of attention and assistance.
