While businesses, tourists, and the neighborhoods of Playa struggle with the impact of street addicts, a harsh reality emerges: the problem is not limited to the city center. This morning, during a tour of the most affected areas, Eduard Pieters (PPA) highlighted the crisis in mental health and street addiction. Aruba lacks a truly comprehensive policy that treats addiction and mental health as a national priority.
An Escalating Problem
Recent events show that the situation is escalating in Caya Grandi. Neighborhoods like Socotoro, Companashi, Paradijs, and Madiki have issued urgent calls regarding harassment, danger, and destruction caused by street addicts. This demonstrates that Aruba is facing a national phenomenon and that solutions cannot be confined to a few streets in the city.
Previous cleanup actions by KPA provided temporary relief, but the reality is clear: as long as street addicts do not receive treatment, rehabilitation, and professional guidance, the problem will continue to grow and affect every neighborhood.
Government Has Not Responded for Five Weeks
“At the same time the public is demanding safety and care, the Ministry of Health, responsible for addiction management, has still not responded to the questions submitted by the PPA faction on October 22. Today is December 1, more than five weeks later, and there is still no clarity or direction,” Pieters emphasized.
This represents a failure in transparency and leadership. During the campaign, AVP and FUTURO promised a rapid process, with answers within 2–3 weeks and a comprehensive plan to address recurring mental health and addiction issues.
Yet, no law has been presented to Parliament, no operational plan exists, no start date for a comprehensive management and service plan, and certainly no parliamentary response. This hermetic silence and cosmetic cleanup make citizens and businesses increasingly vulnerable.
Aruba Must Treat Addiction as a Mental Health Issue
Eduard Pieters emphasized that the national debate must change: street addiction is not a “nuisance” issue but a matter of mental health and compulsory treatment.
Since 2013, former Minister Visser presented a comprehensive mental health report, including recommendations for prevention, treatment, and reintegration of street addicts. Twelve years later, this document seems ignored, and the consequences are evident.
To address this challenge, the PPA faction advocates:
• A national addiction law permitting compulsory admission.
• A comprehensive model for treatment, rehabilitation, and labor reintegration.
• Removing individuals from harmful environments and placing them in centers for psychosocial and medical care.
• Cooperation with businesses to create pathways to self-sufficiency.
• Strong alliances between Ministers Dowers, Wyatt-Ras, and Eman.
• Support for Respaldo, which manages land and permits to build a mental health clinic and equip staff with more professionals.
Finally, Eduard Pieters stated that the government’s hermetic silence cannot continue. Aruba needs leadership, clarity, and action. The PPA takes a firm stance: street addicts have the right to dignified care, and our people have the right to safety and a functional city.
Eduard Pieters (PPA): A Growing Crisis – Government Must Fulfill Campaign Promises on Mental Health and Street Addiction
