Mrs. Ing. Yvonne Webb-Kock served the country for 33 years. She started her career as a public servant on September 1, 1989, at the Department of Public Works (DOW) where she worked in the Civil Department and later transferred to the Architects Bureau of the DOW. In this position, she designed the building of the Aviation Directorate and the “Kindergarten Nos Paraiso” in Paradera. She was also involved with the renovation of many Government buildings.
Over the years, the monuments council came up with the suggestion to establish a department for monuments. This new department intrigued Ing. Yvonne Webb-Kock, and she applied to transfer to this new department and help set this up and later became the director of the Monuments bureau. Mrs. Ing. Yvonne Webb-Kock worked as director for 27 years.
Her first restoration project entailed the restoration of the City Hall (Elloy Arends) and Hotel Colombia. They designed the Civil Registration office to connect the two monument buildings and create an aesthetic look. Other projects led by the Monuments bureau are:
- The Ecury Complex current location of the National Archaeological Museum Aruba;
- restoration and expansion of the courthouse;
- ARA building located next door to the City Hall, the Henriquez building, which currently serves as the office of the Monuments Bureau;
- Huisje Wild located next door to the Monuments Bureau;
- the California Lighthouse, the Ceremonial house of the Governor, the Governments building, Water towers in Oranjestad and San Nicolas;
- colonial graves and others.
The most remarkable project was the move of the Aruba Bank house. They moved an historic house on the main street to Weststraat, currently Patio 15.
Over her 27-year-long career as a director, the Monuments bureau invested in the restoration and maintenance of many monuments, more than 60 million florins. Mrs. Ing. Yvonne Webb-Kock was also responsible for organizing numerous monumental walks and guiding many students with their internships.
As a connoisseur of Aruban architecture, Mrs. Ing. Yvonne Webb-Kock gave many lectures to school teachers and represented Aruba on many occasions abroad, where she gave numerous workshops about monument heritage.
Mrs. Ing. Yvonne Webb-Kock also prepared and proposed the tax deduction and transfer tax for monuments to become law.
For 27 years, she served as secretary of the Monuments Council, and thanks to her endeavor, people are more aware of the value of preserving our monuments.
Her colleagues are very grateful to Mrs. Ing. Yvonne Webb-Kock for her personal and work guidance and for all she has done for the community of Aruba. They wish her all the best in her future endeavors.
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