The Government of Aruba has signed a consultancy agreement for the strengthening, innovation, and digitalization of the mental health and addiction care sector in Aruba. The contract, with a gross maximum of Afl. 194,400.-, was directly awarded to Dutch professional Koen Aanen without a public tender. This decision has sparked debate regarding the rates, the work schedule, and the rationale that no local professionals are available.
According to the Ministerial Decree (Ministerial Beschikking) dated September 15, 2026, signed by the Minister of Transport, Integrity, Nature, and Elderly Care (also in charge of Public Health, Social Affairs, and Addiction Care), the consultant will work at a rate of Afl. 270.- per hour. This commitment is for a maximum of 20 hours per week, equivalent to part-time work with a cap of 720 hours during the period from September 15, 2026, to May 31, 2027. This means that the compensation could reach an average of around 23 thousand florins per month.
The consultant’s work will focus on analyzing existing issues, developing and prioritizing improvement measures, and advising on innovation, digitalization, and cooperation within the care supply chains. To conduct this analysis, the consultant must collect information and data directly from Aruba’s own care institutions (zorginstellingen), the Department of Public Health (Directie Volksgezondheid), and the ministry. The ultimate goal is to present a phased implementation plan.
The costs of this assignment will be divided into two equal halves between:
• Office of the Minister of Public Health, Social Affairs, Elderly Care, and Addiction (cost center 16560001.4361)
• Department of Public Health (cost center 16561001.4361)
Exemption from the Procurement Law The total cost of the contract falls into the category that normally requires a private tender (onderhandse aanbesteding). However, the Government utilized the exception under Article 16, paragraph 1, sub b of the Procurement Ordinance (Aanbestedingsverordening) to award this work directly (uit de hand).
As justification for this exception, the decree mentions that this task requires specific knowledge and experience in digital transformation and healthcare management that are currently not present or available within Aruba’s government apparatus. According to the official reasoning, consultant Aanen possesses extensive experience as a program manager of Digital Transformation at the Arkin/Jellinek institution in the Netherlands.
Lack of Accountability and Unprofessionalism In addition to this, the unprofessional manner in which the AVP – FUTURO Government operates stands out, where ministers’ portfolios are intertwined because the National Ordinance on the Organization of Ministries (Landsverordening Inrichting Ministeries – LIM) has not yet passed in Parliament. Due to this situation, no minister stands properly accountable for these misdeeds and decisions being made in the administration of the country.