The difference compared to the time when Aruba fell directly under the Netherlands and formed part of the Netherlands Antilles was that those were difficult times. In the Parliament of the Netherlands Antilles, Aruba had 8 seats and Curaçao had 12, giving Curaçao a constant majority regardless of which party was in power. This meant that decisions—such as opening a hotel or investing in any project on Aruba—could not be made unless Curaçao and the Netherlands approved them. After obtaining its freedom, Aruba’s own parliament could independently decide on any project or progress it wanted for the country, without having to ask Curaçao or the Netherlands for approval. Unfortunately, the Rijkswet HOFA, which the AVP–Futuro government wants to implement for Aruba, would take Aruba back to that old situation.
Without the freedom we have today, no future government will be able to make any decisions without permission from the Netherlands
