In a moving and direct statement, Susanita La Bella, owner of the ‘Merere’ project in downtown Oranjestad, expressed her deep disappointment and frustration over the lack of government support, bureaucratic obstacles, and the absence of a building permit after years of effort and millions of florins in investment.
“In Spanish there is a saying: ‘Me he quedado como novia de pueblo, vestida y alborotada’ (I’ve been left like a town bride, all dressed up with nowhere to go),” La Bella declared, emphasizing that after years of promises and promotion for downtown revitalization, the reality for local investors is completely different.
Promises for downtown vs. license restrictions La Bella noted that between 2021 and 2026, Minister of Economic Affairs Geoffrey Wever made a minimum of 15 public appeals to attract investors and promote the revitalization of Oranjestad, promising transparent investment guidance and facilitating the process for housing, condominium, and gastronomy projects.
However, the reality the owner encountered upon receiving her license was full of restrictions. The new conditions exclude short-term daily tourist rentals, condo construction, and the conversion of existing buildings for those uses in the city center.
“How does this message align with the restriction on this license?” La Bella questioned. “We are not talking about an investment of 100,000; we are talking about millions of florins. Restoring old buildings costs serious money. If similar projects were permitted before, what do new investors have to do to get those licenses?”
She also warned that these types of restrictions hinder access to bank financing, blocking the path to economic development that the government itself claims it wants to stimulate.
Years of waiting for ‘Merere’s’ building permit One of the most critical points of her statement was the delay of the building permit for the ‘Merere’ project, a process ongoing since 2021. La Bella reminded Minister Wever that he was personally aware of this case from the beginning in his previous role as a real estate tax attorney.
Despite complying with all procedures and investing millions of florins, ‘Merere’ remains closed and on pause due to the lack of a building permit.
“It is the year 2026, it is September, it is closed, I cannot open,” the owner expressed. “I have truly suffered for 4 years… It is closed, it is paused, and I will probably not open.”
“Downtown is not just Wilhelminastraat” La Bella strongly questioned the focus of the government’s revitalization plan, pointing out that an analysis of the minister’s speeches revealed that Wilhelminastraat was mentioned 13 times, while surrounding areas were ignored.
“Downtown is not just Wilhelminastraat. I am downtown. Rancho is downtown. John G. Emanstraat is downtown. Kerkstraat is downtown. Henriquezstraat is downtown,” La Bella remarked.
She detailed how she made personal and financial efforts to clean up, beautify, and keep the Kerkstraat area safe without receiving government support, while constantly facing issues of insecurity and a lack of public space maintenance.
An appeal for local citizens and cultural pride The ‘Merere’ project was conceived to function as Aruba’s Cultural City Square, a space designed for Arubans to feel proud of their identity and culture.
Despite the neglect and safety issues facing the area, La Bella thanked the community of Aruba for the unconditional support she has received from the time of the COVID-19 pandemic until today.
“My question is: who are we doing it for, Minister? Are we developing downtown for our local citizens?” La Bella concluded. “I am not afraid to come forward today because I have nothing left to lose, and I will not accept this… I am an investor who loves Aruba and wants to generate pride for our people.”