During the weekly press conference of the PPA faction, Member of Parliament Eduard Pieters raised two serious concerns that can no longer be ignored: Aruba still does not have a Minister Plenipotentiary in the Netherlands, and last week the director of Arubahuis, Ms. Croes, was suspended without sufficient public explanation. These are two weighty issues that directly affect Aruba’s position within the Kingdom of the Netherlands and, more specifically, how the government handles processes and treats its own professionals.
A suspension without clarity
The sudden suspension of the Arubahuis director took the PPA faction by surprise. Without going into the substance of the case — which is still under investigation — the way the government and the relevant minister acted is deeply concerning.
“No concrete information was presented to Parliament, there is no public clarity, and based on available information, the basic principle of ‘hoor en wederhoor’ (right to be heard and respond) was not followed,” Eduard explained.
This creates a dangerous precedent. According to Pieters:
“We are talking about a professional who has held key positions for the country of Aruba, not a recent political appointee. Suspending an official in silence, with total restriction of access and authority, without a clear process, raises serious questions about how we treat our own professionals and respect due process.”
Furthermore, the complete silence that followed is unacceptable. Transparency is not a luxury; it is a requirement of good governance, especially at a time when Aruba lacks clear leadership in its foreign representation.
Minister Plenipotentiary: not a wish, but an obligation
“Some people ask why PPA insists on the appointment of a Minister Plenipotentiary. The answer is simple: this is not a PPA wish; it is a constitutional obligation. The Charter of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (articles 7–10) stipulates that each autonomous country — Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten — must have a Minister Plenipotentiary to participate in the Rijksministerraad, including voting rights,” Eduard emphasized.
In practice, this absence costs Aruba influence, information and a voice in crucial decisions. In diplomacy, physical presence and proper representation are not optional. Aruba must be represented in The Hague to defend its interests and actively contribute to decisions within the Kingdom.
Arubahuis without leadership and an autonomous country without a voice
According to Pieters, Aruba currently has neither a Minister Plenipotentiary nor an active director of Arubahuis — a key institution for coordination, diplomacy and representation. This creates an institutional vacuum that cannot continue.
Additionally, with an impending legal case, the legitimate question arises: who will bear the costs? Unfortunately, it will ultimately be the taxpayer.
Finally, PPA is not asking for political favoritism or protection.
“We are asking for clarity, proper process and leadership. The investigation must take its course, but the government must provide information and take responsibility. After almost a year, it is time to appoint a Minister Plenipotentiary and restore leadership at Arubahuis. Party pride and personal ego must be set aside. Aruba is one country, one flag, and deserves strong, transparent and dignified representation,” Eduard Pieters concluded.