Aruba (pinyin ā lǔ bā dǎo, English Aruba)
〖Overview〗
Name: Aruba.
Located in the westernmost tip of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, it covers an area of 193 square kilometers. It has a tropical climate with an average annual temperature of 27℃. The population is 95,200 (end of 1999). It is predominantly of mixed Indian and white European descent, with a birth rate of 1.64% and a death rate of 0.66% in 1997. The official language is Dutch, and Papiamento is spoken, as well as Spanish and English.
More than 80% of the population is Catholic, with a small Protestant minority. The island was first inhabited by the Arawak Indians, then captured by Spain in 1499, then by the Netherlands in 1643, then by the United Kingdom in 1807, then by the Netherlands in 1814, and then by the Netherlands Antilles, from which it was declared on January 1, 1986, a separate political entity of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with the Netherlands continuing to be responsible for defense and security of the island. The Netherlands continued to be responsible for the island's defense and external affairs. Aruba forms a cooperative union with the Netherlands Antilles in economic and monetary matters. Capital Oranjestad
Oranjestad, population 60,000 (1996 est.).
Governor: Olindo Koolman, inaugurated in 1992.
Political partiesThere are seven political parties on the island. The main ones are:
(1) Arubaanse Volkspartij (Aruban People's Party): the main ruling party, founded in 1942. It favors the current "state of secession" in Aruba. Leader Jan Hendrik
Eman.
(2) Organization for the Liberation of Aruba (Organisacion Liberal Arubiano): Co-governed with the Aruban People's Party (PPA), founded in 1991. Leader Glenbert F. Croes
(Glenbert F. Croes).
(3) Movimentu Electoral di Pueblo (People's Electoral Movement of Aruba): socialist party, main opposition party. founded in 1971, with 1,200 members. Leader Nelson O. Oduber.
General elections were held in July 1994, and the Aruban People's Party won 10 seats; the party joined with the Organization for the Liberation of Aruba (OLU) to form a government.In mid-1997, the two parties quarreled over the post of deputy speaker.
This eventually led to early elections, which were held on December 12, 1997, but with the same results as in 1994.
The Aruban People's Party (APP), the largest political party in Aruba, was elected on December 12, 1997, with 10 seats. After prolonged negotiations, the Aruba People's Party (APP) and the Organization for the Liberation of Aruba (OLU) reunited and
formed a coalition government in mid-1998, headed by Jane Hendrik Ehman.
Parliamentary legislature, unicameral, elected by universal suffrage, has 21 seats and serves a four-year term. The current parliament was elected on December 12, 1997, with the Aruban People's Party (PP) winning 10 seats, the Aruban People's Electoral Movement (MPE) winning 9 seats, and the Organization for the Liberation of Aruba (OLU) winning 2 seats. Speaker M.V. Christians.
The government, known as the Council of Ministers, is usually made up of the party that won the general election and is accountable to parliament for a four-year term.
The current government was formed in 1998. The main members of the government are as follows: Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs Jane Hendrik Ehmann, Minister of Transportation, Communications and Utilities Willem Vrolijk
(Willem Vrolijk), Minister of Finance Robertico R. Croes, Minister of Justice and Public **** Works Edgar J. Vos, Minister of Economy
Minister of Economic Affairs and Tourism Lilia G. BeKe Martinez, Minister of Education and Labor Mary Wever Lacle
Minister of Public **** Health, Sports and Social Affairs Lsrael Posner, Minister of Public Health, Sports and Social Affairs in the Netherlands Antonio G. Croes, Member of the Council of Ministers of the Territory of Aruba
, T. Monzon, Minister Plenipotentiary of the Territory of Aruba in Washington, D.C.
The judiciary consists of a court of first instance on this island, and a joint High Court of Justice for the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba on the island of Cura?ao in the Netherlands Antilles. Both the Chief Justice and the Attorney General are appointed for life
and are appointed by the Queen of the Netherlands after consultation with the governments of both entities.
Chief Justice of the Joint High Court, M.R. Wijinholt. J.H.M. Zwinkels, Attorney General of Aruba.
Economy
During the 1990s, the economy grew steadily and strongly, based primarily on petroleum refining (including oil transshipment and petroleum products) and tourism.
GDP (1999): $1.822 billion.
GDP per capita (1997): $18,076.
GDP growth rate (1999): 3%.
Name of currency: Aruban florin; 1 florin = 100 cents.
Exchange rate (January 1999): $1 = 1.79 Aruban florins.
Inflation rate (1999): 2.3 percent.
Unemployment rate (1996): 0.6 percent.
Industry is dominated by oil refining. Current refining capacity is 140,000 barrels per day. Light industry is limited to tobacco products, beverages, and some consumer goods. There is a "free industrial zone". Desalination
The desalination plant can desalinate 20.8 million liters of seawater per day, making it one of the largest desalination plants in the world.
The power generation in 1998 was 676.2 million kWh.
Agriculture is underdeveloped with poor soil. Aloe vera, used in cosmetics and medicines, is a specialty. 160 tons of fish were caught in 1996.
Tourism is the mainstay of the national economy. The region is blessed with abundant sunshine all year round, pleasant climate and unique tropical scenery. The famous "Palm Beach" and early Indian caves
attract many tourists. The number of hotel rooms increased from 2,368 in 1986 to 6,313 in 1994. 906,266 tourists visited the city in 1999, including 647,437 overnight visitors and 267,829 cruise ship visitors. Visitors came mainly from the United States, Central and South America, and Europe.
Transportation
No railroad.
Highways are 380 kilometers long and there is an all-weather road network.In 1998 there were 37,669 cars, 339 public **** cars, 400 cabs, 734 trucks, and 3,496 other vehicles.
Water transportation is well-developed, and the main port of Oranjestad can berth ocean liners.In 1998 there were 476 tankers and 266 cruise ships.
Beatrice International Airport, the capital, is connected by air to the United States, Europe, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. 31,468 flights were operated in 1998.
Finance and finance
Fiscal revenues and expenditures from 1996 to 1996 were as follows (in billions of Netherlands Antillean guilders):
1996 1996
Revenues 6.03 6.46
Expenditures 6.12 6.94
Difference -0.09 -0.49
(Source: 1997/1998 Quarterly Economic Review)
The public ****external debt in 1996 was US$198 million. foreign exchange reserves (excluding gold) at the end of 1996 were US$180 million, and gold reserves in 1996 were US$26.6 million.
Foreign Trade
Exports in 1999 amounted to US$1.413 billion and imports to US$2.006?million. The main imports include mineral fuels and lubricants, machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, chemical products, etc.; the main
exports include mineral fuels and lubricants, raw materials and so on. The main trade objects are the United States, Venezuela, etc.
Foreign Aid
Foreign aid relies mainly on the Netherlands. However, in the last two years, Dutch aid has decreased. in 1993, the Netherlands provided $23 million in development aid and multilateral agencies provided $2.3 million.
Economic organizations
Aruba Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Aruba Chamber of Commerce and Industry): founded in 1930. Correspondence: Zoutmanstraat 21, POB 140,
Oranjestad. tel: (8) 216666. fax: (8) 33962. president M.S. Kuiperi, executive director L.C. De Souza.
People's Life
The government provides free medical care to residents. There is a modern hospital on the island, built with Dutch aid. in 1994 there were 19,000 television sets, 40,000 radios, and 26,049 telephones.
Military
Defense is the responsibility of the Netherlands. Compulsory military service is practiced. The Governor appointed by the Netherlands is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces on the island. A Dutch naval force is stationed in Aruba.
[Culture and Education]
Education is not compulsory. The education system is similar to that of the Netherlands. Primary education starts at the age of six and lasts for six years, while secondary education lasts for five years. Secondary education lasts for five years, and the adult illiteracy rate was about 3% in 1991.
Government spending on education in 1994 was about 22.8 percent of the budget.
Schools, students, and teachers in 1996 were as follows:
Schools (number) Students (number) Teachers (number)
Primary schools 34 7606 367
Junior high schools 9 2,132,121
Higher high schools 1 1,263 68
Technical and Vocational Schools 13 2778 208
Teacher Training Schools 1 71 22
Schools for the Disabled 3 266 36
University 1 300 ?
Press and Publications
There are six daily newspapers, the main ones being: The Aruban Friend, a Dutch-language daily founded in 1884 with a circulation of 11,000 (including in the Netherlands Antilles); and La Presse, an English-language
daily with a circulation of 8,228. There is the Aruban news agency. The Netherlands News Agency and the Associated Press have offices on the island. There are six radio stations, all
commercial except one, which is religious and cultural. All broadcast in Dutch, English, Spanish, and Papiamandu.
Television Aruba is a commercial television station founded in 1963.