ORANJESTAD (AAN): During the recent unveiling ceremony of Henny Eman Boulevard, held in the presence of former colleagues and friends, Tico Croes, President of the Henny Eman Foundation, delivered a speech honoring the legacy of Aruba’s first Prime Minister.
Croes stated that it was an honor for the Foundation, together with the Government of Aruba and the Aruba Airport Authority, to organize this special event. He thanked the Government for approving the request to rename the road between the Mahuma roundabout and the Divi Tamarijn roundabout as Henny Eman Boulevard, which connects Juancho Yrausquin Boulevard, Nelson Orlando Oduber Avenue, and Watty Vos Boulevard. He emphasized that L.G. Smith Boulevard continues to exist from Palm Beach to Arashi, preserving its historic importance.
The ceremony, Croes explained, was not only a historic moment but also an opportunity to reflect on events from more than 40 years ago, when a young leader of just 28 years earned the trust of the Aruban people. Henny Eman was not only instrumental in achieving Status Aparte, but also became Aruba’s first Prime Minister during a critical period of nation-building.
At the time, Aruba faced severe challenges, including unemployment exceeding 30 percent, emigration, and widespread uncertainty about the country’s future. Croes noted that while having a plan on paper is important, true leadership requires the ability to sit at the table, persuade others, inspire confidence, and turn vision into reality.
Henny Eman, he said, had a clear vision and a solid blueprint, but what truly set him apart was how he achieved results. The method, Croes emphasized, is just as important as the goal itself.
Croes highlighted three major examples along Henny Eman Boulevard that illustrate Eman’s leadership and managerial strength. The first was securing U.S. pre-clearance at Aruba’s airport. Convincing U.S. Customs and Immigration authorities to establish pre-clearance facilities on an island of just 54,000 people—and to cover the associated costs—was a remarkable achievement that permanently transformed Aruba’s airport into a global hub.
The second example was the introduction of the Aruban florin. Within just three months, Arubans were asked to exchange the familiar Antillean guilder for a new national currency. Despite initial uncertainty, Henny Eman successfully guided the transition, and within months, citizens proudly carried the Aruban florin—a feat many countries still struggle to replicate.
The third example was Aruba’s economic strategy. Eman successfully convinced international partners, including the Pritzker family, Ballast Nedam, and a major Japanese bank, to invest in Aruba despite the government’s limited financial resources. These partnerships led to the development of one of the most successful Hyatt hotels worldwide, which remains a cornerstone of Aruba’s tourism sector.
Croes described this combination of vision and persuasion as Henny Eman’s greatest strength—the ability to inspire others to believe in a shared aspiration and act collectively.
He concluded by stating that the mission of the Henny Eman Foundation is not only to preserve the memory of Eman’s achievements, but also to teach future generations how to lead, innovate, and build a resilient Aruba.
Quoting Minister Cicilia, Croes ended his speech by saying: “Standing on the shoulders of giants, we continue to build. That is the legacy Henny Eman left for all of us.”
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