The question remains: “Where has mutual respect gone?”
The proposal for the Kingdom Consensus Law on Sustainable Public Finances for Aruba (HOFA) has taken another step in its process. It has been confirmed that the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom (RMR) has given the green light to send the proposed law to the Council of State of the Kingdom for evaluation and advice.
With this decision, and after the consultation process was completed, another step has been taken toward realizing the joint legislative proposal between Aruba and the Netherlands.
However, this step is causing concern in Aruba. On several occasions, Aruban politicians have indicated that the law was submitted to the RMR without the consensus of the Parliament of Aruba, raising serious questions about the process and the way the decision was made.
Consensus Law Based on International Recommendations
According to the proposal, the HOFA Kingdom Consensus Law establishes rules aimed at achieving and maintaining sustainable public finances in Aruba. A responsible budget and sound financial management would form an important part of this system.
The Kingdom law is directly connected to the National Ordinance to Guarantee Sustainable Public Finances (Lwho), which is a law of Aruba itself. The standards included in both the Kingdom law and the national ordinance are based on recommendations from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
According to the Netherlands, once the law comes into force, Aruba will be able to make use of a loan facility from the Netherlands to finance public investments under conditions similar to those available to the Netherlands on international markets.
The Netherlands: Interest Costs Will Decrease
According to the State Secretary for Kingdom Relations, Eric van der Burg, the measure will help reduce Aruba’s interest costs.
Among the promises mentioned are:
- The possibility for Aruba to borrow funds under favorable conditions similar to those enjoyed by the Netherlands.
- The Netherlands being willing to refinance part of Aruba’s debt on the American capital market.
- A reduction in interest rates on the loans Aruba received during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Van der Burg, the money Aruba saves on interest payments could be reinvested in education, healthcare, and the local economy.
Criticism: Aruba Was Already Meeting Its Obligations
However, the Parliament of Aruba has pointed out that Aruba had already been meeting its financial obligations without delay. On several occasions, previous governments communicated to the Netherlands that the country was paying its debts correctly.
According to local politicians, the central question is: if Aruba is already complying with its obligations, why is a Kingdom law that increases external supervision necessary?
Debate on Autonomy and Status Aparte
Another major concern is the potential impact on Aruba’s autonomy within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Politicians and many citizens argue that Aruba has held a unique position within the Kingdom since 1986 with its Status Aparte, which is different from Curaçao and Sint Maarten.
According to this argument, Aruba has not expressed a desire to follow exactly the same model of financial supervision as the other countries within the Kingdom, yet the Netherlands continues to push forward.
During several public debates and even during cultural celebrations, various groups in society — including professional organizations expressed concern about the possible loss of political identity and national autonomy.
For many, the continuation of these steps by the Netherlands against the wishes of the people and Parliament of Aruba is seen as a lack of respect toward the Aruban population.
Government: A Step Toward Financial Stability
According to Prime Minister Mike Eman, the step represents an important moment of stability and cooperation within the Kingdom.
However, for many people in Aruba, the issue is creating political tension and debate within the country. Critics question what interest the current government may have in supporting a process that many believe does not reflect the will of the people.
According to Eric van der Burg, in an increasingly turbulent and unpredictable world, cooperation between the countries of the Kingdom is crucial to achieving economic stability and progress.
The goal, according to him, is to create trust, stability, and cooperation to face future economic challenges.
The Political and Social Question Remains
Despite the official explanations, the debate in Aruba continues. Politicians argue that the process is moving forward without broad consensus from either Parliament or the people of Aruba.
This raises several important questions within the community:
- Who really benefits from the HOFA law?
- How will the law affect Aruba’s autonomy?
- And how far can external supervision go without affecting local decision-making?
While the legislative proposal continues its path through the institutions of the Kingdom, public debate in Aruba remains active regarding the future of the country’s public finances and political autonomy.
The central question remains: who truly benefits from HOFA / RHOFA?