Oranjestad Investors Say They've Lost Faith in Government Promises

WEB Aruba has officially announced the launch of BESS II, a large-scale Battery Energy Storage System with a capacity of 35 megawatts and 70 megawatt-hours of storage. The project represents a significant expansion of Aruba's energy storage infrastructure, building on earlier battery storage efforts by the island's public utility company. According to the project timeline, BESS II is expected to be completed and operational by 2028. The system will allow Aruba to store greater amounts of renewable energy, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and improving grid stability. Projects of this scale are central to Aruba's long-stated goal of transitioning to near-100% renewable energy. WEB Aruba, the island's sole energy and water utility, is leading the initiative. The announcement marks a concrete step forward in the island's clean energy roadmap.

Aruba's Instacash lottery is discontinuing its 'Instant Jackpot 3' scratch card game, with the product being pulled from sale starting September 25. As of that date, the game will no longer be available for purchase at retail locations across the island. However, players who already hold tickets will still be able to use them, suggesting a redemption window remains open after the withdrawal date. The removal of the game is a routine product cycle decision common in lottery operations, where older instant games are retired to make way for new offerings. Customers who have purchased tickets are advised to check their tickets and redeem any winnings before any final claim deadline, which was not specified in the announcement.

Aruba Bank, in partnership with Deloitte, successfully organized a workshop as part of their joint Aruba Bank x Deloitte Workshop Series 2026. The event brought together clients for an informative evening session focused on relevant financial or business topics. The workshop series reflects a continued commitment by Aruba Bank to provide educational and professional development opportunities for its client base. Collaborating with Deloitte, one of the world's leading professional services firms, adds significant credibility and expertise to the initiative. Such partnerships between local financial institutions and global consultancies are relatively uncommon in small island markets and signal Aruba's growing business sophistication. Further sessions in the 2026 series are expected to follow, continuing the bank's outreach and client engagement efforts.

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