AVP's Bermudez Reaffirms Commitment to Free Beach Access in Aruba

The Court of First Instance of Aruba has issued a ruling confirming that the mandatory retirement age for notaries on the island remains 65 years old. The decision came amid a significant legal debate over whether the current policy should be changed, and the court sided with maintaining the existing standard. The ruling brings clarity to a contested legal question that had been under scrutiny within Aruba's judicial and professional community. Notaries in Aruba are public officials who play a central role in legal transactions such as property transfers, wills, and corporate formations, making their professional regulations a matter of public interest. The decision effectively closes the door, at least for now, on any push to extend the working age for notaries beyond 65. The judgment was recently published and is expected to guide policy and any future legal challenges on the matter.

The Aruban Bond van Werknemers in Verplegende Instellingen (ABV), the union representing workers in nursing and healthcare institutions, held an urgent meeting on Friday afternoon with Public Health Minister Mervin Wyatt-Ras to raise serious concerns about the hospital's financial situation. The union is describing the current state of affairs as a 'noodsituatie' — a state of emergency — and is calling on the minister to intervene immediately. The meeting signals a significant escalation in tensions between healthcare workers and government leadership over how the hospital is being managed financially. The ABV's decision to go public with this warning suggests internal efforts to resolve the crisis have not been sufficient. The financial instability at Aruba's main hospital poses a direct risk to healthcare delivery on the island, making the stakes for both staff and patients considerable. Minister Wyatt-Ras now faces mounting pressure to take concrete action to stabilize the institution.

Employees of Arubus N.V., Aruba's public bus company, have been waiting more than 10 years to receive outstanding wages owed to them, according to a report by 24ora. The situation is drawing renewed criticism given that the Aruban government is currently running a budget surplus, raising questions about why workers remain unpaid. Arubus N.V. operates as a government-linked entity responsible for public transportation across the island. Workers and their advocates are asking how much longer they must wait for compensation that has been owed for over a decade. The contrast between the government's improved financial position and the continued non-payment of these workers has fueled frustration among employees and labor observers. The case highlights longstanding concerns about how Aruba manages its public enterprises and fulfills obligations to government-sector workers. No timeline for resolution has been publicly announced.