Analysis: National Cleanup Day: Another publicity event or a structural solution for the future?

By Tito Laclé

In the same week that I published my concerns about Aruba's growing litter problem and called for a change in public mentality, the Aruban government announced a National Cleanup Plan. That may seem like a coincidence, but the only coincidence is that both topics became public during the same week. It is only logical that the government had already been working on this plan behind the scenes, while neither I nor, most likely, the rest of the media were aware of it. Although I welcome the initiative, I also have to remain consistent with the conclusions of my earlier analysis.

A ONE-DAY CAMPAIGN

The upcoming cleanup is a nationwide effort, but only for one day. In other words, the government is mobilizing the entire country for a single day of cleaning. As far as I know, I have not read that this is intended to be the beginning of something more structural.

In fact, a press release issued today by AVP parliamentarian Stephany Sevinger, whose party is organizing the event, confirms exactly that. She herself argues that the effort should not be limited to one day but should become something structural. That tells me that there is no long-term plan in place to achieve lasting results—or at least such a plan has not been made public, not even to a parliamentarian from the governing party.

Mobilizing an entire island for one day of cleaning is nice, and it is certainly better than doing nothing. But it does not solve the problem. Before anyone accuses me of being negative, let me explain why.

Trash accumulates every single day. A one-day cleanup cannot solve a problem that returns the very next day. Within a week, the same places will begin filling with litter again. We have seen this happen repeatedly, whether after cleanup campaigns by the Bureau City Inspector or even by Prime Minister Mike Eman and his own team.

To me, this resembles a "bucket-list effect": rushing to accomplish something under time pressure simply so it can be checked off as completed, while many other priorities still demand attention. That does not mean the cleanup is unnecessary—quite the opposite. It is very necessary. But necessity alone is not enough.

THINK BIGGER

If you are going to do something, do it properly. I am not saying this initiative is bad. It is a good start. But why not present National Cleanup Day as the beginning of a much larger and permanent program, and announce that at the same time?

That way, the people who volunteer will know their efforts are not in vain. Otherwise, many may wonder why they should spend a day cleaning when, within days, the same locations will once again be covered in litter. Garbage is generated every day, and if people continue throwing it into nature, the same places will quickly become dirty again.

ANOTHER PUBLICITY OPPORTUNITY?

Who could oppose a cleanup campaign? It is a positive event that brings communities together and reminds everyone that, collectively, we can make a difference.

Still, I worry that the primary motivation may become something else: a perfect opportunity for photographs, press coverage and promotional material that can later be used by political parties or future campaigns.

We are already seeing multiple news releases every time another organization announces that it will participate. There is even a full press conference scheduled simply to announce another participant. That's great—but does every participant require its own press conference?

It increasingly gives the impression that the campaign is also intended to build a political legacy, particularly as time is running out in Prime Minister Mike Eman's active political career.

LEAVING A LEGACY

There is nothing wrong with wanting to leave behind a legacy. Every political leader hopes to do so.

The danger arises when the focus shifts from asking, "What is our responsibility?" to asking, "How can we improve our public image?"

That difference may appear subtle, but it can lead to decisions driven more by visibility than by wisdom. It can also create a false sense of urgency, resulting in ad hoc decisions without fully considering their long-term consequences.

That is why I hope the public does not simply accept these initiatives if they are aimed primarily at creating a legacy rather than lasting change.

CONCLUSION

My point is simple: this should not become just another photo opportunity or publicity campaign. It should become something deeper—a solid, long-term strategy that genuinely makes Aruba a cleaner island.

In my previous editorial, I outlined several measures that could and should be implemented to achieve that goal in a structural way, instead of relying on temporary actions.

C'est la vie.