Let Us Celebrate Our Identity and Honor the Vision of Our Liberator
On the highly significant date of January 25, all of Aruba pauses to commemorate the birth of the man who changed the course of our history: Gilberto François “Betico” Croes. This year once again, we are celebrating not just a date on the calendar, but the spirit of determination and the deep love for country that Betico planted in the heart of every Aruban.
Why Do We Remember Him?
Knowing our history is not merely an act of remembrance; it is the foundation of our future. It is essential that new generations understand that the freedom and prosperity we enjoy today did not come easily. They are the result of an unrelenting struggle, a clear vision, and unprecedented national unity under the leadership of Betico Croes.
Our Liberator and Architect
We call him our Liberator because he was the leader who broke the chains that hindered our island’s potential, giving Aruba its own voice and its own destiny. As the Architect of Status Aparte, Betico designed the political structure that allowed Aruba to become an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. He also ensured that we would have our own National Anthem and Flag, symbols that unite us as one people, one nation.
Call to the Entire Community
For Betico Day 2026, I call upon the entire Aruban community—from Noord to San Nicolas—to wear our national colors with pride and celebrate his struggle and achievements that gave us the life we enjoy today.
- Pay tribute: Visit monuments, participate in official ceremonies, and share Betico’s stories with our children.
- Celebrate our unity: Take part in the cultural, sporting, and social activities taking place across the island.
- Raise our flag: Let our national flag fly high in every corner of Aruba as a symbol of gratitude to the man who believed in us when no one else did.
Aruba, let us unite with one heart to give Betico Croes the honor he deserves. His legacy lives on in our progress, our freedom, and our pride in being Aruban.
Invitation to Celebrate Together with the MEP Party
From 10:00 a.m., the celebration begins at the MEP Headquarters with our traditional coffee morning, barrel organ music, and a mini soccer tournament for children aged 6–8. There will be an all-day exhibition at the headquarters, and at 2:00 p.m. a domino tournament will begin. Also at 2:00 p.m., the cultural program will start on the main stage.
To conclude the celebration, the bands Duro and Tsunami will perform from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. There will be 16 food tents offering a wide variety of dishes and snacks for everyone to enjoy. Additionally, the MEP will host its major raffle with cash prizes of Afl. 10,000 and Afl. 5,000, with the drawing taking place at 7:00 p.m. We warmly invite the general public to come celebrate with us and make sure your ticket is in the draw. Tickets can be purchased from any MEP candidate.
I would like to conclude by wishing the entire community, in advance, a Happy Betico Day