The Director of the Directorate of Nature and Environment (DNM), Gisbert Boekhoudt, participated today in a meeting with Prime Minister Mike Eman and various other authorities involved in law enforcement to keep our island clean. The goal is to combine cleaning with effective control, ensuring that public places are not only cleaned but also remain clean.
The government is organizing a “National Day to Care for Aruba,” a day where the entire island will clean every corner of our island. However, according to Boekhoudt, cleaning is only part of the solution. It is also necessary to prevent people from littering at the site again. “Cleaning is one thing, but ensuring it stays clean over a long period is part of enforcement,” Boekhoudt explained.
During the meeting, the DNM, the Bureau City Inspector (BCI), the Aruba Police Force (KPA), and the Public Prosecutor’s Office (OM) deliberated on possibilities to strengthen supervision and enforcement. The agencies analyzed how they can work together and how each service can contribute from its own responsibility and expertise. Boekhoudt indicated that there are already rules in place to combat pollution and illegal dumping. The General Police Ordinance (APV), for example, contains articles stipulating where waste may and may not be dumped. Additionally, there are rules for establishments and companies that process waste.
The task of the DNM is, among other things, to study the relevant articles and determine how supervision can be best structured. The Inspection Department of the DNM and the BCI will receive support from the KPA. The police have more experience with supervision, preparing reports, and drafting official reports (proces-verbaal). “One will help the other to ensure that the report is well-argued, so the Public Prosecutor’s Office can proceed with the process,” the director said. The conversation also covered fines related to violating these rules.
The DNM director left the meeting feeling optimistic. According to him, there is good will among all stakeholders involved. He also highlighted that Prime Minister Eman has a clear vision regarding where the government wants to go, what it wants to achieve, and what contribution each service must make. The intention is to create an effective combination of cleaning, prevention, and enforcement. “Cleaning is one thing, but keeping it clean is the combination we are looking for,” Boekhoudt concluded.
