Tomorrow Aruba celebrates two historic moments that define our identity as a people: 50 years of our Anthem and Flag and 40 years of our Status Aparte. Two powerful symbols that did not originate merely for ceremonies or beautiful speeches. They were born out of struggle, conviction, and sacrifice of a people who decided to stand on their own feet. But the question we must ask today is a serious one: Do we truly understand what these symbols mean?
Reminder of our struggle
“Our flag and our anthem, Aruba Dushi Tera, are not just fabric and music that we display and sing during ceremonies. They are reminders of deep love for our land, our culture, and our identity. And exactly 40 years ago, Aruba achieved a historic accomplishment: Status Aparte within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This unique constitutional position was not a gift. It was not a favor from anyone. It was the result of decades of political, social, and cultural struggle. It was the people of Aruba who raised their voices to say: ‘Aruba wants to be master in its own house.’ But a celebration without reflection loses its meaning,” Eduard Pieters stated.
Status Aparte is a responsibility for all of us
Our Status Aparte is not just a story to celebrate every March 18. It is a daily responsibility to protect our autonomy, our democracy, and our right to make decisions for our own people.
“As a member of the Parliament of Aruba and representative of the Patriotic Party of Aruba (PPA), I cannot celebrate this day without also sounding an alert. Because a people who fought for autonomy in Aruba and self-determination within the Kingdom cannot later give it away step by step, decision by decision. Our ancestors did not fight for Aruba to become a country that waits for permission to make decisions for its own people. They fought for an Aruba with its own voice, its own pride, and its own responsibility.”
What freedom are we referring to in our anthem?
In our national anthem we sing a profound phrase: “May God guide and preserve her love for freedom.”
According to Pieters: “These are not just beautiful words to sing during ceremonies and then forget in political decisions. It is a promise we made as a people. And today I ask: how can we continue singing about love for freedom if little by little we are losing that freedom through political decisions such as the consensus law HOFA?”
Meaning of our self-determination
According to Pieters, it is important to pause and realize that self-determination is not just a beautiful word for political speeches. It is the right to make decisions for your people. It is the right to control your own destiny based on good governance. And if we are not alert, if we do not protect this achievement with conviction, we risk gradually losing what previous generations gained through tireless struggle. The flag we raise must remind us that Aruba has dignity. The anthem we sing must remind us that Aruba has a soul. But dignity and soul do not maintain themselves—they require leadership, conviction, and courage.
What does it mean to be a true Aruban?
“To be a true Aruban is not only to raise the flag on a day of celebration. It is to understand the history of our people, honor the struggle of our leaders, and stand firm to protect the self-determination of our country,” Eduard emphasized.
The people of Aruba fought with blood, sweat, and determination to achieve Status Aparte. This achievement does not belong to any government, party, or politician. It belongs to the people of Aruba. And only the people have the right to decide their future.
“Today we celebrate 40 years of self-determination within the Kingdom. But more importantly, we must ask ourselves: Are we protecting this legacy? Or are we allowing ourselves to gradually lose it and return to a modern colonial style? Aruba is not just an island. Aruba is a people who fought for their dignity. And if we want to honor our Anthem and Flag, we must stand firm for the principle that created our country: Be master in our own house!”