ORANJESTAD, Aruba — The AVP leadership transition represents more than simply replacing one party leader with another, according to Minister Wendrick Cicilia, who says the process is about responsibility, continuity and preparing a new generation to serve Aruba.
The AVP has announced that its 2026 party congress will serve as the formal moment for transferring leadership and greater responsibility to a new generation within the party.
The congress is scheduled for Sunday, October 4, 2026, at the Aruba Marriott Resort Grand Ballroom, beginning at 9:00 a.m.
AVP leader and Prime Minister Mike Eman announced the plans during a press conference, describing the congress as an important moment in the party’s history.
Cicilia Defines the Meaning of Leadership Transition
Cicilia, who currently serves as Minister of Tourism, Transportation and Labor and is considered one of the prominent figures of AVP’s younger generation, said the concept of an “Era di Relevo” goes beyond a simple leadership change.
For Cicilia, the AVP leadership transition means accepting responsibility for continuing the work of previous generations while adapting to the realities Aruba faces today.
He said taking another person’s position is not enough.
A new generation must be prepared to build on what earlier leaders accomplished while also having the courage to respond differently when changing circumstances require new approaches.
Respecting AVP’s Past While Looking Forward
Cicilia said a political party with AVP’s history should be able to respect its past without losing sight of the future.
He credited earlier generations with establishing a foundation based on public service, responsibility, solidarity and commitment to Aruba.
The challenge for younger politicians, he said, is to apply those values to the realities faced by today’s population.
Cicilia stressed that each generation encounters different challenges and must be prepared to accept responsibility for addressing them.
For Aruba today, those challenges include the cost of living, opportunities for young people, education, employment, housing and building an economy capable of creating opportunities for a broad section of society.
These issues, he said, should remain central to discussions about Aruba’s next generation of political leadership.
Opportunity Comes With Responsibility
Cicilia said the AVP leadership transition also carries a direct message for younger members of the party.
He believes a new generation cannot simply ask for opportunities and positions of responsibility.
When those opportunities arrive, younger leaders must demonstrate that they are prepared to handle the responsibilities that come with them.
Cicilia emphasized humility, discipline and the principle that politics should ultimately be about serving people.
He said younger politicians should understand that assuming leadership means carrying the expectations and concerns of the community rather than simply gaining political status.
Congress Will Formalize AVP’s Next Chapter
The October 4 congress will give AVP members an opportunity to gather, reflect on the party’s history and formally begin the next stage of its leadership.
Cicilia said the occasion is important not only for AVP but also for the party’s future relationship with Aruba and younger generations.
He described the transition as another chapter rather than the end of an existing story.
According to Cicilia, the responsibility of the next generation will be to ensure that Arubans can recognize themselves and their concerns in that new chapter.
The AVP leadership transition follows Eman’s earlier announcement that party leadership would be transferred to a younger generation as part of a broader change within the organization.
AVP’s 2026 congress is scheduled for Sunday, October 4, at the Aruba Marriott Resort Grand Ballroom, starting at 9:00 a.m., where the party is expected to formalize its next phase of leadership.
