AGP Executive Report

Energy Transition: WEB Aruba launched its 35 MW / 70 MWh BESS II battery storage project, aimed at boosting wind and solar use and improving grid reliability, with completion targeted for 2028. Cost of Living & Work: CBS reports a widening gap between Aruba’s minimum wage and what a single person needs to cover basic living costs—Afl. 690 short per month in August (Afl. 515 after the compensation supplement). Tourism Service Quality: Aruba Tourism Authority and the Aruba Excellence Foundation renewed support for the Aruba Certification Program, updating training for tourism workers with more in-person and digital options. Primary Sector & Local Food: Savaneta’s second Seafood Festival returns this Sunday, linking local fishermen and producers with gastronomy, entrepreneurship, and community activity. Entrepreneurship Skills: IDEA (Aruba’s enterprise development unit) rolls out free Young Entrepreneurship workshops and a Phase 3 Masterclass on managing finances and employee insurance. Creative Industry & Authenticity: Prime Minister Mike Eman visited Design Academy, backing design talent as a way to create more authentic local products for tourism. Regional Connectivity: EllaLink advanced its Caribbean Gateway plan into development, with a western leg serving Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire, targeting service by end-2029. Business Moves: Massy Group confirmed the sale of its Caterpillar business in Trinidad and Tobago to MACORP, with no impact reported on 200 workers.

Tourism & Hospitality Training: Aruba Tourism Authority (A.T.A.) and the Aruba Excellence Foundation renewed their partnership to expand the Aruba Certification Program, updating content and adding more in-person and digital training for service excellence. Local Business & Skills: The IDEA unit (under the Ministry of Finance, Economic Affairs and Primary Sector) is rolling out free “Young Entrepreneurship” workshops for ages 18–35, covering practical AI use for business and building business connections. Primary Sector Under Pressure: Santa Rosa urged farmers, livestock owners and fishermen to prepare for extreme heat and drought, including smarter irrigation timing, mulching, and crop protection steps. Food & Beverage Workforce Data: The Aruba Food & Beverage Association launched a 2026 labor force and carrying capacity survey to map staffing shortages, training needs and tourism pressure across the sector. Energy Cost Scrutiny: In Sint Maarten budget debate, MP Omar Ottley questioned why electricity bills appear far lower in Aruba than at home, pointing to fuel purchasing and asking for GEBE findings. Regional Connectivity Push: EllaLink advanced its Caribbean Gateway into the development phase, with a western segment reaching Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire and a target service date of end-2029. Construction Milestone: YOO ARUBA certified completion of Phase 2 foundation works and set a revised price schedule effective December 1, 2026. Industry Culture & Events: Savaneta’s second Seafood Festival returns this Sunday, spotlighting local fishermen, producers and entrepreneurs.

Tourism & Service Quality: The Aruba Tourism Authority (A.T.A.) and the Aruba Excellence Foundation renewed their partnership to expand the Aruba Certification Program, updating training for tourism workers with both in-person and digital options to keep service standards sharp. Energy & Utilities: Aruba’s WEB model is again in the spotlight as MPs compare electricity costs with Sint Maarten and press for clarity on fuel purchasing and how pricing is structured. Digital Infrastructure: EllaLink launched the Caribbean Gateway initiative, with a western segment serving Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire, moving from design to committed investment and targeting service by end-2029. Entrepreneurship & Skills: IDEA kicked off free “Young Entrepreneurship” workshops for ages 18–35, with sessions on practical AI for business and building real connections. Primary Sector & Food: The second Savaneta Seafood Festival returns this Sunday, linking local fishermen and producers with gastronomy and entrepreneurship to strengthen Aruba’s primary sector. Construction & Real Estate: YOO ARUBA certified completion of Phase 2 foundation works and set a December 1, 2026 price adjustment. Labor & Capacity Planning: The Aruba Food & Beverage Association launched a 2026 labor force and carrying capacity survey to map staffing shortages and training needs.

Tourism Workforce & Capacity: The Aruba Food & Beverage Association (AF&BA) is launching a 2026 Labor Force and Carrying Capacity Survey to map staffing shortages, training needs, and how tourism demand strains the sector. Service Excellence: A.T.A. and the Aruba Excellence Foundation renewed their partnership to keep the Aruba Certification Program running, with updated training planned for 2026. Entrepreneurship Training: IDEA is rolling out free “Young Entrepreneurship” workshops for ages 18–35 (AI for business and building connections), plus Phase 3 of Masterclass Entrepreneurship on managing finances and employee insurance. Primary Sector & Food Supply: Santa Rosa is urging farmers and fishermen to prepare for heat and drought with water-saving irrigation, mulching, and crop protection. Energy Costs & Governance: MPs Ottley and Kotai are pressing for clarity on electricity pricing and GEBE fuel-related findings, using Aruba comparisons to question what drives bills. Construction & Real Estate: YOO ARUBA says Phase 2 foundation works are certified complete and a December 1 price adjustment is set. Regional Connectivity: EllaLink launched the Caribbean Gateway initiative, with a western segment serving Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire, targeting service by end-2029. Local Culture & Community: Savaneta’s second Seafood Festival returns this Sunday, linking fishing traditions with gastronomy and local entrepreneurship.

Electricity & Budget Pressure: Sint Maarten MP Omar Ottley is demanding answers after comparing Aruba’s lower household power bills, asking whether GEBE fuel purchasing and the regulator’s fuel-clause review could bring relief. Energy Lessons for the Region: MPs Ottley and Viren Kotai also visited Aruba’s WEB to understand how Aruba folds fuel costs into its pricing, not via a separate fuel surcharge. Grid Reliability Push: WEB has started work on BESS II, a 35 MW / 70 MWh battery storage project aimed at stabilizing Aruba’s grid and boosting renewable integration, targeted for completion in 2028. Entrepreneurship Support: DEZHI/IDEA kicked off Phase 3 of its Masterclass Entrepreneurship with a free workshop on managing finances and employee insurance, plus a separate free young entrepreneurship series for ages 18–35. Food & Beverage Workforce Data: The Aruba Food & Beverage Association launched its 2026 labor force and carrying capacity survey to map staffing shortages and training needs. Primary Sector Spotlight: Savaneta’s second Seafood Festival returns this Sunday, linking local fishing with gastronomy and entrepreneurship. Construction Milestone: YOO ARUBA says Phase 2 foundation works are certified complete, with a December 1 price adjustment.

Energy & Grid Resilience: WEB has started work on BESS II, a 35 MW / 70 MWh battery storage project expected to be completed in 2028, aimed at stabilizing Aruba’s grid and boosting renewable use. Primary Sector Under Pressure: Santa Rosa is urging farmers, livestock owners and fishermen to prepare for extreme heat and drought, including smarter irrigation timing and water-saving steps. Entrepreneurship & Skills: DEZHI’s IDEA unit kicks off Phase 3 of its Masterclass Entrepreneurship on Sept. 29 with “Ready to Grow,” covering finances and employee insurance, while free young entrepreneurship workshops run Sept. 30, Oct. 28 and Nov. 4. Tourism & Labor Planning: AF&BA launched its 2026 Food & Beverage Labor Force and Carrying Capacity Survey to map staffing shortages and training needs, and ATA shared August 2026 tourism stats plus the generational mix of visitors. Construction & Real Estate: YOO ARUBA says Phase 2 foundation works are certified complete and a revised price schedule takes effect Dec. 1. Community & Food Culture: Savaneta’s second Seafood Festival returns this Sunday, building local fishing and entrepreneurship into the island’s food scene. Energy Policy Learning: MPs Omar Ottley and Viren Kotai visited WEB to study Aruba’s electricity pricing model for lessons for St. Maarten. Local Commerce: San Nicolas Pop-Up Market marks its first anniversary this Saturday with 60+ vendors.

Cybersecurity & IT Ops: HPE issued security updates for its Networking Analytics and Location Engine (ALE), flagging critical remote flaws (including hard-coded credentials) that could let attackers take over ArubaOS-linked deployments. Energy & Grid Resilience: WEB kicked off BESS II, a 35 MW / 70 MWh battery project aimed at boosting renewable storage and stabilizing Aruba’s electricity supply, targeting completion in 2028. Tourism & Labor Planning: The Aruba Food & Beverage Association launched its 2026 Labor Force and Carrying Capacity Survey to map staffing shortages, training needs, and how tourism demand strains the sector. Entrepreneurship Training: DEZHI’s IDEA unit starts Phase 3 of Masterclass Entrepreneurship with a free workshop on managing finances and employee insurance (Sept 29). Primary Sector & Community: Savaneta’s second Seafood Festival returns this Sunday, linking local fishing with gastronomy and entrepreneurship. Local Business Development: San Nicolas Pop-Up Market marks its first anniversary this Saturday, now drawing 60+ vendors. Construction Milestone: YOO ARUBA says Phase 2 foundation works are certified complete and a December 1 price adjustment is coming. Education & Wellbeing: Parlatino delegates visited Pius X School to see the “Healthy School” and “Movement and Health” approach, including school agriculture and student health lessons.

Real Estate & Construction: YOO ARUBA says Phase 2 foundation works are certified complete, with a revised price schedule kicking in December 1, 2026—current pricing stays available until Nov. 30 (subject to availability). Education & Agriculture: Parlatino delegates visited Pius X School in Dakota to see the “Healthy School” model in action, including health lessons and school agriculture, plus the “Movement and Health” focus on student well-being. Primary Sector & Food Culture: Savaneta’s second Seafood Festival returns this Sunday, aiming to spotlight local fishermen and producers while linking seafood, entrepreneurship, and community development. Business Skills: DEZHI’s IDEA unit launches Phase 3 of its Masterclass Entrepreneurship (“Manage Your Business”) with a free Sept. 29 workshop on finances and employee insurance, followed by young entrepreneurship workshops starting Sept. 30. Energy & Infrastructure: WEB begins work on BESS II, a 35 MW / 70 MWh battery storage project expected to be the Caribbean’s largest, supporting Aruba’s renewable energy goals and grid stability. Tourism Industry Data: ATA reports August 2026 stayover figures (145,750 visitors; 6.6 nights average) and a generational mix led by Gen X (26.4%). Local Commerce: San Nicolas Pop-Up Market hits its one-year milestone, growing from 13 vendors to 60+ and continuing monthly downtown shopping.

Hospitality & Tourism Growth: Hilton Aruba’s new Palm Beach addition, The Westerly at Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort, officially opens with 161 oversized rooms and suites, adults-only swim-up options, and an optional rooftop experience—arriving as demand for Aruba travel stays strong. Primary Sector & Local Food: Savaneta’s second Seafood Festival returns this Sunday (Sept. 27), spotlighting local fishermen and producers with food, music, and community activities, framed as a push to strengthen Aruba’s primary sector. Entrepreneurship & Business Skills: DEZHI/IDEA kicks off Phase 3 of its Masterclass Entrepreneurship on Sept. 29 (“Ready to Grow”), focusing on managing finances and employee insurance, with free young entrepreneurship workshops starting Sept. 30. F&B Workforce Planning: The Aruba Food & Beverage Association launches a 2026 Labor Force and Carrying Capacity Survey to map staffing shortages, training needs, and tourism pressure on the sector. Energy & Infrastructure: WEB starts BESS II, a 35 MW / 70 MWh battery storage project aimed at stabilizing the grid and boosting renewable integration, targeting completion in 2028. Climate Resilience for Farmers: Santa Rosa urges heat-and-drought prevention steps for farmers, livestock owners, and fishermen, including smarter irrigation timing and soil mulching. Tourism Numbers: ATA reports August 2026 stayover visitors at 145,750 with 967,001 overnight stays and a 6.6-night average, plus a generational breakdown led by Gen X (26.4%).

Primary Sector & Community: Savaneta’s second Seafood Festival lands this Sunday (Sept 27), spotlighting local fishermen, producers and entrepreneurs with food, music and crafts, framed as a push for primary-sector growth. Entrepreneurship & Skills: DEZHI’s IDEA kicks off Phase 3 of its Masterclass Entrepreneurship on Sept 29 with “Ready to Grow,” focusing on managing finances and employee insurance; free Young Entrepreneurship workshops run Sept 30, Oct 28 and Nov 4 (AI for business and building connections). Agriculture Under Stress: Santa Rosa urges farmers, livestock owners and fishermen to adapt to extreme heat and drought—save water with early/late irrigation, use mulching and shade cloth, and prepare for the next rains. Tourism & Hospitality Workforce: AF&BA launches its 2026 Food & Beverage Labor Force and Carrying Capacity Survey to map staffing shortages, training needs and tourism strain. Energy & Infrastructure: WEB starts BESS II, a 35 MW / 70 MWh battery storage project aimed at stabilizing the grid and boosting renewables by 2030. Local Commerce: San Nicolas Pop-Up Market hits its first anniversary this Saturday (Sept 26), growing from 13 vendors to 60+ and drawing residents citywide. Culinary Industry Development: Autentico’s Industry Seminar 2026 is set for Oct 8, bringing international and local experts to discuss sustainability, service excellence and Aruba’s culinary direction.

Tourism & Sustainability: Explore Hocking Hills joins Destination Think, a global group of 40 destinations sharing best practices for better, more responsible travel ahead of World Tourism Day. Food & Beverage Workforce: The Aruba Food & Beverage Association (AF&BA) launched its 2026 Labor Force and Carrying Capacity Survey to map staffing shortages, training needs, and tourism pressure across the sector. Culinary Skills Pipeline: Autentico Aruba announced an Industry Seminar 2026 (Oct. 8) focused on sustainability and service excellence, bringing international culinary leaders to the island. Energy Infrastructure: WEB officially started BESS II, a 35 MW / 70 MWh battery storage project aimed at stabilizing Aruba’s grid and boosting renewable integration, targeting completion in 2028. Local Commerce: The San Nicolas Pop-Up Market returns for its first anniversary (Sept. 26) with 60+ vendors supporting downtown foot traffic and direct sales. Primary Sector Spotlight: Savaneta’s second Seafood Festival (Sept. 27) spotlights local fishermen and producers as the community’s “fishing capital.” Security & Tech: HPE issued critical security updates for Networking Analytics and Location Engine used with ArubaOS Wi‑Fi controllers, urging prompt patching.

Food & Beverage Workforce Planning: The Aruba Food & Beverage Association (AF&BA), with VIAMOON Consultancy and Connect2Teach.us and support from the Aruba Tourism Authority, launched a 2026 Labor Force and Carrying Capacity Survey to map staffing shortages, training needs, and tourism pressure across the sector. Culinary Skills Boost: Autentico Aruba is strengthening Aruba’s culinary talent with an Industry Seminar 2026 on Oct. 8, featuring sustainability and service-excellence speakers. Energy Reliability Push: WEB has started work on BESS II, a 35 MW / 70 MWh battery storage project aimed at stabilizing the grid and supporting Aruba’s 2030 renewable target, with completion expected in 2028. Local Commerce Momentum: The San Nicolas Pop-Up Market is set to mark its first anniversary on Sept. 26, growing from 13 vendors to 60+ and spotlighting local producers. Primary Sector Spotlight: Savaneta’s second Seafood Festival returns Sept. 27, linking fishermen and producers with food, culture, and entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship Training: DEZHI’s IDEA unit begins Phase 3 of its Masterclass Entrepreneurship program on Sept. 29, focusing on managing finances and employee insurance.

Energy & Grid Resilience: WEB has started work on BESS II, a 35 MW / 70 MWh battery storage project expected to be completed in 2028, aimed at stabilizing Aruba’s grid and boosting renewable energy use. Electricity Policy Lessons: MPs Omar Ottley and Viren Kotai visited WEB to dig into Aruba’s electricity pricing model, looking for what can realistically be adapted for St. Maarten. Primary Sector & Food Culture: Savaneta’s second Seafood Festival returns this Sunday, spotlighting local fishermen, producers, and seafood gastronomy as part of broader primary-sector development. Entrepreneurship Support: DEZHI’s IDEA unit kicks off Phase 3 of its Masterclass Entrepreneurship program on Sept. 29, focusing on managing finances and employee insurance. Infrastructure & Downtown Renewal: The Wilhelminastraat revitalization project moves into final design after a contract signing for overall design work, setting up the next construction phase. Security & Connectivity: HPE issued updates for vulnerabilities in its Networking Analytics and Location Engine used with ArubaOS Wi‑Fi controllers and gateways, urging upgrades for exposed versions. Maritime Integrity: Sanctioned tankers Lan Jing and Belma reportedly used Curaçao maritime identity despite lacking legitimate registrations, highlighting ongoing shadow-fleet risks. Local Commerce: The San Nicolas Pop-Up Market marks its first anniversary this Saturday with 60+ vendors at Plaza Lolita. Sports & Community: Construction begins on a new tower at Palomarga Raceway, while the Aruba Dolphins Open Water event runs Sept. 27 in Savaneta.

Aviation Disruption: Brazilian charter/cargo carrier Total Linhas Aéreas remains grounded after Brazil’s ANAC suspended its AOC over safety-audit findings tied to management systems and an aging fleet; the airline has started returning some leased Boeing planes to reduce costs. Energy & Infrastructure: WEB kicked off BESS II, a 35 MW / 70 MWh battery storage project expected to be Aruba’s largest in the Caribbean, aiming to stabilize the grid and boost renewable use by 2030 (completion targeted for 2028). Tourism Numbers: Aruba Tourism Authority shared August 2026 results: 145,750 stayover visitors, 967,001 overnight stays, and a 6.6-night average length of stay, with North America still the biggest source market (69.6%). Local Business Support: DEZHI’s IDEA unit is running Phase 3 of its Masterclass Entrepreneurship (“Manage Your Business”), starting Sept. 29 with training on finances and employee insurance. Urban Development: Wilhelminastraat revitalization moves into final design and technical prep after a contract signing for overall design work. Sports & Community: Construction begins on a new tower at Aruba’s Palomarga Raceway, after years of tower problems affecting race operations. Security & Compliance: Union STA raises pension-payment concerns at Thiel Corp., alleging deductions without remittance and considering legal action. Regional Environment: Parlatino’s Caribbean Commission was set up to tackle shared issues like sargassum management and food security.

Energy & Infrastructure: WEB has started work on BESS II, a 35 MW / 70 MWh battery energy storage system expected to be the Caribbean’s largest, targeting completion in 2028 and helping Aruba store more wind/solar power for a steadier grid. Tourism Performance: Aruba Tourism Authority (A.T.A.) reports August 2026 with 145,750 stayover visitors, 967,001 overnight stays, and a 6.6-night average length of stay; North America led with 69.6% of arrivals, and Gen X remains the biggest visitor segment (26.4%). Security & Tech: HPE issued security updates for its Networking Analytics and Location Engine (ALE), warning of 10 vulnerabilities that could allow remote compromise, including flaws affecting ArubaOS Wi‑Fi controllers/gateways. Border Operations: SITA launched “Border Flow Lane” to speed passenger processing with pre-clearance “move-through” lanes, aiming to cut clearance time up to eight times. Local Business Climate: Oranjestad revitalization investor Susanita La Bella says licensing restrictions and lack of support are blocking downtown projects despite years of promises. Construction & Public Works: Wilhelminastraat revitalization moves into final design after a contract for overall design work, setting up later construction. Sports & Community: Aruba Dolphins Open Water 2026 returns Sept. 27 in Savaneta with 1 km, 1.5 km relay, 3 km, and 5 km races.

Venezuela–Aruba Aviation Curbs: María Corina Machado’s latest bid to return home failed again, with three attempts from Panama (by sea and air) reportedly blocked after landing clearance was denied in nearby transit points including Aruba and Curaçao, bringing the total to at least seven attempts in recent weeks. UN Diplomacy & Energy Ties: While Machado was blocked, interim President Delcy Rodríguez met Dutch PM Rob Jetten in New York, focusing on energy integration plus trade and investment. Aruba Tourism Numbers: Aruba Tourism Authority data shows YTD visitor mix through August 2026 led by Gen X (26.4%) and Millennials (24.3%), with August stayovers at 145,750 and 967,001 stayover nights (6.6 nights average). Oranjestad Revitalization Pressure: Downtown investor Susanita La Bella says promised support for Oranjestad revitalization hasn’t matched licensing restrictions, leaving her project stalled. Infrastructure & Sports: Construction starts on a new Palomarga Raceway tower, and the Aruba Dolphins Open Water 2026 returns Sept. 27 with 1 km, 1.5 km relay, 3 km and 5 km options. Heritage Project: Historic Kibaima water tanks are set to become a Knowledge and Heritage Center for Aruba’s National Archives, with restoration planned in phases through 2029.