Archive for August, 2010

The Consulate General of the United States of America announces the arrival of the new U.S. Chief of Mission for the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba, Ms. Valerie Belon. She succeeds Mr. Timothy J. Dunn.

On August 26, 2010, Consul General Valerie Belon assumed her responsibilities as Consul General for the United States of America in the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. As Consul General and Chief of Mission, she will remain responsible for Aruba and all islands of the Netherlands Antilles throughout the dissolution process as the senior representative of the United States Government.

Valerie Belon has enjoyed a 20-year career as a Foreign Service Officer in the U.S. State Department, specializing primarily in economic development, regulation, investment, and environmental issues. Most recently, she was the Senior Benelux Desk Officer at the State Department, taking the lead role for all Dutch and Luxembourg issues as well as overseeing the desk officer for Belgium.

From August 2008 until June 2009, Valerie Belon managed all outreach and public diplomacy efforts related to the Summit of the Americas in the Bureau for Western Hemisphere Affairs, which culminated in President Obama’s participation in the Summit hosted by Trinidad and Tobago in April 2009. Her overseas postings began in 1991 with a war-time assignment to Congo-Brazzaville, where she coordinated the evacuation of over 3,000 American citizens, including many remotely-located Peace Corps volunteers and missionaries. She ended her Africa tour as Acting Deputy Chief of Mission during a period of civil unrest with dusk-to-dawn curfews. She also completed assignments at the U.S. Embassies in Belize City (1995-1998), Panama City (1999-2002), and Paris (2002-2006).

Consul General Belon is fluent in French and Spanish. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, she worked in the U.S. Senate as a legislative staff assistant. She earned a degree in Economics from University, a Masters in Business Administration from the University of California Los Angeles, and a Master’s degree in International Policy Studies from Stanford University. Valerie Belon was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, and has family ties to California and France. She resides in Willemstad with her pre-school-aged daughter, Lucy.

Story courtesy of Aruba Today

From August 25 – 28, 2010 a group of five US press members visited the island of Aruba to explore the destination “local style”.

Last Wednesday evening, the group enjoyed a spectacular dinner at Marriott’s beachfront restaurant Simply Fish. Thursday morning, the group visited the Balashi Beer Garden where they were educated about Aruba’s local brewery. They received a grand tour in the Balashi factory and learned everything about the process of making Aruba’s local beer and other products. Afterwards they visited the amazing rock formations Casi Bari. The midday was reserved for relaxing spa treatments at Mandara Spa. Later in the day, the group enjoyed their first lesson in beach tennis from Aruba’s beach tennis pro Bertrand. All journalists did amazingly well at the ‘hottest sport on the island’.

On Friday the press members went on a Jeep Safari Tour with De Palm Tours, where they visited some beautiful spots in Aruba, experiencing the rough side of the island. The trip ended on Friday evening with drinks at local bar 080 Café followed by a farewell dinner at Driftwood. The Aruba Marriott would like to thank the Balashi Beer Garden, Aruba Beach Tennis, De Palm Tours, 080 Café and Driftwood restaurant for their cooperation and hospitality with this press trip.

Story courtesy of Aruba Today

Veteran press photographer Leo Vrojlijk and President of the RBTT Bank, Edna Farro, were proud to announce for the third consecutive year, RBTT Bank will again sponsor a tribute to the continuing efforts of Aruba’s hardworking press photographers with a repeat of their group exposition “Lens di Mi Wowonan” (The Lens of my Eyes.)

Leo proposed his concept of an exposition dedicated to news photography to RBTT Bank in 2008 and they responded enthusiastically; each year since the first exposition the number of photographs submitted has grown.

This year’s collected works of new photographs from over 35 participants will be on display to the public for one month beginning on September 1, Aruba’s “Dia di Prensa” (Press Day,) at the National Library Archive building on Bachstraat, in Oranjestad. As this was a very busy year for Aruba, with important changes, it is expected the collection will be a fascinating chronicle of current events; history as it occurred.

The exposition will be on display during regular library hours; Edna Farro expressed the great pride RBTT Bank feels in supporting Aruba’s press and their important work.

Story courtesy of The Morning News

Prime Minister Mike Eman and Minister of Finance, Communication, Utilities and Energy, Mike de Meza welcomed school children from the EPI Unit of Science and Technology as well as students from the International School of Aruba (ISA) for the announcement of Aruba’s first Green Energy Science Fair for island children of all ages. The program was presented in the auditorium of the EPI school yesterday morning by J. Freddy Vargas, director of the company organizing the event, Engysol, and one of the guest speakers at the Green Aruba Energy Congress and Trade Fair.

The Green Aruba Science Fair challenges students to present their ideas for practical aspects of “clean,” rene wable energy, and will be part of the Trade Fair open to the public October 1, 2 and 3, 2010. The first days of the event, September 28 to 30, will consist of the Green Energy Congress with a number of guest lecturers and workshops. The entire event will to be conducted in the Re naissance Convention Center.

Mr. Vargas informed the youngsters present they are all expected to participate, and the first 50 students to register for the science fair will be awarded free entry to all aspects of the Aruba Green Energy Conference and Trade Fair.

Both Prime Minister Eman and Minister de Meza expressed the importance of Aruba finding an answer to its energy needs in a clean, renewable source that will insure the island’s independence from fossil fuels.

They expressed this is a priority of the present administration and they believe the younger generation will lead the way.

Freddy Kelkboom was present on behalf of Eco-tech Waste Management, principal sponsor of the science fair, which will award cash prizes for the top two winners in the older age category.

Upon exiting the auditorium, two students of the EPI Science and Technology Unit, Marlon Maduro and Anthony Trinidad, demonstrated the innovative thinking the science fair wishes to stimulate with a solar-powered hovercraft they built, which was much admired by students and government officials.

Story courtesy of The Morning News

The brothers Steward and Jonathan Johnson from New Jersey were walking down the pier at the down town marina and walked into the fishing professionals of Driftwood Fishing Charters. The men passionately shared their best fishing stories over a couple of laughs and jokes and it didn’t take long for all of them to get on board to take off for an exciting deep sea fishing adventure.

While cruising the blue waters around Aruba they didn’t have to wait long for their first catch. The first of six giant Wahoo’s was pulled aboard after a little struggle and they all knew that it would be the first of many to catch. At the end of the day, after having an exciting fishing adventure, they proudly counted their catch with a huge smile: six Wahoo’s! After posing on camera, they went back to their hotel and invited their spouses for dinner at Driftwood Restaurant. Of course they knew what was on the menu; their freshly caught Wahoo’s!

“It was absolutely the highlight of our trip down to Aruba. The fishing was great and dinner was even better. Next year we are going to break this record. We might catch eight next time,” Steward Johnson said with a smile from ear to ear. The staff at Driftwood Fishing Charters and Driftwood Restaurant will be welcoming them for sure. The Johnson’s have now experienced what Driftwood has been saying all along… At Driftwood, they serve the fish from the pier to your plate! It won’t get better than that!

Story courtesy of Aruba Today