Aruba's 2026 Ground Lease Bills Now Available, Payable at Tax Dept

The Department of Infrastructure and Planning (DIP) in Aruba has issued the 2026 ground lease (erfpacht) billing statements, signaling the start of the annual collection cycle for leaseholders. The billing data has been transferred to the Tax Department (Departamento di Impuesto), which is now authorized to receive payments. Residents and businesses who hold government ground leases are advised to visit the Tax Department to settle their 2026 obligations. Ground lease fees apply to properties built on government-owned land, a common arrangement in Aruba. Timely payment helps avoid penalties or complications with property rights. This announcement serves as a public notice for leaseholders to take action.

The Fundacion Lanta Papiamento (FLP) held an educational session for housekeeping staff at Playa Linda resort in Aruba, sharing the history, origins, and development of the Papiamento language. The foundation continues its ongoing mission to promote Papiamento across the island by bringing language awareness directly to workplaces. Employees learned about the language's documented origins based on academic research and its cultural evolution over time. The initiative targets workers in the hospitality sector, where daily interaction with international guests can sometimes sideline local language and cultural identity. By reaching resort staff, FLP aims to strengthen pride in Papiamento among workers who are often the first point of contact for visitors to Aruba. The outreach reflects a broader effort to preserve and elevate Papiamento as a living, valued language rather than a secondary one in professional settings.

Fundacion Lanta Papiamento (FLP) visited the Playa Linda Beach Resort in Aruba to deliver an educational presentation on the Papiamento language as part of Housekeeping Week celebrations. The session was aimed at the resort's housekeeping staff and covered the history, origins, and development of Papiamento based on current research. FLP is an organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Papiamento, Aruba's native creole language. The initiative reflects ongoing efforts to raise awareness of Papiamento's cultural significance among workers in Aruba's tourism sector, many of whom may come from non-Papiamento-speaking backgrounds. By bringing the presentation into a professional hospitality setting, FLP is extending its outreach beyond traditional educational environments. The event underscores the importance of language and cultural identity within the broader context of Aruba's tourism industry.