A proposal to recognize July 1 public holiday Aruba slavery has been formally submitted to Parliament by the Plataforma Nacional Herencia di Sclavitud na Aruba (PNHSA).
The petition was presented on March 17 at 1:00 p.m. to the President of Parliament, Marlon Sneek, together with Member of Parliament Otami Thomasia. The initiative calls for July 1 to be officially declared a national public holiday in Aruba.
The proposed holiday aims to commemorate the abolition of slavery and acknowledge the historical impact of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, which also forms part of Aruba’s history.
Although many Caribbean countries already observe July 1 as a day of remembrance, Aruba has not yet formally recognized the date as a national day of reflection and heritage.
According to PNHSA, establishing July 1 public holiday Aruba slavery would be an important step in honoring the resilience, contributions, and cultural heritage of Afro-descendant communities on the island.
The organization emphasized that such recognition would help strengthen national unity, promote historical awareness, and contribute to healing and restorative justice.
Following its submission to Parliament, the same petition will also be presented to Prime Minister Mike Eman to encourage broader government support for the initiative.
PNHSA expressed gratitude to President Sneek and MP Thomasia for receiving the petition and stated its intention to continue engaging in constructive dialogue with both Parliament and the Government of Aruba regarding the proposal.
