Aruba is currently gripped by a management style where propaganda takes precedence over protection. In an attempt to position the AVP-FUTURO coalition as the “savior” of the system, Minister Gerlien Croes is playing a game of dirty politics—dismantling vital structures just to resell them as new ideas, while the consequences of this paralysis are being felt in hospital beds.
Lessons from the Past Sabotaged The community of Aruba cannot forget the trauma of the Richandro and Eugene cases. Those tragedies were the reason the previous government (MEP) acted with urgency to structure the Department of Youth and Children (DMH). The goal was clear: to assume the responsibility that had been ignored for over 20 years, guarantee the implementation of the childcare center law, and ensure that the “Meldcode” (Reporting Code) in the Civil Code was properly applied.
However, with the change in leadership, Minister Gerlien Croes has chosen a dangerous path. Instead of providing continuity to a department that was already prepared to execute, the Minister opted to “doek op” (dismantle) ongoing projects. This is not simply a difference of opinion; it is administrative sabotage for partisan interests.
Dismantle to Later ‘Re-invent’ The tactic within the halls of Cocolishi is obvious: Minister Croes criticizes her predecessor’s work, labeling it as deficient or poorly constructed, only to later introduce the same structure under a new name or under the FUTURO banner. This deception costs precious time.
While the Minister wastes time reinventing what already existed, the supervision of childcare centers has fallen into an abyss. The result? A 5-year-old child fighting for their life in Colombia after being forgotten in a transport vehicle. This is not a failure of the system per se, but a failure of leadership that halted the oversight machinery to play politics.
Misuse of Resources and Lack of Vision This “dirty politics” comes at a high price:
- Waste of Resources: Dismantling and re-establishing the same entity costs the taxpayers’ money.
- Administrative Paralysis: Public servants and experts remain in uncertainty while the Minister decides how to make the project “hers.”
- Safety at Risk: Every day that the childcare law is not enforced because the Minister wants to “change names” is another day our children are at risk.
Conclusion: A Facade with Real Consequences Minister Gerlien Croes’ mentality shows a lack of national vision. Child protection should not have a political color. If the previous government left a clear foundation, the duty of a responsible minister is to fortify it, not erase it to write her own name on the wall.
Aruba cannot allow the lives of our children to be used as bargaining chips in an image campaign. This “clownish game” must stop before another tragedy shakes our island. The people demand action, real supervision, and transparency—not more propaganda smelling of opportunism.