On July 11, 2022, the Minister of Tourism and Public Health, Dangui Oduber, met with ATA Director Mrs. Ronella Croes, Yesenia Farro-Arends of the Department of Nature and Environment, and Mr. Ewald Biemans, owner and General Manager of the Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort.
During the meeting, the Fundacion Stimami Sterilisami shared what they are doing to alleviate the stray dogs and cats problematic. In January 2022, the Tourism Product Enhancement Fund (TPEF) reinstated the subsidy for the Fundacion Stimami Sterelisami. TPEF has been the main sponsor for the sterilization programs of the foundation for a few years. It is a collaboration between the private sector and the public sector.
This foundation helps with stray dogs and cats sterilization. It also helps owners with their pet’s sterilization. Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA) is joining this cause and helping restart this program this year after the Covid pandemic forced the TPEF to stop their financial support to the foundation. In 2022, the TPEF will continue to subsidize the foundation joined by the ATA.
The Stimami Sterelisami Foundation invests the funds wisely and efficiently. It works with local veterinaries, and now they will also have a US vet to assist with the surgeries. In addition, it is currently negotiating a favorable fee to cover more surgeries with the available funds.
Tourism is not only targeting quality tourists to the island, improving service, and upgrading the tourism areas but is also the base to create a positive balance for the community, including the four-legged friends that have no place to call home. The objective of the Stimami Sterilisami foundation is to help the community of Aruba become more aware of the stray dogs and cats’ problems on the island. It financed thousands of sterilization surgeries for stray cats and dogs.
The Minister thanked Mr. Biemans of the Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort for being an equally important sponsor as the TPEF and ATA for this important sterilization program. They will match each donation sum received by the foundation, which is something the Government is very grateful for.
The Government truly believes that the level of care given to our pets says a lot about our island. These programs help elevate the image of Aruba in the eyes of the visitors, which is the Government’s vision.
The Minister is grateful to the TPEF, Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, and the Fundacion Stimami Sterelisami for their excellent job over the past years.
