The political landscape in Aruba is facing a storm of criticism directed at the AVP-FUTURO coalition, where the management of the Rijkswet Aruba Financieel Toezicht (HOFA) is being labeled by experts as a “blunder” of historic proportions. At the center of this controversy is Minister Gerlien Croes, whose integrity, communication style described by critics as “pathologically deceptive” and legal standing in office are being seriously questioned.
A Diplomatic Blunder: Negotiations Without Firmness
Professional analysts in both Aruba and the Netherlands are sounding the alarm over the “naive” manner in which the current AVP-FUTURO government has handled the Non-Binding Administrative Agreement (Bestuurlijk Akkoord). The primary criticism lies in the lack of political savvy needed to negotiate an agreement that, constitutionally, should not have been a restrictive “leash” for Aruba.
Instead of acting with the wisdom and maturity required for high-level negotiations, the ministers in charge are accused of “folding” to demands from The Hague. This has left Aruban autonomy in an extremely vulnerable position, sacrificing the rights of the Aruban people for immediate financial favors.
Legal Questioning: The Non-Existent Ministry of Gerlien Croes One of the strongest points of controversy is the legitimacy of the position Minister Gerlien Croes occupies. Legally, the so-called “Minister of Kingdom Relations” lacks a solid legal foundation:
- Law on the Institution of Ministries (LIM): This portfolio does not officially appear in the law that serves as the foundation for the ministries.
- Budget: There is no budget signed by the Governor that supports the de facto existence of this ministry.
- Constitutional Conflict: This position assumes tasks that, by law, fall under the management of the Prime Minister of Aruba.
This raises an obligatory question: Is the Netherlands aware that they are negotiating with a mandate holder who has apparently appointed herself in violation of the law? This lack of transparency has led many to refer to her as a “pathological liar” in her communications with Parliament and the public.
HOFA and the Threat to Autonomy While professionals on all sides agree that the HOFA law in its current form is a direct threat to the country’s autonomy, Minister Croes continues to defend it fervently. Critics point out that the minister seems to live in a “magical world,” detached from the legal reality of the agreement.
The Administrative Agreement, by its nature, is not legally binding for future governments. This means the AVP-FUTURO coalition, under the leadership of Mike Eman, Gerlien Croes, and Geoffrey Wever, had every opportunity to negotiate a better deal for Aruba. Instead, they opted for an easy path that weakens Aruba’s national structure.
Conclusion: In Over Her Head? Recent cases, such as the controversy surrounding the use of private jets and the errors in the HOFA process, serve as evidence that the “shoes of leadership” are far too large for Minister Gerlien Croes. The hunger for power and the lack of a correct political course are placing Aruba in a position where the damage to our autonomy may become irreparable.
The public awaits an urgent rectification before the consequences of these decisions are sealed in history as the chapter where Aruba surrendered its own authority under the AVP-FUTURO government—a government that may go down in history as the politicians who handed Aruba over to the Netherlands and broke their own people just to remain in favor with The Hague.