Yesterday, the entire world, including Aruba, commemorated World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, a UNESCO initiative that highlights the value of inclusion and social cohesion.
Member of Parliament Drs. Shailiny Tromp-Lee (MEP faction) underlines that for Aruba—an island where more than 100 nationalities live and work together—this day carries a very profound essence, but it also comes with a great responsibility. “We should feel proud that Aruba is structurally a living example in the Caribbean of how different cultures, languages, and traditions can coexist in a peaceful manner,” Tromp-Lee declared. The MP explains that this cultural blend not only enriches our identity as a people, but it is also the engine behind our workforce and our primary economic pillar, which is tourism.
Continuous effort for true inclusion
However, while we celebrate our varied gastronomy, our multilingualism, and our multicultural heritage, the MP reminds us of the warning that UNESCO experts structurally make: diversity alone is not enough. “For true inclusion to exist, society must be built on a foundation of social equality and fair opportunities for everyone,” Tromp-Lee emphasized.
In this context, the representative highlights that the debate must not remain solely on the superficial side of the celebration, but instead take the discussion a step further. This entails ensuring that the multicultural workforce supporting our economy has its labor rights fulfilled, protected, and treated fairly, and that our educational systems foster a formative social life for our youth.
Protecting our identity
Tromp-Lee concludes by expressing that the primary goal must always be to maintain a balance where we are open to the world, sharing with mutual respect, while simultaneously safeguarding and valuing our own Aruban identity. “The diversity that characterizes us must structurally be a source of strength that unites us, not a reason for division. Let us continue working together for an Aruba where social cohesion, justice, and respect are central to every aspect of life,” the MP concluded.