Oranjestad quality of life : In the wake of the recently announced Taskforce “Convivencia: Safe and Humane City Centers,” Police Commissioner Ramon Arnhem has issued a direct appeal to the Aruban community, calling on everyone to work together to address the declining quality of life in downtown Oranjestad.
During his statement, Commissioner Arnhem emphasized that the current problems facing the city center are not individual issues but a shared challenge requiring joint action from government, institutions, and the community alike. “We have a problem together, and today I am asking you for help to address this problem together,” Arnhem said.
According to the Commissioner, the situation in the city center is characterized by several factors that are negatively affecting quality of life. These include a lack of cleanliness, abandoned buildings in poor condition, and the presence of vulnerable individuals without a fixed place to stay — all of which create concern about both public safety and the image of Oranjestad.
Arnhem stressed that these challenges do not exist in isolation; they reinforce one another, affecting not only the experience of visitors to the island but, more importantly, the daily wellbeing of residents who live and work in the capital.
“It bothers us as citizens. Those of us who live here and contribute to building Aruba do not deserve this,” Arnhem stated, underlining the emotional toll that the deteriorating conditions have taken on the local population.
The Commissioner also noted that the impact becomes even more significant given that Aruba’s economy depends heavily on tourism, but stressed that the primary priority must be the quality of life of the island’s own people.
In response, the government has launched a multidisciplinary approach under the new Taskforce, integrating various ministries and relevant agencies to address the problems structurally. Among the concrete actions to be implemented are increased cleaning and maintenance of streets, strengthened surveillance and police presence in the city center, removal of abandoned vehicles and dangerous situations, and targeted attention and guidance for vulnerable individuals.
Arnhem closed with a strong call for community participation: “Community of Aruba, let’s start today by working together to make our island cleaner and safer. Let’s do it.”
The Taskforce represents an important step in the government’s vision to create a city center that is more humane, orderly, and dignified for everyone.
