In anticipation of Earth Day, an exemplary peaceful protest was held at Aruba's Fishermen's Huts on Sunday April 18 to contest the construction of a Ritz Carlton hotel at that location. A diverse group comprising several hundred persons of all ages attended the tranquil protest. Several windsurfing activities associated with this favorite beach location were also held, headed by Aruba's two-time World Windsurfing Champion Sarah-Quita Offringa. This talented young lady, now just 19 years of age, honed her skills at Fishermen's Huts, using the much-touted Aruba Hi-Winds venue as a springboard to stamp Aruba's name at the pinnacle of the world windsurfing stage, not once but twice in a row!
Local fishermen also gathered at the area that has been designated to them for several decades, in a clear expression of opposition to the proposed demolition of their huts.
A particularly emotional moment took place when Padu del Caribe, Aruba's living cultural icon, arrived at the event to express his support. He sat down facing the ocean, quietly contemplating the setting sun and observing what must be a very different landscape to what inspired him to include a line about Aruba's pristine beaches as co-author of Aruba's national anthem.
Those very beaches that are threatened with continued unsustainable and environmentally irresponsible development. The case of the beach development at Fishermen's Huts is of particular concern in its environmental impact on two important fronts. Firstly, several species of wildlife including birds such as the Sooty Stern, make this location their home; and secondly the beach is particularly important as it is the sole remaining nesting ground in Aruba for endangered loggerhead sea-turtles.
One worried protester was quoted as saying "In their electoral campaign this new AVP government was adamant about not allowing the construction of more hotels, only to quickly forget that promise after election day, and this is where we are now, where this project and countless others in the pipeline are leading to the destruction of the very things that differentiate Aruba from other destinations."
Another concerned protester elaborated further "Aruba is losing its unique appeal. Each hotel brings with it a significant social and economic impact, one which we are infrastrucurally unequipped to deal with and which is leading to a general decline in the local standard of living, which in turn impacts the 'One Happy Island' service we can deliver."
The well-attended and peaceful protest culminated in a symbolically relevant sunset watch, perhaps one of the few last ones that are to be experienced untainted at this location, unless the powers-that-be start seeing the writing on the wall.
