The Government of Aruba commemorated 162 years of emancipation today with an official ceremony at the Renaissance Festival Plaza.
During the event, Prime Minister Mike Eman called on the public to continue remembering the history of slavery as a vital part of our national history, and announced various initiatives to keep this memory alive for future generations.
The ceremony, held at the Renaissance Festival Plaza, was attended by His Excellency Acting Governor Agustin Vrolijk, the council of ministers, parliamentarians, and representatives from various organizations. The morning opened with Jevione Besselink singing the national anthem of Aruba, followed by distinct cultural performances, including a dance by Alydia Wever that concluded with the song “Cunucu di Seit”, a Tambú performance by the Thiel siblings, and a dance performance by Pierangely Wever and Kevin Gumbs.
In his speech, Eman emphasized that July 1st is a time to reflect on a painful chapter of our past, but also to honor the resilience and dignity of those who lived in slavery. “Today, July 1st, we stand still for our history—a painful history. It is the time for us to remember this, to accept that we had this painful page in our history.” According to Prime Minister Eman, the commemoration is a tribute to the perseverance of people who, despite living under inhumane conditions, never lost hope. “It is thanks to their perseverance, their love for one another, and their desire for a different tomorrow that the day of freedom finally arrived.”
During his address, Eman expressed recognition for the National Archives of Aruba, the National Library of Aruba, UNESCO, UNOCA, and all the experts and researchers who have worked for several years to preserve the history of slavery. “The books that were locked away in the National Archives of Aruba, covered with the dust of time, have been opened today and made accessible to our entire community.” The Prime Minister also referred to the Capriles Letter of 1857, presented on Tuesday evening during the opening of the exhibition by the National Library, National Archives, and UNESCO. According to him, the document confirms that even before the abolition of slavery, there were Arubans who stood up against mistreatment and injustice. “The Capriles Letter shows that even during an era of slavery, there were people in Aruba who stood up for dignity and equality.”
July 1st will become an annual national day of commemoration
One of the most important announcements during the ceremony was that the Council of Ministers unanimously approved for July 1st to be officially commemorated every year in Aruba. “Last week, the Council of Ministers unanimously approved that this date of July 1st is a national day for us to commemorate every year and to reflect on this important moment.” According to Eman, this decision confirms that the history of slavery and emancipation holds a permanent place in Aruba’s national history.
Monumental building for the Aruba National Archives and a monument to commemorate emancipation
Prime Minister Eman also announced that the Government is working on several initiatives to continue preserving the history of our colonial past. He mentioned that a permanent facility for the National Archives of Aruba will be built at the water tanks in Kibaima, where various historical documents will be preserved for future generations. Furthermore, he announced that the Government will construct a statue of a woman who fought against mistreatment and the violation of human rights. “This statue will stand as a permanent symbol of courage and respect for human dignity.” According to Eman, the monument will remind future generations that freedom, equality, and respect cannot be taken for granted, but must be constantly defended.
At the end of his speech, Eman warned that despite the progress humanity has made, the values of human dignity remain vulnerable if society fails to cultivate them. “Often we believe that humanity has left barbarism behind. But we see how easily humanity can fall back into the same dark history.”
A call to all citizens
“It is our task to cultivate every day the values that make us human. If we do not nurture them, we can lose them much easier than we think. It is our task to continue walking the path of respect for dignity and love for our neighbor.”
The official ceremony concluded with various speeches and cultural performances, reaffirming the shared commitment to continue preserving the past of the era of slavery and passing this historical knowledge down to future generations.
