PPA faction leader Eduard Pieters has raised serious questions regarding how the government distributes public resources in the fight against addiction. According to the parliamentarian, Aruba already has various organizations and professionals who have dedicated their work for years to the treatment, guidance, and rehabilitation of people with dependencies. However, many of them continue to operate with limited resources, while the government chooses to fund a foundation that does not possess professionals in this field. “We are not against any initiative that can help people struggling with addiction. Every serious effort deserves recognition. But what we are questioning is the government’s priority.”
Professionals on the front line ask for support According to Pieters, the same organizations that are daily on the front line of the fight against addiction continue to express that they lack the resources, staff, and capacity to meet the growing demand. “They ask for more support. They ask for more capacity. They ask for more collaboration. However, the government decides to put resources into another initiative.” For the PPA faction, this is a legitimate question that must receive a clear and transparent answer.
How was this decision made? Pieters asked the critical question regarding what criteria the government used to decide to specifically fund this organization:
Based on what study?
Based on what evaluation?
Were the professionals who already work in the field of addiction, such as Stichting Hunto, consulted?
Where is the national plan that coordinates all the efforts?
“The people have the right to know how public resources are distributed and why one initiative receives priority, while others that have been doing the work for years continue to lack the necessary support.”
Not a question of being against a foundation Pieters emphasized that the PPA is not against the project that received funding. “We are not questioning the good intentions of the initiative. We are questioning the political decision behind the allocation of resources.” According to the PPA leader, a responsible government must strengthen the existing system, listen to the professionals on the front line, and ensure that every florin of public money is invested in a transparent, consistent manner, and with the greatest impact for the community.
“Governance is not just a question of spending the people’s money to play politics. Governance is a question of choosing priorities correctly and fairly. And that is precisely what we are asking the government to provide: clarity.”