Rusette Croes has been elected the new president of the organization in charge of Aruba’s Carnival, SMAC, following the completion of the selection process for the organization’s new board and Supervisory Board (RVT).
Croes, who previously served on SMAC’s board of directors, said the work to prepare for Carnival will continue under the new board. One of her priorities is to increase participation in the Prins and Pancho competition. As the Carnival monarchs who receive a mandate from the Government of Aruba to lead Aruba’s Carnival celebrations, she believes more people should have the opportunity to take part in the election.
Croes also wants to place greater emphasis on children’s Carnival and expand this part of the celebration. She noted that today’s children will shape the Carnival of the future, making their involvement important to the continued development of the tradition.
Julie Merencia, president of the RVT, explained how the voting process resulted in the selection of the new board. According to Merencia, the process went smoothly and began with a game-like activity designed to help the members get to know one another.
Each member who nominated themselves then had the opportunity to give a presentation, introduce themselves to the other members and explain why they believed they should receive their votes.
The presentations were followed by a vote conducted in the presence of a lawyer, who supervised the process and ensured that the election was carried out properly. The initial vote ended in a tie, leading to a runoff. Croes was ultimately elected president, while Isaï Labadie was elected vice president.
The SMAC team consists of four representatives from Stichting Musica, four representatives from Gruponan Uni and three members appointed by the RVT. The three RVT-appointed members are considered independent and represent the community’s perspective within SMAC.
With the new board and oversight structure in place, SMAC will continue working to prepare for and strengthen Aruba’s Carnival. Its priorities include increasing participation, developing children’s Carnival and further expanding the various Carnival activities.
