The meeting held last week regarding the HOFA Kingdom Law once again showed a government that lacks respect for the democratic process and treats the Aruban people as if they know nothing. According to Eduard Pieters, the meeting was the same as the one on August 29, where Otmar Oduber was present and pointed out that the proper procedure had not been followed. Pieters said: “I called for a point of order, but the president of Parliament gave me neither a voice nor attention. They don’t want transparency; they want control.”
The issue of the process
The government and Minister Wever are trying to divert public attention by pretending that the meeting was about the content of the Kingdom Law and that no one raised any questions. But according to Eduard Pieters, the real issue was not the content—it was the process. He lamented that Minister Wever claimed that “Aruba is not losing its autonomy” and that the opposition “doesn’t know what they’re talking about.” Pieters responded: “How can you say that, if according to Article 38 of the Kingdom Law, the final decision lies in the hands of a Dutch Council of the Kingdom? That is a legal fact.” He emphasized: “The PPA faction stands for clarity, respect, and democracy—not manipulation or dictatorship.”
Article 38: The blow to our self-determination
“All legal experts are clear on this: Article 38 of the HOFA draft limits our right to self-determination. So it’s not that the PPA faction misunderstands or pretends to be legal experts—it’s the actual experts who are saying this,” Eduard stressed. In the end, it is the Dutch Council of the Kingdom that makes the final decision, and after that decision, Aruba can only ‘approve’ it—in other words, simply comply! And Minister Wever, together with the AVP and FUTURO factions, wants to tell us that the people are not losing power? That’s an insult to the intelligence of the people. That must stop!
Who sent the Kingdom Law?
“The most serious point in this whole HOFA Kingdom Law matter is that the government cannot show any formal mandate from its own Council of Ministers authorizing the submission of the law to the Netherlands. So if that document doesn’t exist, who sent the HOFA Kingdom Law to the Netherlands?” Eduard questioned. That remains the fundamental question to which, until today, the government has provided no answer. And without the approval of Parliament—the voice of the people—no Consensus Kingdom Law can be sent to the Netherlands.
Respect the people and the process
Finally, the PPA faction stated that they are not against progress or fiscal transparency. What they oppose is the irresponsible way in which the government violates our democratic process and hands over our autonomy without parliamentary consent. A government that ignores procedures ignores its people. We are not asking for the impossible! We are asking for respect, clarity, and integrity. Enough with deceiving the people. Aruba deserves a government that serves with dignity, not with manipulation. Our self-determination is not a favor; it is a right we have fought to obtain, and we will continue to defend it—with truth and with courage.
Press release: PPA