The political landscape surrounding the Kingdom Act on Aruba Financial Supervision (HOFA) has taken an unexpected turn. While the President of Parliament, Marlon Sneek, publicly assured that the commercial sector “does agree with the law,” the leader of the country’s largest business association, Frans Ponson, has thrown a constitutional axe into that very argument. We at EAnews were able to speak with Frans Ponson, and during the conversation, Frans indicated very clearly that the association does not have an official position yet.
The contrast between these statements blows a massive hole in the declaration made by President Marlon Sneek. While politicians at the top are using the trade associations as a “structural shield” to justify a consensus with the Netherlands, the reality is that no decision has been made yet.
Frans explained that he relies completely on what his “advisors and lawyers” highlight for him prior to the crucial meeting with the Government next week. This vacuum in direct knowledge illustrates the danger of the speed with which this law is being pushed forward.
While Sneek tried to sell the idea that the commercial sector is walking a single, pro-HOFA line, Frans explained that the structural board cannot assume that responsibility on behalf of more than 200 large companies:
“This thing is too big for the board to decide for 200-plus companies… I cannot just go out and speak for all my members without knowing their opinion.”
The business association will be holding a meeting with the Government next week. However, the big question remains: if the government is not even giving the Parliament of Aruba all the real information surrounding the HOFA Kingdom Act right now, is there any trust that they will provide real and correct information to the business associations? They didn’t even give the information to Parliament or walk the correct path with them.
However, it was understood that after that upcoming session, the commercial leader announced there will be a structural voting process (a secret ballot) among the members to determine a majority. Only until that moment will he issue a “public statement” regarding the real stance of the business associations on the HOFA Kingdom Act.
This reality completely contradicts Sneek and exposes how politicians are assuming non-existent consensuses to manipulate public opinion and hide the country’s loss of decision-making rights
