Books & Ideas

Written to be understood.

Books, essays and reflections on rights, systems, and what it means to be human inside them — in clear language, for everyone.

Derechonan di Pashent

by Dr. Jayburtt J. Dijkhoff

A clear-language guide to patient rights in Aruba, written so every reader — not just legal or medical professionals — can command their place in the healthcare system.

Drawing on real cases and lived experience, the book walks through the rights every patient holds, how to exercise them, and where to turn when a system falls short.

$20.00

Order a Copy

Available in Papiamento, with English translation notes.

Coming Next

A collection of poetry and reflection.

A second book is in progress — more personal and more artistic, exploring systems, dignity, and what it means to be human within them.

Get notified when it's out →

Essays & Reflections

Health. Law. Reflection.

Papiamento2 min

Awe ta nan porta. Mañan por ta esun di bo

Bo cas mester ta e unico luga unda bo ta sinti bo mes sigur. Pero na Tanki Leendert, famianan inocente a lanta cu porta kibra, arm…

Papiamento5 min

Poco riesgo no ta cero riesgo: Kico Aruba mester di DVG pa Hantavirus aworaki

E problema mas grandi no ta e brote — ta e credibilidad di DVG. 'No tin motibo di preocupa' no ta calma ningun hende. Pueblo por g…

Papiamento5 min

Calor fuerte ta yega — con pa prepara pa calor y secura 2026

Un temporada di secura y calor halto ta nos dilanti. Ban tuma pasonan di prevencion pa nos keda fuerte, cuida nos curpa, y cuida e…

English8 min

The Elephant Was Never Pink. It Was Always White

The truth behind the hospital fusion debate in Aruba. A patient is told their diagnostics must be repeated — not because the first…

Papiamento5 min

E olifanti no ta ros, e ta blanco: fusion hospitalnan Aruba?

No tin ningun definicion oficial di loke ta un 'hospital' na Aruba. Bo no por absorba un institucion a base di limitacionnan cu bo…

Papiamento3 min

Ora gobierno ta “transparente”… pero nos ta keda mal bruha

Un sistema crea pa “transparencia” por crea mas confusion, dependencia y desigualdad. Si hasta un experto mester para y cuestiona…

Papiamento6 min

HOFA: un decision pa autonomia berdadero (Parti 3) — HOFA Aruba y sindicatonan

Den Parti 3 di HOFA, mira e rol di sindicatonan: nan ta representa e trahado, pero tambe nan ta wak con decisionnan macro ta afect…

Papiamento5 min

Ora e sistema faya: un pashent sin AZV, sin c'e sa

Un pashent a perde su AZV pa un eror administrativo na CENSO. Aunke CENSO a coregi esaki, cobertura no a bolbe automaticamente. Es…

English5 min

When Systems Don’t Speak: A Patient Left Without Health Coverage

A patient lost his health coverage due to an administrative error. Should citizens navigate complex systems alone, or should syste…

Papiamento6 min

Proteccion pa pashent cu aparato medico? (Parti 3)

AZV no ta un pagador neutral. Ora e autorisa, paga y controla e proceso, e tin responsabilidad tambe. Aki ta unda AZV tin e obliga…

Papiamento6 min

Mi pareha ta controlami y mi WhatsApp. Kico mi por haci?

Mi pareha ta controla mi WhatsApp y cu ken mi ta papia. Esaki ta amor… of control? Esaki por ta un forma di violencia psicologico.

Papiamento4 min

Proteccion pa pashent cu aparato medico? (Parti 2)

Ora un aparato medico no ta traha, e ley civil ta proteha e pashent como consumidor. Pero den practica, ken ta asumi responsabilid…

Papiamento3 min

Proteccion pa pashent cu aparato medico? (Parti 1)

Un pashent cu a perde su pia despues di un amputacion a haya un protesis cu no ta adapta bon. Ki proteccion un pashent tin ora un…

English5 min

Malpractice 101

A malpractice case exposed deeper cracks in Aruba’s healthcare system. These are not isolated incidents but signs of structural ne…

Papiamento6 min

HOFA: un decision pa autonomia berdadero (Parti 2)

After decades of weak financial discipline, the real question is not autonomy versus control, but how to build credible institutio…

English5 min

HOFA and the Question of Real Autonomy

Aruba faces a crucial decision: accept Rijkswet HOFA or not. The deeper question is what Aruba has done with its autonomy over the…

Papiamento4 min

HOFA: un decision pa autonomia berdadero (Parti 1)

Aruba ta para dilanti un decision importante: Acepta Rijkswet HOFA, si of no? Awor kico e ta: un menasa of un bendicion disfrasa?