ORANJESTAD – Business owner Marjorie Vermeer says Aruba’s parking policy in Caya Grandi continues to discourage shoppers and visitors, negatively affecting local businesses and the downtown economy.
Vermeer argued that convenient parking is essential for both tourists and residents visiting Oranjestad. She said previous plans to construct multi-level parking facilities were never completed, while paid parking was introduced without providing the promised alternatives.
According to Vermeer, the current system has reduced visitor traffic to Caya Grandi and should be revised by allowing free parking on selected streets while keeping parking meters in designated areas. She also questioned the government’s ability to effectively manage the existing parking system, noting that many drivers still fail to pay parking fees.
