Fair Trade & Fair Purchase
The Aruba Fair Trade Authority (AFTA) invites you to an information session regarding the proposed expansion of its tasks. This concerns both informing businesses and consumers about consumer rights, as well as supervising compliance with these rights. During this first meeting, we will provide you with further information, and various speakers will share their perspectives on this development.
Ireno Valdes
Mr. Valdes is a member of the Public Pensioners Organization of Aruba (OPPA) since 2014 and since 2017 is serving as the president. He served as a board member of the Teachers’ Union of Aruba (SIMAR) from 2006 to 2009 and as president from 2009 to 2011. Mr. Valdes has dedicated his career to being an educator and leader in the community. He taught for over 37 years in the fields of mathematics, physics, and electrical engineering. Mr. Valdes will be discussing the topic from the perspective of a consumer, particularly focusing on the pensioners of Aruba, who represent an important and often vulnerable group in society
Bob Boelema
Since 2013, Mr. Boelema has been working for the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets. He was part of the working group that designed an integrated strategy for ACM. Mr. Boelema represents the ACM in the EU Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC), the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN), and occasionally at UNCTAD and the OECD. With a background in economics and legislation, Mr. Boelema will discuss during this informative session the definition of general consumer protection, the enforcement, and the legislation
Monica Kock
Ms. Monica Kock is the director and owner of Monica Kock & Partners, a law firm specializing in various legal fields, established in 1996. She has over three decades of experience in law, governance, and public service. Ms. Kock serves as a board member of several organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce and the Court of Appeal in Aruba and Curaçao. She holds a master’s degree in International Law from the Catholic University of Nijmegen and has completed various certification programs at Harvard Law School, Erasmus University, and the University of Aruba. Ms. Kock will share her insights on consumer rights from a legal perspective, providing valuable knowledge on the topic.
Herrick Henriquez
Since 2021, Mr. Henriquez has been the director of Aruba Trade & Industry Association. In this role, he is responsible for executing the organization’s strategic plan set forward as ATIA is the leading advocacy organization representing the interests of Aruban businesses. Mr. Henriquez holds a double major in Accounting and Finance from the University of Georgia and an MBA in Entrepreneurial Finance from Florida Atlantic University. With vast experience in diverse markets, he will discuss the topic of consumer protection from a business perspective
