During the presentation of the new book dealing with the story of Willem Rasmijn and the gold rush in Aruba, the parliamentary leader of the Patriotic Party of Aruba (PPA), Eduard Pieters, expressed his most sincere congratulations and support to local author Edgar “Eddy” Ras and his wife, Marjory.
Pieters highlighted the value of the book’s narrative, which explains through the life of a young boy how Aruban ancestors used to live and the pivotal moment when gold was discovered in Rooi Fluit. The work illustrates how this economic revolution—through the extraction and export of the precious mineral—transformed the lives of citizens at that time and shaped the island’s development.
Speaking as a pedagogue, Peter Pieters emphasized the educational impact this book can have on the new generation. According to the PPA leader, the book presents history in a simple and accessible way that can help children understand what their ancestors went through in the past.
Given this historical value and dedication, Pieters appealed to the Government of Aruba to make good use of this publication and make it accessible to all schoolteachers, allowing them to integrate it into their lessons and share the story of Willem Rasmijn.
“A country that does not know its history is condemned to repeat the mistakes of the past,” Pieters emphasized, stressing the importance of preserving the people’s collective memory.
On behalf of the Patriotic Party of Aruba faction, Eduard Pieters congratulated Eddy Ras on this literary achievement, assuring that the book will hold a very special place in their hearts and within the party.
