Arubans in the News

Although a household name to thousands of Arubans and Antillians for the past 27 years, Robby Schouten’s expertise and interests extend far beyond his TV program, Leu fo’i Cas (Papiamento: far from home).

His 47-year television career makes Robby the longest-running presenter in the Dutch Caribbean, and perhaps throughout the entire region.  Over the years, he has interviewed Aruban expatriates throughout the world, from Monaco to Australia, encompassing a broad cross-section of the community including scholars, businessmen, musicians, politicians, sports personalities, students.  “The humblest people give the best interviews; they speak from the heart…People from all walks of life come to me to appear on my shows,” he reveals.  Robby is a veritable production company in one body.  Leu fo’i cas is aired throughout the Dutch Caribbean as well on cable throughout the Netherlands.

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After earning a Degree in Marketing and Advertising from Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana, Tamara moved back to Aruba to work in the family business. Thirteen years ago, she joined the Aruba Tourism Authority, where she held the positions of National Awareness Director and PR Director.

In 2009 she was appointed Director of the Aruba Cruise Tourism. “It has been such a pleasure to be able to accomplish so much in such a short time – a new website, the Cruise Industry Alliance with the University with the Faculty of Tourism, a Cruise Wedding Program with the Marriott and working on eco-friendly programs with the National Park… it’s only just the beginning of a great new adventure.”

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Castro Perez has been Eco-Tourism Manager at the Aruba Tourism Authority since 1988 and was recently decorated by the Queen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in recognition of his efforts on behalf of the environment.

Castro has been the guiding light of the annual Aruba Reef Care Clean-up Project. The 17th edition will take place July 2010. It is the most ambitious environmental clean-up of its kind, in which 1000 local and international volunteers painstakingly remove debris on beaches from north of the California Lighthouse and Arashi in the northwest corner to Baby Beach on the southern tip, as well as more than twenty dive sites along the southwest coast.

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As tourism continues to be the heartbeat of Aruba’s economy, Dr. Ryan Peterson remains one of the key facilitators in linking academia with the public and private sectors.  He is Dean of Hospitality & Tourism Management Studies, Vice President and member of the Management Team of the University of Aruba.

Dr. Peterson holds a Bachelors degree in Psychology from the University of Twente, Netherlands; Masters in Organizational Science; and PhD in Economics and Information Management from the Tilburg University, Netherlands.  His teaching expertise ranges from Destination Marketing & Branding to Organizational Behaviour & Management Psychology.

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Born in Aruba and educated at universities in the United States, Sanju Daryanani-Luidens serves as one of the main Tourism Advisors to Otmar Oduber, Minister of Tourism, Transportation and Labor.  Her main duties include advising the Minister on Tourism Policy on a product and marketing level. Additionally, she currently serves on the Board of the Aruba Airport Authority  www.aruba.com/TraveltoAruba/airportinfo.aspx.

Sanju’s impressive career has spanned decades in both the public and private sectors, providing her with a unique and valuable perspective. She has been Director of Marketing at both the Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA) and at the Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association (AHATA).

“Aruba is now recognized as a sophisticated Caribbean destination. Our future depends on how well we balance growth while still sustaining the social and cultural infrastructure. We need to evaluate the current consumer desires and make sure that these are met. Our industry has traditionally thrived on Aruban hospitality and I believe that women can continue to contribute to this lasting success.”

Jocelyne Croes is Aruba’s first female Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States, representing her country’s interests in the US government and institutions, other embassies and organizations relevant to Aruba.

“My duties bring me into contact with five departments of the Dutch Embassy where I deal with many diverse areas of common interest to Aruba and the United States, including public diplomacy, investment and trade policy, the war on drugs, peace and security, extraditions, and general economic development.” “It is a great opportunity and honour to serve my country abroad in my area of expertise. As a political scientist, I recognize that this is a very significant time in history and change is possible on many levels. I welcome the challenge and am committed to making a difference.”

Jocelyne’s previous international assignments had taken her all over the globe. She worked at the Political Affairs Department at the United Nations, assisting French nuclear experts with the disarmament of Iraq. Jocelyne created and implemented new development programs in Kenya, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Rwanda and Burundi in a joint project between the UN and the Netherlands, and was Support Coordinator for such UN agencies as UNICEF in Bangladesh. After 16 years abroad, Jocelyne returned to Aruba as advisor to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Education for eight years before assuming her present position in Washington, DC.

The reigning women’s world champion windsurfer, 19-year-old Sarah-Quita Offringa, won the 2008 and 2009 titles at the Professional Windsurfers Association (PWA) Grand Slam in the Canary Islands.  Her 2008 win had made her the youngest PWA Women’s Freestyle Champion ever.  She holds a perfect record of not losing a heat since the start of the season in 2008. She is also making a name for herself in the competitive world of slalom.

Sarah-Quita set the world record in 2006 as the youngest woman to win a gold medal in the Women’s Freestyle Competition during the second leg of the Professional Windsurfers Association (PWA) World Tour.  At age 15, she was awarded the coveted title of Rookie of the Year and had already placed third in Lanzarote, Spain, in 2005. In 2007, this windsurfing superstar won first place at the PWA Women’s Freestyle Competition in Lanzarote; she was tied with Daida Moreno in the Canary Islands competition and then took second place in Fuerteventura in the Grand Slam.

“I am happy to retain my title, but most of all, I am happy to represent Aruba at these events.  Aruba is a wonderful small island that I want people to know more about.”

As tourism continues to be the heartbeat of Aruba’s economy, Dr. Ryan Peterson, PhD remains one of the key facilitators in linking academia with the public and private sectors.  He is Dean of Hospitality & Tourism Management Studies, Vice President and member of the Management Team of the University of Aruba.

Dr. Peterson holds a Bachelors degree in Psychology from the University of Twente, Netherlands; Masters in Organizational Science; and PhD in Economics and Information Management from the Tilburg University, Netherlands.  His teaching expertise ranges from Destination Marketing & Branding to Organizational Behavior & Management Psychology.

While in Europe, Dr. Peterson provided management consultancy and business development programs to a diverse list of international clients.  He is a prolific speaker, writer and researcher.  Board member of National Park Foundation of Aruba and the YMCA, Dr. Peterson is recipient of the Aruba government’s New Leadership Award in Creative Tourism Policy in 2009.

“Today is a time of creative tourism, when a nation’s environmental policies and sustainability will directly impact its tourism product… Small nations such as Aruba are faced with special challenges; the private sector must learn to juggle cooperation and competition in order to ensure optimal development.”

Castro Perez has been Eco-Tourism Manager at the Aruba Tourism Authority since 1988 and was recently decorated by the Queen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in recognition of his efforts on behalf of the environment.

Castro has been the guiding light of the annual Aruba Reef Care Clean-up Project.  The 17th edition will take place July 2010. It is the most ambitious environmental clean-up of its kind, in which 1000 local and international volunteers painstakingly remove debris on beaches from north of the California Lighthouse and Arashi in the northwest corner to Baby Beach on the southern tip, as well as more than twenty dive sites along the southwest coast.

A certified PADI Divemaster since 1991, Castro accompanies the press and visiting divers all around the island. He attends regional environmental meetings and international dive shows, promoting Aruba as a dive destination.  He was a member of the executive committee of WildAruba, the first national congress for the conservation of Aruban wildlife. Castro supports Aruba’s entry into the internationally-recognized Blue Flag Program, an eco-label for beaches and marinas aimed at raising awareness and protecting such natural resources as coral reefs and turtle and bird nests.

“Aruba remains superior in environmental awareness and the most organized in the region when it comes to clean-ups. To keep up this momentum, I would like to see environmental studies become a permanent part of the elementary school curriculum, emphasizing the importance of recycling and personal responsibility. But most of all, we should each take responsibility for the conservation of our natural heritage.”