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NEW HORIZON


ARUBA ESSO NEWS
LAGO OIL & TRANSPORT CO., LTD.
ARUBA, NETHERLANDS ANTILLES


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71


~iQnr(;~mll~g







MARCH 19


EDITORIAL


rcr rhonzon -


There's a time for everything
under the sun. A time to speak
and a time to listen ... A time to
laugh and a time to be serious...
Today, for all of us, it is time to
depart. Some only from a job,
some also from their homes and
country with its culture and
customs ... It is not easy ... Not for
the employees and their families,
nor for the community in general.
For 60 years, the name "Lago"
has had a magic ring to it. It
meant prosperity, security, future
and stability.
Besides economic ties, Lago has
also had emotional ties with the
community, for every family on
the island has in some way or the
other been affected by its presence.
That tie has now been broken ...
That lifetime partnership has
ended. An end that, as with any
other life seems to have arrived too
soon. These circumstances have
brought about drastic changes: the
'employees will have to look for a
new security and the island will
have to strengthen and/or search
for other economic partners fbr
Aruba's progress.
Those circumstances, however,


,a


DALMATIUS
NAVAS
41 years



3::


Photo not
avadable




JAMES
BLIJDEN
41 years


LONGEST


should be viewed as just the
catalysts of change. Changes in the
direction of our lives will come
from the decisions we make and
the responsibilities we assume.
Every situation, at least from some
perspective, can be turned to our
advantage, and every advantage
can be developed to the fullest.
It is a time for new challenges,
new opportunities, new
developments. Whatever our
future endeavors may be, we can
be confident that we do have the
necessary background to make
them successful. Most of us can
look back and be proud of an
accomplished career. Our past
experiences, training and
achievements, combined with a
positive attitude, are all tangible
values that we can carry along
with us into the future.
There is indeed a great expansion
out there ...
There is a new horizon that is
yours to discover ..... *


Photo not
available


JAMES JACOBO
ARRINDELL MADURO
40 years 40 years


SERVICE


EMPLOE I ; kIN 1YR98


Descubri un
horizonte nobo
Tin un tempo pa tur cos den e
mundo aki. Un tempo pa papia y
un tempo pa scucha ... Un tempo
pa hari y un tempo pa ta serio ...
Awe, pa nos tur. ta tempo pa bai.
Algun solamcnte ta bai laga un
trabao, algun tambe ta bai laga
nan casnan y nan pais cu su
cultural y custumbernan ... No ta
ficil ... Ni pa e empleadonan y
nan familiar, ni pa e comunidad en
general. Pa 60 afia largo. e
number "Lago" tabata tin un
sonido mAgico cune. E tabata
significant prosperidad, seguridad,
futuro y stabilidad. Fuera di
lazonan econ6mico, Lago tabata
tin tambe lazonan emotional cu e
comunidad, ya cu cada familiar
ariba e isla a wordo di un manera
of otro afecta pa su presencia.
E lazo ey awor a wordo kibrA ... E
consorcio di henter un bida a
terminal. Un tin cu, manera ta cu
cualquier otro bida, ta parce di a
yega much liher. E
circumstancianan aki a causa
cambionan drastico: e
empleadonan lo mester busca in
seguridad nobo y e isla lo mester
fortalece y/of busca otro socionan
econ6mico pa Aruba su progreso.
E circumstancianan ey,
sinembargo, mester wordo mira
como solamente e catalizadornan
di cambio. Cambio den direction
di nos bidanan lo bini for di e
decisionnan cu nos haci v e
responsabilidadnan cu nos asumi.
Cada situation, alomenos di algun
perspective, por wordo bird na nos
ventaha, y cada ventaha por
word desaroyv te na in maximo.
Ta un tempo pa retonan nobo.
oportunidadnan nobo, y
desaroyonan nobo. Lo que sea nos
esfuerzonan pa lituro, nos por ta
sigur cu nos tin e bfrmacion
necesario pa haci nan exitoso.
Mayoria di nos por mira atras y
set orguyoso di un carera cumpli.
Nos experiencianan ,
entrenamiento y logronan di
pasado combine cu un actitud
positive, tur ta balornan palpable
cu nos ta carga hunto cu nos den
future.
En verdad tin un gran expansion
eylbr nan ...
Tin un horizonte nobo cu ta keda
na bo pa descubri ... a


ARUBA ESSO NEWS


MARCH 198






ARCH 1985 ARUBA ESSO NEWS 3


i- a --


Rudy Dorsman, a TH graduate of
Twente, Holland, moved from Holland
to Aruba only two and a half years
ago ... and is now moving back with
his wile and child. "We're returning
to where we were before, so
adaptation will not be a problem at
all. I was in Holland for eight years
before I returned to Aruba," said
Rudy.
Rudy will be employed by NIRA, a
manufacturer of pagers in
northeastern Holland, as an industrial
engineer. He received live oilers while
he was in Holland for interviews, but
it took some advance planning. "First
of all," he said, "I mailed 55 job
applications in November and
mentioned in the cover letter that I
would be in Holland in February of
'85, thus inviting the companies to
react." Seventeen of those companies
responded positively, and after having
made some further arrangements with
them by telex, Rudy contacted them


David Mendes. lor seven vears an
(quiplment inlspctoi at Lago, icceived
an oilfr to ~ \ork ioi a iefinei in
Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. "I never
thought I wouldd Cever go to Saudi
Ar abia." said David "But the Saudis
as a poleeoe ha\c al\\a\s interested me
since I %\as a box."
Ho\ about the change in lilestlleN?
"ThIc Saudi ]lcstl\lc is indeed xveri
dill-rent, but most of the restrictions
(alcohol, pot nograph,. etc. my family\
and I have ahead\ adopted Besides.
the relinei\ has a huge community\
wN.here .ou can enjo\ sports activities
and othci forms of recreation. I think
a two-year contract in Yanbu would
be a good experience in life, both
culturally and professionally."


chemical engineer bor the past 4-1/2
years in Lago's Technical
Department.
"I worked on my resume the same
day Lago's shutdown was announced.
I think you have to make a great
ellort to get a job," said Simon. In
February, after making two trips to
Venezuela. he received an offer liom
Lagoven to work as contact engineer
at the Amuay Refinery. "I have made
a decision to go to Venezuela. I know
the place and the people well and I
won't have to make major
adjustments," he said. Besides, Simon
sees great possibilities for the future at
Lagoven. "The refinery there is one of
the biggest and most modern in the
world It has more plants than Lago,
plus a new flexicoker. I will learn
more and have opportunities lor
advancement." Looking fbiward to it?
"Yes, I do."


for details once he arrived in Holland.
"It was tough, though!," commented
Rudy. "I would leave the house at
6:00 or 7:00 a.m and return at 7:00
p.m. And that went on for fifteen
working days. I recommend going on
interviews with the least attractive
companies first, so that by the time
you get to the most attractive
companies, you'd have a lot of
training."
After his job-hunting experience in
Holland, Rudy has a bundle of tips he
is eager to share: send lots of letters,
take your last payslip with you, carry
passportsize photos, don't be too
choosy at the start and ... please be on
time lor interviews ... It certainly does
not seem like Rudy would have any
trouble finding another job ...


l






4 ARUBA ESSO NEWS


Sr


Upon termination from Lago, Carlos
de Cuba will become an instructor of
management courses and a faculty
member of the Psychologisch
Adviesbureau in Aruba and Curacao.
One of his responsibilities in this new
position will be to visit commerce,
industry and government offices to
analyse their training needs and then
determine how his organization can
assist in that. "I feel that, initially,"
commented Carlos, "commerce will
be careful with investments, but that
eventually it will see the necessity to
get involved in training, especially the
type of training that increases
productivity."'
Carlos has confidence in Aruba's
ability to again reach an economic
stability in the future. "And because
of my background at Lago," he said,
"I have the conviction that I will be
able to contribute a great deal to
Aruba's development in hiy new job."
Indeed he could! In his 33 years with
Lago, Carlos has been involved in
instructing, in various other aspects of
training, in communications and
public affairs. A wealth of experience
to invest in Aruba's future. 0


TheA1,73A SSONF


is pulseoralL

emlye an annutant.


Editor


arrerrann iobo >



.abu Qatar, ...A.ustra..i ................ Die90 Senea

.on asn Stoa lo ,ed *.. ca a Arba de S. 'of
de e region Sti Amrian. Alu iSa cu ya a ha-a
ofri itaa ppatc.ennsntmno xein


David Mendes, pa sheta afia un
"equipment inspector" na Lago, a
haya un oferta pa traha pa un
refineria na Yanbu, Arabia Saudita.
"Nunca mi a pensa cu algun bez lo
mi yega te Arabia Saudita", David a
bisa. "Pero e Sauditanan como un
pueblo semper a capta mi interest
desde cu mi tabata mucha"
Kiko bo ta haya di e cambio den
estilo di bida? "E estilo di bida
Saudita ta en berdad hopi diferente,
pero mayoria di e restriccionnan
(alcohol, pornografia, etc.) mi familiar
y ami ya caba a adopta. Ademas, e
refineria tin un campo enorme unda
cu bo por disfruta di actividadnan
deportivo y otro formanan di
recreation. Mi ta kere cu un contrato
pa dos aina na Yanbu lo ta un
experiencia di bida, tanto
culturalmente como
profesionalmente."


Simon Arends a traha e iltimo cuatro
aihanan aki como tn ingcnicro
quimico den Lago su Depaltamento
Tlecnico.
"Mi a traha alnba mi ticumen c
mesun dia cu e paro di opcac(ion di
Lago a word anuncia. Mi la kew cu
bo master haci un esliie zo pa haya un
trabao", Simon a bisa Na Februali
despues di a haci dos viahe pa
Venezuela, ela hava un oferta di
Lagoven pa traha como un "contact
engineer" na e refineria Amuay.
"Mi a tuma e decision pa bai
Venezuela Mi conoce c lugar y e
hendenan bon y lo mi no tin cu ihaci
ningun gran ahustamniento". ela iisa.
Ademas di esey. Simon ta mira
posibilidadnan giandi pa lutlo na
Lagoven. "E relincia ta un di esnan
mas grand ) mas modeino na
mundo. E tin mas plant en ILago
tabata tin, ademas di un flexicokei
nobo. Lo mi sifia mas v lo mi tin
opoltunidad pa promotion."






("ni1 nai pa. 9)


r


MARCH 19815





#W nflM u6E3 TtR
MARCH 1985 ARUBA ESSO NEWS 5





llio miilleot one




(192 4419 5)


CANADA
e, c r, ca ".-- State of Canadat
aunuuw s Secretar 1 of


Byo whC the **tne aYC hn G tNG- -
m whn om these presage shnceo


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Aicolas Harbor in 1927.


ago's incorporation
documenl.


In 1924, Lago Oil &
Transport Company,
Limited, was incorporated.
The Company's goal was to
establish a transshipping
station for Venezuelan crude
oil in Aruba.

In 1929, the first barrel of
crude passed through the
topping stills of the newly
constructed Lago refinery.
Lago could then handle
90,000 barrels of crude per
day.

In 1932, Standard Oil
Company of New Jersey
purchased Lago Oil &
Transport Co. Ltd.


o ria., a '" "

.Ethinf *'"' *
0ID ,, ,,
+, ,.+ +*r .... .


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The first barrel of crude passed through
Lago toppng stills in 1929.


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IIPU.I~IIDT







S6 ARUBA ESSO NEWS MARCH 198.






1chWoe mHileri


Logo supplied petroleum products to Allies in WIVIl.


In 1936, Lago's first
representative body for
locally hired employees, the
Employee Advisory
Committee (EAC) was
formed.
In 1937, as part of its
commitment to provide
support services to
employees, Lago built the
residential community of
Lago Heights. Essoville
followed in 1939 and
Lagoville in 1947.
In 1939, soon after WW-II
broke out in Europe, Lago
started supplying aviation
fuels and other petroleum
products to the Allies. In
fact, Lago refined 1 out of
every 16 barrels of aircraft
fuel used by the allied forces.


In 1943, Lago's most costly
and single largest unit, the
catalytic cracking unit or
PCAR started operations.
In 1945, Lago refined the
first billionth barrel. By
January of 1985, the total
barrels of crude refined had
surpassed 6.5 billions of
barrels.
In 1949, Lago's workforce
reached an all-time peak of
8,300 employees.
In 1950, automation began to
play an increasingly
important role in Lago's
operation due to greater
competition in the
Company's most important
marketing areas.


Lago's catalytic cracking unit.


iMMMISMMMUMiM92A%





(ARCH 1985


\( 1
UP ps


(1924.1905)


Lago's workforce peaked at 8,300 in 1949.


for her coninbunon to ths isue


ARUBA ESSO NEWS


Beginnmngs of aulomanlon.






ARUBA ESSO NEWS MARCH 1985


Llago milestones
In 1960, a bunkering station (1924.1905)
was inaugurated in
Oranjestad to supply 1/
hunkers to tourist and other
ships. La Empi
In 1963, Lago employees 70 ,4 e
achieved their best safety Jrt, 'e ,S P
record in the refinery's l V0 rr uca ,
history, with a frequency e. 0 ar, 1O f g r.
index of less than three- o Oa,? 18 is .
injury for each 1,000,000 "; oi0 0.d7 ^es oa
manhours worked. Since ona-. 0 C Totg s~ A /p
1949, Lago had won 7 first- " juri 0 Also COe ,i
place awards in the U.S. .'" Delie
National Safety Council's Lgo's best safety record: 1963.
Annual Contests.
In 1964, a 40-hour, five-day
workweek was introduced at .'
Lago.
In 1971, the first phase of a
new hydrodesulfurization
complex was inaugurated in
order to remove sulfur from
heavy fuel oil. This was
followed in 1974 by the
second HDS complex, which
brought total production
capacity to 265,000 barrels of
low sulfur fuel oil per day.
In 1984, Lago Oil &
Transport Co., Ltd. an-
nounced its intention to shut F..
down on March 31, 1985, after : ; -
over 60 years of operations.
The hydrodesulfurization compleA.


V"


It


&;


- Ii


E-. .


Logo refinery today.


itJ .






ARUBA ESSO NEWS


HORIZONTENAN
NOBO


$c-p


(cont. dt pag. 4)


udy Dorsman un graduado di TH
'Trchni)s he Hogcschool i na Tl\ente.
iulanda. a ninda di Hulanda pa
nibla solamncine dos ania \ mci pasa
\ aoni ia mitda Ibek I1 "Nos ta l)ai bck na unda nos
abata an-es,. pxsc' adaptation lo no
ai nintgiin p)oblcma MI tahata na
illanda pa ocho afia p)on1' (in mi a
stu',sa \mlob)a". Rud\ a bl',a.
iiudi a \\oi d cmIipl na NIRA. un
ablr anteI (Il paigel na patti nooid-
)>ost di Hulanda. <(oio tin ni nlicIlO
ndluiial E'la ELI ibi c(nIto otfrta pa
labiaon IennIl a (Ia c tal)ata na
Ilnida pi (ia l'\ ltRIanan pa trabao,
n)i o I saki a it ([I ti i algun
)lantC iiU ntiol adclanli PIionic ('i tkil
os" tla bisa,. "n"mi amanda 55 laila
li apl) acion pa tIabao \la )post na
No\t enibc \ den ca ( ta di
intiodiK < ion in a mtncmi innl m it o mi lo
ta na Hulanda na Febinuaii di '85,
in itando asina c (companianan pa)
cat ( ieni. I)lc'shle di c
t oilpanii)ldIan aki a ( ontesta
:)osmIi\,n t'c.t( \ dcspu ,i s di a ha( I
ai l l n a(gll adu lonal ( I nan N ia
t(lex. Rud\ a tuInia ( ontacto cu nan
p)a tim s d'ta\t 111na \(/ c( lcla \N ga
Hulanda,
"E tabl)ta ditio, sit. Rnd\ a (omentita.
"'Ni a ,aih lot di

mainta N regresa 7:00 p.m. Y escy a
sigi asina pa 15 dia di trabao. Mi ta
iccomenda pa hai entrevisti cu e
companianan menos atractivo prome,
pa asina ola bo ega na e
companianan mas atractivo, bo a
ha~ a hopi plictica caba."
D)cpues di su experiencia cu
btiscamento di trabao na Hulanda,
Rud\ tin tn monton di consehonan
valioso cu e ta ansioso pa comparti:
manda hopi carla. hiba bo uiltimo
"pa\slip" cu 1bo. wak pa bo tin
portict di c lamafio uza pa paspoort
iunito cIubo, no sea much exigente na
(uminzamento y ... por fabor sea na
tempo pa entrevistanan ..... Sigur no
ta parce cu Rudy lo tin dificultad pa
hava un otro trabao .....



" -





di_+: ffv


Asina cu Carlos de Cuba terminal cu
Lago, e lo bira un instructor di
cursonan di gerencia y un miembro di
facultad di Psychologisch
Adviesbureau na Aruba y Corsow. Un
di su responsabilidadnan den e
position nobo aki lo ta di haci bishita
na comercio, indstria y oficinanan di
gobierno pa analisa nan necesidadnan
di entrenamento y despues determine
con su organisacion por asisti nan den
esey. "Mi ta sinti cu inicialmente,"
Carlos a comenta, "comercio lo ta
un poco cauteloso pa inverti, pero cu
eventualmente nan lo wak e necesidad
pa ocupa nan mes cu entrenamento,
especialmente e tipo di entrenamento
cu ta aumenta productividad."
Carlos tin conflanza den Aruba su
abilidad pa yega atrobe na un
estabilidad econ6mico den futuro. "Y
pa motibo di mi background na
Lago," ela bisa, mi tin e conviction
cu mi tin e abilidad pa contribui
basta den e desaroyo di Aruba den mi
empleo nobo." En berdad elo por!
Den su mas cu 33 afianan cu Lago,
Carlos tabata ocupa su mes cu
instruction, various otro aspectonan di
entrenamento, comunicacion y
relaciones publicas. Un abundancia di
experiencia pa inverti den future di
Aruba. 0


Aruba Investment


Foundation:


an alternative


All Lago employees
terminated within the
year 1985 and those
terminated on December
31, 1984 and who were
searching for ways to
invest their benefit
payments, were invited
to participate in the
Aruba Investment
Foundation. The purpose
of this foundation is to
establish, maintain and
control an investment
program in U.S. dollars
with optimum return at


minimum risk of
capital. The Centrale
Bank van de
Nederlandse Antillen has
permitted and
encouraged the
establishment of such a
foundation to protect the
local market from a
sudden large inflow of
cash. The employees,
were given a one-time


Aruba Investment Foundation Board Members, standing left to right: Walter
Arends, John Every and John Hodgson. Sitting from left to right: Julio
Curiel and Albino Yarzagaray.


opportunity to
participate in this
alternative investment
program. The
Investment Foundation
is governed by a board


consisting of five former
Lago employees and a
representative of the
Central Bank in an
advisory position.
0


4ARCH 1985


1


I


I




-. -. ... -` .*. . .... *... .-.. -- ... .- -.


10 ARUBA ESSO NEWS



PRESIDENT DI IOWUA:


"We try to

stimulate our

people ..."
His membership on the Union Board
certainly did not fall short of
excitement. He became Vice President
during the strike in 1982/1983 and
President after the announcement of
Lago's shutdown. Romulo Geerman,
however, does not lack positivism and
stimulus.
"Lago's shutdowm announcement was
definitively a shock, but as a
responsible Union, we try to stimulate
our people to try to accomplish
positive things in the future," said
Romulo. "We will remain respectable
employees of Lago until March 31.
After that, everybody has to give a
hand to improve the national
situation."
Most recently, the IOWUA Board has
worked on two specific issues: the
continuation of the Annuitant
Medical Plan and the future status of
the IOWUA Recreation Center.
Said Romulo: "We feel responsible
toward our present and past members,
to do our utmost for the continuation
of the Annuitant Medical Plan. We
do see the necessity to continue with
the plan for the annuitants and are
even studying the possibilities of
covering the younger employees with
a one-year medical plan." This issue,
however, is still being studied by the
Union Board and the Annuitant
Medical Plan Foundation. The results
of the studies will be known at a later
date.
Another feasibility study the IOWUA
is waiting on is the conversion of the
recreation center into some sort of a
tourist center with bowling alleys, a
coffee shop and bungalows. "We want
to do something constructive with it,"
said Romulo. Before a decision is
taken, however, the Union will
consult its members for their
suggestions and final approval. "We
do not want to wait for things to
happen, but are moving to create
confidence in the future."
What about his future? "My career
ends young with Lago," said Romulo.
"Life will be more difficult, but we
can create lots of possibilities. I will be
available to assist with any plans and
projects for the future." 0


/ .. S --_ ig
Su miembrecia den e Directiva di e
Sindicato siguramente no a falta
excitacion. El'a bira vice president
durante e welga na 1982/1983 y
president despues di e anuncio di e
ceramento di Lago. R6mulo
Geerman, sinembargo, no a falta
positivismo y estimulo.
"E anuncio di ceramento di Lago
definitivamente tabata un shock, pero
como un sindicato responsible, nos ta
purba stimula nos hendenan pa purba
na realize cosnan positive den
future," R6mulo a bisa. "Nos 1o keda
empleadonan respectable di Lago te
dia 31 di Maart. Despues di esey, tur
hende mester duna un man pa
mehora e situation national."
Mas recien, e Directiva di IOWUA a
traha ariba dos tema specific: e
continuacion di e Plan Medico pa
Pensionistanan y e future position di
IOWUA Recreation Center.


MARCH 19
iS


R6mulo a bisa: "Nos ta sinti un
responsabilidad pa cu nos
miembronan di awor y di antes, pa
haci lo maximo pa e continuacion di
Plan Medico pa Pensionistanan. Nos
ta mira e necesidad pa continue cue C
plan pa pensionistanan y hasta nos ta
studiando e posibilidadnan di cubri e
empleadonan mas hoben cu un plan
medico di un afia." E tema aki,
sinembargo, ainda ta word studio pa
e Directiva di Sindicato y e
Fundacion di Plan Medico pa
Pensionistanan. E resultadonan di e
estudionan lo ta conoci na un fecha
posterior.
Un otro studio di factibilidad ariba
cual IOWUA ta wardando ta e
transfbrmacion di e centro di
recreation den un clase di centro
turistico cu canchanan di bowling, un
cafeteria y bungalownan. "Nos kier
haci algo constructive cun6," R6mulo
a bisa. Prome cu un decision "woido
tuma, sinembargo. e sindicato lo
consult su miembronan pa nan
sugerencianan y aprobacion final.
"Nos no kier warda pa cosnan
cuminza pasa, pero nos ta moviendo
pa crea confianza den e futuro."
Con ta para cu su future? "Mi camera ,
ta terminal na un edad hoben cu
Lago," R6mulo a bisa. "Bida lo ta
mas dificil, pero nos por crea hopi
posibilidadnan. Lo mi ta disponible
pa asisti cu cualquiei plan of proyecto
pa future." '


The first representative body for locally hired employees, the Employee Advisory Committee, wasformed in
1936. It was replaced by the Lago Employee Council in 1949 which in 1961 became the Independent Oil
Workers Union of Aruba (IOWUA). The first collective working agreement between Lagoand the 10 17 A
was signed on December 1961. The last one, on February 1, 1983. On photo above, IO 7 A's present board
members. Standing from lef to right: Basilio Wester, Dennis Jacobs, Humphrey Giel, Felix Garrido and
Albert Helder. Sitting from left to right: Walter Arends, Theodoor Wever, Salomon Fingal and Romulo
Geerman.


"Nos ta purba


stimula nos

hendenan ...


99 1





.RCH 1985 ARUBA ESSO NEWS 11


REVIEW OF THE PAST;


A


GLANCE


INTO THE


FUTURE


Dinig mi\ \cars in go.Icinment I After length\ discussions they did resource that oilers more jobs than a
as mi (ontatl a lh Lago quite often cooperate by agreeing to buy large modern oil-refinery.
hen setting up the aiutomaicd quantities of water and power from Much is yet to be done. But what a
Iminisitiaion s stem lot the lo al WEB This enabled the government to challenge! The mess, wrecks and
wcilnmlnt in 1954 lot example, it justify investment in larger units, waste, which are still visible along our
as Zp ()cp duib and his stall ol which provided the total population of public roads need to be removed; also
ago's 'I abulating & Statistical Aruba, and the new hotels, with commercial bill-boards (signs) which
Ai ision t \ \I assisted me in doing so adequate quantities of water and pollute our landscape, the planting of
atci on as Deputi of Finance I had electricity a reduced prices, more trees (palms and others) is
calmgs \itlh Lago's plesidcnt J.J This example is one of the many necessary, and a first class 18-hole
lonllan and their financial manager experiences I had during my years as golf-course with modern facilities,
C Bomn And since then I got to a Deputy, but also afterwards as better roads, more hotel-rooms, and
no1 man\ othei Lago oflicials \\ ho Minister of Finance and finally during last but not least a promotion
a'e placcdl an im1potant role in the my ten years as Lt. Governor. At all campaign directed at the right
islto\ ol .Amba TIhese experiences times, Lago could be depended upon markets. It is my personal opinion
a\e left nme \\ ri a strong impression; when we needed their assistance in the that we should move away from
icwmembct tlem all as responsible interest of Aruba. junkets and other low-priced
tople \hlio wIe businesslike in their That is the reason why I have vacations, and aim at a higher-income
cahngs, ult at the same time had a accepted the invitation from the editor section of the market, like the tourists
et\ positive and caning attitude of the Esso News to contribute with attracted by St. Martin. Said market
ouards Anuba and its people, an article for their last issue. It gives is large enough to satisfy Aruba (and
banks t tthei cliloits to cooperate, me the opportunity to express my other islands), and its people who can
v-e who w\cit in government at the feelings and thoughts at this sad afford higher rates will improve the
ine, %etc able to accomplish much milestone in our history, profitability of our hotels, which are
o01 u1 communtll A pi al example It goes without saying that Lago's faced with rather high operating costs.
s lie poert- and watei plant shlich existence in Aruba during 60 years There are of course other possibilities
vas built at Balashi in 1957. '1 lie has contributed significantly towards too. Potentially Aruba may be able to
)bjec mte of the island government "as the economic well-being on the island, develop certain industries which use
nlt ronl to pio\ (idc every home on the It is unfortunate of course that the era raw-material from for example
island ssith \xatic (many in tlhe of a booming economy has come to an Colombia and/or Venezuela,
-oiunl\-side e\\en still being supplied end. It serves no purpose, however, to exporting the products to the U.S.A.
'v Natct-tiutks: but Ce\n mnoic keep lamenting this unexpected and taking advantages of the facilities
mnipo tant. e~ wanted to reduce the tragic happening. offered by the CBI (Caribbean Basin
ugh \,ict-talill The onli "a\ to We would do better remembering the Initiative), a special program being
a(omplish li s was to build laigei lives we were able to live, the work we introduced by the U.S.-Government.
aipotalin units. \\iich operate mole were able to perform, the business we In addition export-possibilities exist to
coniomnicnal This. ihosevet, wNouild were able to do, and last but not least the European Common Market of
onl make sense ii we could sell the the education we received either in which the Netherlands Antilles are an
lagei \olumtie ofl \alei to le school or through experience, enabling associate-member.
ploduccd Also. (omrbining the atc- us to face the future today in a I also believe that fishery is a real
production s.ith the generation of stronger position than most other possibility, if set-up in a modern and
electiicilt xas a wa\ to produce afterr islands in the Caribbean. commercial way
at a loer cost. Again thle question There is a future for those who are Potentially there are many
was to whom do we sell this extra willing to work at it. Aruba with its possibilities. Considering how
power becoming available. Lago was 60.000 inhabitants can survive. There motivated the people of Aruba are, I
a logical solution, but they were is a sound economic basis ol infia- am confident that eventually we shall
already( piodcing thell own water structure facilities and a line climate overcome the difficult years ahead and
and eleclticity and wle naturally combined with magnificent beaches, succeed in creating a healthy and
veti\ cluctant to give up their A program to increase Aruba's scenic strong economy again.
convenient self -suppo ting position in attractiveness, and to expand its We already have a good foundation.
Iavoiu ol an arrangement where they tourist facilities would lead to a highly All we need to do now is, to start
would have to depend on a successful tourist island. If developed building on it. --
government-owned and -operated in an organized and coordinated way,
utility-plant. tourism can become an economic "




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