Regarding the Rijkswet HOFA, discussions are ongoing between Aruba and the Netherlands, and the debate has reached an advanced stage. However, Prime Minister Dick Schoof emphasized that each country must decide and express whether it truly supports the current version of the HOFA Kingdom Law as it stands today.
According to Prime Minister Schoof, when decisions are taken based on the national interest and to ensure Aruba receives a fairer share, such decisions can be considered “adult” (volwassen) choices that strengthen the relationship between Aruba and the Netherlands.
Nevertheless, Prime Minister Schoof seems to forget the “non-adult” (niet-volwassen) and insincere decisions that the Netherlands took regarding Aruba during the pandemic — decisions for which Aruba is still paying a high price today. During that period, the Netherlands acted without respect for the laws and statutes of the Kingdom, effectively pressuring and overpowering Aruba to gain more control, rather than treating the island as an equal partner.