During the course of last week, Foundation COMPA received an official invitation from the ministerial office for a working meeting with Minister Herde, which took place last Friday, October 16th. This encounter follows up on statements made by the minister since July 21st on Hit 100, where he promised to enter into dialogue with the organization.
The main reason for the meeting with the minister in charge of Internal Affairs was to discuss the reactions to various government projects and activities, along with the concerns and urgent issues present within the community. Among the main concerns presented were the staff shortages and structural backlog in various public departments, the state of the road infrastructure which shows kilometers of maintenance delays, and the urgent need to address the desperate housing situation many families are facing.
During the deliberations, the minister expressed frustration over the lack of capacity to achieve all established ambitions at a faster pace. However, both parties noted that there is significant “common ground” and agreement regarding the solutions needed for the country.
Housing Market and Law Enforcement
First of all, both Foundation COMPA and Minister Herde indicated that Aruba’s housing market must be addressed as a priority and with urgency. COMPA emphasized that housing policy must favor local residents first, a position fully supported by the minister.
In the same context, the foundation underscored the importance of applying and enforcing (handhaaf) existing laws, including the Erfpacht (land lease) policy, Airbnb regulations, and the Spatial Development Plan with Regulations (ROPV). The organization recalled that the ROPV has not permitted the creation of new Airbnbs for many years, making it purely a matter of facts and law enforcement. Foundation COMPA congratulated the minister on the measures that have begun to be taken, indicating that while even firmer measures may need to be implemented, current steps will bring genuine relief. According to COMPA, the root of the solution to the housing crisis lies in competent and transparent government management of erfpacht.
According to Aron Beslip of COMPA, Minister Herde indicated during the meeting that the government must use all possible legal instruments to maintain and guarantee the quality of projects in Aruba, in addition to establishing strict accountability to ensure all projects are properly executed.
Another fundamental point of agreement was stimulating investment by local pension funds. COMPA and the minister agree that when pension funds invest in real estate (vastgoed) and local development, the returns go directly back to the pensioners themselves, simultaneously easing the housing market and strengthening the island’s economy.
Finally, Foundation COMPA raised the issue of prioritization, marking this as one of the root causes of the current socioeconomic problem affecting housing accessibility for the average citizen in Aruba.