In a direct tone during the Interparliamentary Kingdom Consultations (IPKO), Curaçao Member of Parliament for the PAR party, Quincy Girigorie, issued a structural and worrying warning to Aruba. Girigorie dismantled The Hague’s intentions with the Kingdom Act HOFA (Rijkswet HOFA), drawing a very clear red line: the pact that the Netherlands wants Aruba to sign is not only a bad financial negotiation, but a direct threat to the island’s democratic system.
With the authority of someone who already lives in a country under financial supervision, Girigorie made a historical comparison and structural analysis to prove why Aruba must stand firm against pressure from the Netherlands. He highlighted Aruba’s Status Aparte and the right Aruba has held since 1986 to govern itself, make its own legislative decisions through Parliament, and manage its own destiny. He warned that the decisions being made now could weaken this self-determination and hand more control over to the Netherlands.
The big difference: Curaçao received 70% debt relief, Aruba gets nothing
Girigorie explained that financial supervision in itself is normal, but the conditions the Netherlands is currently putting on the table for Aruba are completely disproportionate compared to what Curaçao and Sint Maarten received in 2010.
“When Curaçao and Sint Maarten accepted financial supervision, what the islands secured was the restructuring (cancellation) of 70% of their national debt. That was a huge structural benefit for the people. It was a high price, but there was real compensation,” Girigorie declared.
Aruba’s current reality, according to the MP, is completely different and alarming. The Netherlands is not offering to cancel debt, but simply a slightly lower interest rate on a loan. For Girigorie, this is an undervalued pact that has no justification.
The strongest point of Girigorie’s warning goes far beyond economics; it touches the very heart of parliamentary sovereignty. The MP explained that these Kingdom Act agreements contain dangerous “fine print” that ties the hands of local leaders forever.
“Accepting the HOFA under the current conditions will structurally oppress Aruba’s democracy. These contracts prevent Parliament from making the necessary legislative changes that the country itself might deem necessary in the future,” Girigorie warned.
Girigorie was categorical in his final assessment, labeling the Dutch proposal as a political trap where Aruba loses part of its freedom in exchange for very little.
“For a small interest reduction on a high loan, I sincerely believe it is not worth giving up your autonomy. It is far too expensive a price to pay,” he concluded.
Accepting HOFA for an interest rate reduction is a bad deal for Aruba
