During the parliamentary discussion of Aruba’s 2019 Annual Accounts, AVP Parliamentarian Otami Thomasia strongly criticized the Sinterklaas arrival celebration held last Sunday. She stated that the traditional presence of “Zwarte Piet” is offensive to certain groups in Aruba’s community, who feel discriminated against by the practice.
Thomasia acknowledged the efforts made since 2022 by former Minister of Culture Xiomara Maduro, who worked diligently to respect the concerns of affected community groups. Under her leadership, the Sinterklaas celebration was modernized with colorful “Piets” and even revised song lyrics to ensure the event promoted inclusion for everyone.
However, according to Thomasia, the current Minister of Culture Mike Eman failed to show the same respect toward the community and allowed discriminatory and racist elements to return to the celebration. She expressed her disappointment and requested Minister Geoffrey Wever to raise the concern in the Council of Ministers. Minister Wever agreed, stating that he also disagreed with the decision made by Mike Eman. Parliamentarian Ruthlyn Lindor from Futuro voiced similar dissatisfaction with her government’s approach.
Thomasia emphasized that if Aruba has already taken meaningful steps forward, this decision sends the country 100 steps backward. The MEP faction supported her strong criticism and urged Minister Mike Eman to issue a public apology for the mistake made.
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