Throughout history, there have been many moments that have left an indelible mark, such as countless wars and various economic crises. In Aruba, the effects of these events have always been felt, but never has the impact been so direct. However, there was one case that affected Aruba in a profound way.

In 2005, the disappearance of Natalee Holloway drastically damaged Aruba’s reputation as a safe tourist destination, especially among American tourists, who make up the majority of our visitors. This case had such a severe impact on Aruba that even today it is painful to remember. Despite all the efforts and time invested by the Aruban government to move heaven and earth to find the young woman, giving all civil servants time off to help in the search, and the entire community lending a hand, the international press, specifically the American press, vilified Aruba. While thousands of murders take place every year in their own country, they found it necessary to portray Aruba as an unsafe island to visit, demonstrating how vulnerable our tourism industry can be.

Despite this bitter experience, nothing could have prepared Aruba for the global pandemic that emerged in 2020. Aruba, largely isolated from most disasters, found itself facing a pandemic that brought the world economy to a standstill and caused widespread devastation. Financially and economically, Aruba has been set back considerably. Many have lost their jobs or seen their wages drastically reduced. Many business owners have lost their investments and have had to resort to using their own personal savings to survive, to the point where several businesses have closed their doors. For the first time in a long time, Aruba found itself confronted with a large number of citizens who did not have enough money to eat. One can still remember the long lines at the Red Cross for food. Many are the elderly who remembered 1985 when LAGO OIL closed its doors. Many are those who at that time left Aruba in search of a better life for themselves and their families. However, this time there was no option to go anywhere.

In the face of all this, the Aruban government did everything in its power to keep Aruba’s economy afloat. We may have many differences of opinion on how or what to negotiate with the Netherlands, but the fact is that at that time the Aruban government had to almost beg for funds to help the people as much as possible. Even today, we can feel the effects of the pandemic, with workers still earning only 60 or 70% of their salaries. The debts created during that time weigh heavily on businesses and workers.

However, it is not only Aruba’s economy that has been affected. Many people forget that COVID-19 not only brought an economic standstill and affected the finances of Aruba and the whole world. More importantly, but which almost no one talks about anymore, are the real victims of the pandemic. Our loved ones who left us. Despite the differences in opinion about the effectiveness of vaccines or not, many of us have lost one or more loved ones, which is very painful. Without thinking about how these real victims had to spend their last days in isolation, without their families being able to be near them, hold their hands, give them a hug or say goodbye to them. Who can imagine what these people were thinking and feeling? Just a few years later, very little is being said or done to (remember) these victims.

For this reason, Team AWEMainta wants to bring them to the attention of the public, so that they can be remembered and honored, even if it is just for a moment. In every family there is one or more loved one who died during the pandemic, alone, in a hospital bed, with everything going on around them, without family or friends by their side, praying for healing. Their only consolation was the hospital staff, who worked tirelessly day and night to care for each of them. AWEMainta today asks our readers to take a moment each day to reflect on all the real victims of COVID-19, so that they are not forgotten. Perhaps it is even time to build a monument in their honor. Not only for them, but also for all the sacrifices that were made so that Aruba could overcome the pandemic.