The leader of the FUTURO faction, Ruthlyn Lindor, expressed satisfaction with the information meeting that Aruba’s labor unions recently held in the Parliament of Aruba regarding the proposed Rijkswet HOFA. According to Lindor, the meeting allowed parliamentarians to gain a better understanding of the unions’ perspectives and the possible effects of the law on Aruba.
Lindor indicated that the meeting focused on exchanging views on the content of the Rijkswet HOFA.
“The meeting went well and served as an opportunity to hear what the unions’ perspectives are and where their main concerns lie,” she stated.
According to Lindor, the unions themselves clearly demonstrated that they are not focused on the past, but rather on Aruba’s current situation and on measures that can be taken at present to address economic challenges.
Parliamentarian Lindor also referred to what she described as a “misperception” in society, where some people believe that Aruba was forced to sign the agreement. According to Lindor, Aruba was not obligated to sign the document. She explained that the Rijkswet had previously been removed from the table, but during the process it was decided to include international debts within the legal framework.
She added that in October 2023, former Prime Minister Evelyn Wever-Croes considered the agreement to be something positive for Aruba. Subsequently, on June 24, 2024, the agreement returned to the table for signing due to the number of benefits that, according to Lindor, the law could bring to the country.
Concerns about financial burden and conditions under the LAFT
Lindor emphasized that Aruba is currently operating under a Loan Agreement for Financial Transactions (LAFT) that involves a high interest rate to repay debt related to the COVID-19 pandemic. She stated that the Netherlands imposed a very high interest rate on Aruba.
According to the faction leader, Aruba is currently paying interest on the debt at a rate of approximately 6.9 percent. She also indicated that within the LAFT there are several moments — according to Lindor, seven in total — during which the Netherlands can determine that Aruba is not complying with the conditions and consequently withdraw the agreement.
Additionally, Lindor expressed concern that the agreement also establishes that if Aruba achieves a financial surplus, the country would not be able to freely use those funds to invest in community development and the well-being of the population.
Lindor concluded that continuous dialogue with the labor union sector and other stakeholders is essential to ensure that decisions taken at the national level are based on complete information and on the interests of the people of Aruba.