Aruba
GANG INFORMATION
PROFILE
OFFICIAL NAME:
Aruba
Geography
Area: 180 sq. km. (112 sq. mi.).
Cities: Capital--Oranjestad (pop. 60,000, 2003).
Terrain: Flat with a few hills; scant vegetation.
Climate: Subtropical.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Aruban(s).
Population (2004): 97,518.
Annual growth rate: 3.57%.
Ethnic groups: Mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%.
Religion: Roman Catholic 81%, Protestant 3%, Hindu, Muslim,
Methodist, Anglican, Adventist, Evangelist, Jehovah's Witness,
Jewish.
Languages: Dutch (official); Papiamento, Spanish, and English
also are spoken.
Education: Literacy--97%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--5.2/1,000. Life expectancy--75
years for men, 81.9 years for women.
Work force (41,501): Most employment is in wholesale and retail
trade and repair, followed by hotels and restaurants and oil
refining. Unemployment--about 7.3% (2004).
Government
Type: Parliamentary democracy.
Independence: Part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Branches: Executive--monarch represented by a governor (chief
of state), prime minister (head of government), Cabinet. Legislative--unicameral
parliament. Judicial--Joint High Court of Justice appointed
by the monarch.
Subdivisions: Aruba is divided into eight regions--Noord/Tank
Leendert, Oranjestad (west), Oranjestad (east), Paradera,
Santa Cruz, Savaneta, Sint Nicolaas (north), and Sint Nicolaas
(south).
Political parties: Aruba Patriotic Movement (MPA), Aruban
Socialist Movement (Aliansa), Aruban Liberal Party (OLA),
Patriotic Party of Aruba (PPA), Aruban People's Party (AVP),
Concentration for the Liberation of Aruba (CLA), People's
Electoral Movement Party (MEP), Democratic Network (RED),
Real Democracy, Workers Political Platform (PPT), Summum Bonum.
Suffrage: Universal at 18 years.
Economy
GDP (2004): $2.145 billion.
Growth rate (2004): 3.5%.
Per capita GDP (2004): $21,878.
Natural resources: Beaches. Tourism/services and oil refining
are dominant factors in GDP.
Trade: Exports--$3.48 billion (f.o.b., including oil re-exports,
2002): oil products, live animals and animal products, art
and collectibles, machinery and electrical equipment, transport
equipment. Major markets--U.S. (40.4%), Venezuela (19.9%),
Netherlands (10.2%), Netherlands Antilles (14.8%). Imports--$1.5
billion: crude petroleum, food, manufactures. Major suppliers--U.S.
(60.4%), Netherlands (12.7%), Netherlands Antilles (3.3%).
PEOPLE AND HISTORY
Aruba's first inhabitants were the Caquetios Indians from
the Arawak tribe. Fragments of the earliest known Indian settlements
date back to about 1000 A.D. Spanish explorer Alonso de Ojeda
is regarded as the first European to arrive in about 1499.
The Spanish garrison on Aruba dwindled following the Dutch
capture of nearby Bonaire and Curacao in 1634. The Dutch occupied
Aruba shortly thereafter, and retained control for nearly
two centuries. In 1805, during the Napoleonic wars, the English
briefly took control over the island, but it was returned
to Dutch control in 1816. A 19th-century gold rush was followed
by prosperity brought on by the opening in 1924 of an oil
refinery. The last decades of the 20th century saw a boom
in the tourism industry. In 1986 Aruba seceded from the Netherlands
Antilles and became a separate, autonomous member of the Kingdom
of the Netherlands. Movement toward full independence was
halted at Aruba's prerogative in 1990. Aruba has a mixture
of people from South America and Europe, the Far East, and
other islands of the Caribbean.
GOVERNMENT
Part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Aruba has full autonomy
on all internal affairs with the exception of defense, foreign
affairs, and some judicial functions. The constitution was
enacted in January 1986. Executive power rests with a governor
while a prime minister heads an eight-member Cabinet. The
governor is appointed for a 6-year term by the monarch, and
the prime minister and deputy prime minister are elected by
the Staten, or legislature, for 4-year terms. The Staten is
made up of 21 members elected by direct, popular vote to serve
4-year terms. Aruba's judicial system, which has mainly been
derived from the Dutch system, operates independently of the
legislature and the executive. Jurisdiction, including appeal,
lies with the Common Court of Justice of Aruba and the Supreme
Court of Justice in the Netherlands.
Principal Government Officials
Governor—Fredis Jose Refunjol
Prime Minister—Nelson Oduber
POLITICAL CONDITIONS
After a break in the coalition between the ruling Arubaanse
Volkspartij (AVP) and the Organisashon Liberal Arubano (OLA),
the election due in July 1998 was pushed forward to December
1997. Unfortunately, the results were unclear, with votes
equally divided between the People's Electoral Movement Party
(MEP), the AVP, and the OLA. After negotiations failed to
unite the MEP and AVP, a new coalition between the AVP and
OLA formed, which forced the MEP into the opposition. Four
years later in September 2001, the opposition MEP won a decisive
victory in a free election, taking 12 of 21 seats to form
Aruba's first one-party government. In 2005 elections, the
MEP maintained its majority in parliament with 43% of the
vote, earning a slim majority with 11 seats in the Staten.
ECONOMY
Through the 1990s and into the 21st century Aruba posted growth
rates around 5%. However, in 2001 a decrease in demand and
the terrorist attack on the United States led to the first
economic contraction in 15 years. Deficit spending has been
a staple in Aruba's history, and modestly high inflation has
been present as well, although recent efforts at tightening
monetary policy may correct this. Oil processing is the dominant
industry in Aruba, despite the expansion of the tourism sector.
Over 1.5 million tourists per year visit Aruba, with 75% of
those from the United States. The sizes of the agriculture
and manufacturing industries remain minimal.
FOREIGN RELATIONS
Although Aruba conducts foreign affairs primarily through
the Dutch Government, it also has strong relations with other
Caribbean governments. Aruba is an observer in the Caribbean
Community (CARICOM), an associate member of the World Trade
Organization through the Netherlands, and is a full member
of the Association of Caribbean States.
U.S.-ARUBA RELATIONS
Principal U.S. Officials
Consul General—Robert E. Sorenson
Consul—Sharon E. Feiser
Vice Consul—Jean Akers
The U.S. Consulate General for Aruba and the
Netherlands Antilles is located at J.B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad,
Curacao; tel. 599-9-461-3066, fax: 599-9-461-6489, Monday
through Friday, 8:00 am-5:00 pm. Email: cgcuracao@attglobal.net
Other Contact Information
U.S. Department of Commerce
International Trade Administration
Trade Information Center
14th and Constitution, NW
Washington, DC 20230
Tel: 1-800-USA-TRADE
TRAVEL AND BUSINESS INFORMATION
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The National Passport Information Center (NPIC)
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Travelers can check the latest health information
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and a web site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm give
the most recent health advisories, immunization recommendations
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for regions and countries. A booklet entitled Health Information
for International Travel (HHS publication number CDC-95-8280)
is available from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington,
DC 20402, tel. (202) 512-1800.
Information on travel conditions, visa requirements,
currency and customs regulations, legal holidays, and other
items of interest to travelers also may be obtained before
your departure from a country's embassy and/or consulates
in the U.S. (for this country, see "Principal Government
Officials" listing in this publication).
U.S. citizens who are long-term visitors or
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travel via the State Department’s travel registration
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Consular section of the U.S. embassy upon arrival in a country
by filling out a short form and sending in a copy of their
passports. This may help family members contact you in case
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Further Electronic Information
Department of State Web Site. Available on the Internet at
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