If Aruba Does not Care to Help & Protect Their Own … Why would they Care about Tourists?

The RED party is highly suspect as to whether Aruba can protect its own people against the pollution caused by Valero. They are questioning why there seems to be a greater number of cancer cases in the San Nicolas area than other areas of Aruba. What aspect of this issue has to do with the Aruban government just not caring for its people, or is it that they care less for the people of San Nicolas?

Much like they cared to blame two black security guards from San Nicolas for a crime they obviously did not commit. What are the people of San Nicolas possibly being exposed to and the tourists as well. Many a tourist go the the “Baby Beach” area in close proximity to San Nicolas and Valero. What could they be exposed to?

ORANJESTAD – Aruba is not capable to protect her own people against pollution by a multinational, concluded RED as a result of the answers of minister Booshi Wever (MEP) of Public health, Environment, and Immigration Affairs on their question about the pollution of Valero and the consequences for the public health. 

In August of last year RED had asked the minister about the number of cancer cases in San Nicolas.  Is the number of cancer cases in San Nicolas more than in the rest of Aruba?  Does the oil refinery emit polluted chemicals and are these carcinogenic?

The RED party has asked minister Booshi Wever (MEP) of Public health, Environment, and Immigration Affairs a number of questions. All responses seem to be, I don’t know.

• The minister answered that he has no information on how many cases of cancer there is per district.
• But the minister says that the inquiry was not set up to check for inter-regional differences.  In order to answer Red’s questions, a specific inquiry has to be conducted 
• The minister does not have an answer on the emission questions either.  

How indicative is this of everything that seems to take place on Aruba? No questions to serious issue and they are passed off as a nonexistent problem. Whether they be security, safety or health issues. All problems seem to be “no problem mon”. It appears that some in the government with to take some action; however, like all issues they are passed off under the guise of hoping the problem will just be forgotten and go away. Sound familiar? Do they care about anything? This is a country with a functioning government, right?

However, RED gives short shrift to Wever’s answers. “The answers are proof of the government’s mental deficiency with regard to Valero. “The government does not investigate the possible pollution of the refinery.  The only thing the minister said is that when the wind turns and the smoke blows over San Nicolas, the school children get the day off.  It is too sad for words that the government is dealing with the health of the people in this manner.”

Amigoe, January 31, 2007: The government does nothing to protect the public health 

ORANJESTAD – Aruba is not capable to protect her own people against pollution by a multinational, concluded RED as a result of the answers of minister Booshi Wever (MEP) of Public health, Environment, and Immigration Affairs on their question about the pollution of Valero and the consequences for the public health. 

In August of last year RED had asked the minister about the number of cancer cases in San Nicolas.  Is the number of cancer cases in San Nicolas more than in the rest of Aruba?  Does the oil refinery emit polluted chemicals and are these carcinogenic?

The minister answered that he has no information on how many cases of cancer there is per district.  From information obtained from an inquiry conducted by the Public health Department in 2001, the minister concluded that there were about 700 cancer patients in a period of one year.  The 700 includes new cases as well as old.  But the minister says that the inquiry was not set up to check for inter-regional differences.  In order to answer Red’s questions, a specific inquiry has to be conducted 

EMISSION       

The minister does not have an answer on the emission questions either.  He indicated that the Public health Inspections and Environment, together with the Technical Service Inspection meet with Valero every other month to talk about the emissions of the refinery.  He also mentioned that an air-monitoring program will start in the beginning of next year (2007, editor).  This will be done in phases, due to limited instructions, financial means, and personnel.  The minister also quoted the long-range investment program of Valero, with which it wants to lower the company risks and procure an improvement of the environment.  Wever concluded that based on the information that several government services have, and the policy, it is clear that a lot is being done to improve the public health and environment.   

MENTAL DEFICIENCY

However, RED gives short shrift to Wever’s answers. “The answers are proof of the government’s mental deficiency with regard to Valero. “The government does not investigate the possible pollution of the refinery.  The only thing the minister said is that when the wind turns and the smoke blows over San Nicolas, the school children get the day off.  It is too sad for words that the government is dealing with the health of the people in this manner.”  RED also regrets the fact that the minister does not consider making Valero financially responsible for possible damage and force the refinery to set up a fund to help the cancer patients.  Before a fund can be set up, we need to make sure that the people had gotten cancer from pollution coming from Valero, is the minister’s opinion.  RED applauds the fact that parties in the Netherlands, like the SP as well as PDR in Aruba, that the have taken up a critical position against Valero.  “Especially now that the government does not do anything to protect the Public health”, said RED party leader Rudy Lampe.