MEP faction Member of Parliament Dangui Oduber expressed deep concern and disagreement with how the Parliament of Aruba operated during the last parliamentary year. According to the MP, the past period represents the worst performance in 40 years of Status Aparte, characterized by a lack of respect for the democratic process, a lack of transparency on the part of the Government, and an absence of clear leadership to guide the country.
The public representative emphasized that the parliamentary hall is the ultimate space where the voice, pains, and concerns of the people ought to be heard and debated. However, current reality reveals a troubling picture: six out of every ten public meetings requested are not called by the President of Parliament.
Ignoring the oversight role and the constitution
One of the most critical issues highlighted by Oduber is the lack of response from the coalition cabinet (formed by the AVP Party and Futuro) regarding Parliament’s oversight duties:
- Unanswered questions: The Government left nearly 2,600 submitted questions to various ministers unanswered.
- Lack of ‘Vragenuur’: Out of 15 requests submitted for a question hour (vragenuur), not a single one was honored or scheduled.
This situation stands in sharp contrast to the governing program of the coalition party Futuro, which stipulated that a Minister is obligated to answer MPs’ questions within a two-week timeframe. According to Oduber, there are written questions over a year old that have received no response or attention whatsoever—something he classifies as a direct sign of disrespect toward Parliament as an institution, its members, and fundamentally the electorate that chose them.
The MP noted that this lack of debate and hearing directly impacts the daily problems Aruba experiences across various sectors:
- Healthcare: Severe issues at the Hospital where patients are sent home daily, operating rooms are closed, and there is a worrying shortage of medication and medical supplies.
- Cost of living: A surge in the cost of living that has drastically reduced citizens’ purchasing power.
- Tourism Sector and Serlimar: Growing anxiety and tension within the tour guide and tour operator sectors, alongside the critical waste management situation at Serlimar.
“This is the result when a Government fails to listen to the people’s voice and when the President of Parliament ignores essential discussions and debates. We have presented numerous motions that are simply being ignored,” Oduber declared.
Governor’s speech reflects a leadership ‘vacuum’
Analyzing the recently presented Governor’s speech—which is drafted by the Government itself—Oduber pointed out that it confirmed a total lack of vision and concrete action to resolve the country’s real issues.
In addition, the political landscape is further complicated by the announced resignation of the Prime Minister, who in a few weeks will step down as party leader and subsequently as head of the cabinet. According to Oduber, this creates a worrying political vacuum where no one in the country knows where Aruba is headed.
“We have hit rock bottom. The report we debated yesterday in Parliament is proof of a Parliament that is not functioning properly due to its President, and a Government without a clear direction. It is the primary reason why change must come very quickly to restore respect and the proper functioning of our democracy,” Oduber concluded.