The leader of the PPA faction, Eduard Pieters, expressed deep concern and dissatisfaction regarding the quality of service that the Census Department is providing to the people of Aruba. According to the faction, many citizens, including students returning from abroad, are facing a digital barrier that prevents them from fulfilling their registration obligations, a fundamental step to function formally within the country.
An unacceptable digital “blockage”
The main complaint is directed at the official Census website. Citizens who need to schedule an appointment to register themselves are being confronted with a message on the screen simply stating that they cannot proceed with the process.
“This is unacceptable,” the faction leader declared, indicating that they have received proof via screenshots showing that the system is not allowing any type of registration.
This situation is particularly serious for:
- Individuals with work permits: Many have paid significant sums for their work permits and for their AZV health insurance, but when the time comes to register at the Census— which is a legal requirement — the system fails.
- Aruban students: Young people who were studying in the Netherlands or another country and who are returning to Aruba (whether after completing their studies or changing direction) are unable to register themselves again on their own island.
Lack of ministerial coordination
The PPA faction emphasized that this is not a problem of just one week. Since the month of January, the public has already begun raising alarms about this poor service. The faction is requesting urgent intervention from the responsible ministers, specifically the Minister of Justice and the Minister of General Affairs, to work together and resolve this technical or administrative failure.
“We cannot tolerate that a government service, which should be exemplary to the public, is not functioning in an optimal manner,” the faction leader stressed.
Call for an immediate solution
For the PPA, the right of citizens to be legally registered in the country where they live and work should not be obstructed by a deficient system. The inability to handle registration requests is seen as a lack of respect for the time and investment that citizens make in the country.
The faction hopes that this warning signal will be taken seriously and that the Census will reopen its appointment system for registration as soon as possible, in order to avoid further delays in the legal processes of citizens.