The leader of Curaçao’s National People’s Party (Partido Nashonal di Pueblo – PNP), Ruthmilda “Mimi” Larmonie-Cecilia, has arrived in Aruba to participate in the AVP Party’s 2026 Congress, set to take place on Sunday, October 4, at the Aruba Marriott Resort Grand Ballroom.
At Queen Beatrix International Airport, Prime Minister and AVP leader Mike Eman, Minister of Tourism, Transportation & Labor and incoming AVP leader Mr. Wendrick Cicilia, alongside Member of Parliament and AVP Board President Clifford Heyliger, welcomed Ruthmilda Larmonie-Cecilia. Her presence in Aruba coincides with a pivotal moment for AVP. During the 2026 Congress, a leadership transition will take place as Mr. Wendrick Cicilia is officially installed as the new leader of AVP.
A shared history between AVP and PNP
During the airport welcome, Mike Eman spoke at length about the historic ties between AVP and PNP—two parties whose relationship spans multiple generations.
Eman referenced the era of Henny Eman, founder of AVP, and Dr. Moises da Costa Gomez, founder of the National People’s Party, highlighting their roles in the political struggle for greater autonomy for the islands. According to Eman, the collaboration between those early leaders contributed to milestone developments in the constitutional evolution of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba.
Among other highlights, Eman mentioned the 1948 motion regarding Aruba’s right to determine its own constitutional future. He recalled that the document bore the signature of C.A. (Shon A) Eman and enjoyed the support of Dr. Da Costa Gomez. For Eman, this history illustrates that the relationship between AVP and the National Party is not merely one between two political entities, but a relationship deeply rooted in the political and constitutional framework of both islands.
In addition to constitutional history, Eman noted that both parties share principles that place special focus on the most vulnerable in society. He linked this to Christian-Democratic ideology and the political responsibility to give a voice to those who are often unheard.
Mike Eman: Generational transition anchored in enduring principles
Prime Minister and outgoing AVP leader Mr. Mike Eman also placed the visit in the context of the transition within AVP. According to Eman, the 2026 Congress represents a generational changing of the guard, but not a shift in the core principles and convictions that have guided the party.
As AVP prepares to install Wendrick Cicilia as its new leader, Eman emphasized that the commitment to serving the country—especially its most vulnerable citizens—must remain central. This core principle, he noted, is one that AVP and the National People’s Party have historically shared: amplifying the voices of the unheard and working toward a community where progress and opportunity reach everyone.
Eman also expressed deep satisfaction upon stepping down as leader, confident that capable and dedicated individuals are ready to carry the party’s responsibilities forward.
Wendrick Cicilia: Further strengthening the bonds
Minister and incoming AVP leader Mr. Wendrick Cicilia likewise underscored the shared history between AVP and PNP. According to Cicilia, both parties have played vital roles in the development of Aruba and Curaçao, sharing ideological roots and principles that have brought them together over many decades.
Cicilia expressed his gratification with the development of both Curaçao and Aruba as autonomous countries, highlighting that both AVP and PNP contributed significantly to various stages of their growth.
Looking ahead, Cicilia expressed his desire to maintain and further strengthen the ties between both parties. The vision is for AVP and PNP to continue supporting one another, preserving the intergenerational bond that unites them.
Clifford Heyliger: “We are one family”
Member of Parliament and AVP Board President Clifford Heyliger highlighted a more personal dimension of the relationship between Aruba and the neighboring islands.
Heyliger pointed out that many families have members spread across Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, and Sint Maarten. He referenced his own family, which maintains connections across different islands, to illustrate that geographical distance does not sever the underlying bonds between the island populations.
According to Heyliger, while individuals can love their birthplace deeply, they simultaneously cherish family connections on other islands. To him, AVP and the National Party embody this reality: two parties on different islands, each dedicated to its own country, yet bound by a shared history and relationship.
Heyliger expressed his delight at Larmonie-Cecilia’s presence in Aruba for this milestone event. Her attendance symbolizes the continuity of a historical relationship between both parties and the strong ties connecting Aruba and Curaçao.
2026 Congress: A new chapter for AVP
Ruthmilda Larmonie-Cecilia’s visit comes at a key moment of generational change for AVP. During the 2026 Congress, Wendrick Cicilia will be installed as leader of the AVP Party, marking the official transition of leadership. Larmonie-Cecilia will attend as leader of PNP—AVP’s sister party—and as a witness to the next chapter in the party’s history.
The AVP Party’s 2026 Congress will take place on Sunday, October 4, at the Aruba Marriott Resort Grand Ballroom, starting at 9:00 AM. For more information, visit www.avp.aw.