Evelyn Wever-Croes Demands Respect for Aruba’s Constitutional History and an Apology from State Secretary Van der Burg
The Leader of MEP, Evelyn Wever-Croes, has sent a formal and firm letter to the State Secretary of Kingdom Relations, Eric van der Burg, expressing the deep indignation of the Aruban community following recent public statements regarding Aruba’s constitutional position. Wever-Croes demands a public apology for what she considers a lack of historical knowledge and an insult to the island’s struggle for emancipation.
The controversy arose after statements made by Van der Burg on May 26th. According to Wever-Croes, the Dutch minister’s words caused not only surprise but also disappointment and pain within the community.
The Aruban leader reminded Van der Burg that Aruba’s Status Aparte, acquired on January 1, 1986, was neither a “gift” nor a “technical correction,” but rather the result of decades of political struggle and democratic mobilization for self-determination.
Lack of Historical and Financial Context
One of the most critical points in the letter is the rejection of the Netherlands’ attempts to “level” (gelijk trekken) Aruba with Curaçao and Sint Maarten through the Kingdom Law HOFA (Rijkswet HOFA). Wever-Croes underlined that the neighboring islands received significant debt relief in 2010, something Aruba never received. “Aruba has carried its financial development independently, without the exceptional restructuring that was granted to other countries,” the letter states.
Total Rejection of the Rijkswet HOFA
The letter emphasizes that there is no social backing in Aruba for the Rijkswet HOFA. More than ten thousand people have signed a petition against this law, and 13 syndicates, along with a large portion of Parliament, have openly declared themselves against it. Furthermore, the Advisory Council (Raad van Advies) established that this law violates Aruba’s Charter (Statuut). According to the political leader, Aruba already possesses local supervisory instruments that are functional and have proven capable of putting public finances in order.
Demand for Rectification
Wever-Croes concluded the letter with two very clear demands: first, to show respect for the distinct historical and financial trajectories of the countries within the Kingdom; and second, for State Secretary Van der Burg to issue a public apology to the Aruban people for the “incorrect and offensive” manner in which he represented Aruba’s constitutional history.
“Aruba is not asking for favors, Aruba is asking for respect. Respect for its history, its position, and its people,” the MEP leader concluded.
It is regrettable and shameful for State Secretary Eric van der Burg to hold an office managing the islands without possessing real knowledge of their positions—given that each one is different and holds its own status. They are Aruba, Curaçao, and St. Maarten; they are not “CAS islands” and they are not “Sister islands.” Each island stands on its own feet with its own status and identity, and Aruba has its status aparte. The cardinal question is: do they want to downgrade Aruba to the level of Curaçao and St. Maarten, where their finances are managed for them, or why not elevate those islands and give them the same status Aruba has? So they can attend to their own matters and manage their own finances?
