Recently, the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Telecommunications, Mr. Rene Herdé, paid an official visit to the Netherlands.
Minister Herdé explained that the purpose of his visit was to listen, learn, observe, and gain experience regarding the major challenges Aruba is currently facing.
Some departments have been neglected for quite some time, and therefore the HIT Ministry now needs to accelerate its restructuring and capacity-building efforts in order to carry out its responsibilities effectively.
One of the biggest challenges at the moment is housing.
Although the Netherlands is a much larger country than Aruba, it faces similar issues with limited space.
However, the Netherlands has learned to adapt and to make better use of available resources, particularly in managing utilities and in designing efficient housing solutions.
During his visit, the minister will hold several meetings and discussions to gain more in-depth knowledge about housing development and to explore the best possible solutions for Aruba’s situation.
In the past, residents in Aruba were often granted relatively large plots of land, but such availability is no longer feasible today.
It is important to start differentiating between the needs of different groups — for example, young families versus older couples.
At the same time, the focus must shift toward the construction of more vertical buildings instead of solely horizontal expansion.
Globally, this approach has proven to be more efficient in terms of space and utility management, as it allows for a greater number of housing units within a limited area.
The ultimate goal is to meet the housing needs of all citizens efficiently and sustainably, while shortening construction timelines and reducing high building costs.
Press release: Government of Aruba