The Parliament of Aruba spoke unanimously, and now it is the Government’s turn to act. This is the position of PPA Member of Parliament, Eduard Pieters, after all parliamentary factions agreed to send a clear signal to the Government regarding the situation at the North Coast (Noordkust) and the concerns raised during the recent demonstration.
For Pieters, the issue is not merely about ATVs or UTVs. It involves something more fundamental: the Government must abide by the law and carry out the responsibilities outlined within it. “Through the President of Parliament, we sent a clear instruction to the Government of Aruba: it must stick to the law.”
The law has a name: ROPV, AB 2021 no. 123 Pieters is specifically referring to the Ruimtelijk Ontwikkelingsplan met Voorschriften (ROPV), established via National Decree containing general measures on July 28, 2021, AB 2021 no. 123. The ROPV entered into force on September 1, 2021.
According to Pieters’ interpretation presented during a press conference, this framework does not state that ATVs, UTVs, or all motorized vehicles are automatically banned from traversing all natural areas. “Nowhere does it state that an ATV or UTV cannot use these roads.” Pieters’ argument is that the Government must organize and regulate their usage, with nature protection as a core condition.
Regulation and protection, yes. General ban, no! Pieters is not advocating for an unregulated North Coast—quite the opposite. He outlines concrete conditions the Government could set: designated routes, speed limits, noise limits, vehicle capacity limits, and identifying sensitive areas requiring special protection. His point is: set the rules and enforce them. This is crucial because the ROPV is not merely a political document; it is a legal instrument establishing regulations (voorschriften) for land use in Aruba. “You have to introduce the rules,” Pieters emphasized.
The Government has had the duty to regulate this since 2021 This is where Pieters’ critique turns political. The ROPV has been in effect since 2021. According to Pieters, the previous government enacted the law but failed to finalize all the necessary conditions for its execution. The current government has not resolved the problem either, despite being two years into its governing term. Now, while the public faces barriers, uncertainty, and restricted access, both sides blame each other. “Aruba is tired of politics where MEP and AVP fight and point fingers over who did or didn’t do what.”
To Pieters, the question is no longer who was in power when the ROPV took effect. His question is: who is willing to ensure these conditions are established now?
The North Coast is more than UTVs Pieters noted that the demonstration was not just about tour guides. Fishermen, families, and residents who use the North Coast for recreation were also present.
He even shared his own family history: his grandfather was a fisherman. Therefore, a decision regarding access has far-reaching consequences beyond tourism—it affects tradition, recreation, fishing, sports, safety, and even emergency service access for police and first responders.
Parliament has spoken. What will the Government do now? Pieters does not want Aruba to simply sit back and await a judicial ruling while uncertainty lingers. His call is for the Government to sit down with stakeholders, define routes, set conditions, protect nature, allow non-motorized vehicles to pass, and establish effective control.
Parliament listened to the people and reached a consensus. The Government has had a executable ROPV since 2021. Now, according to Pieters, the excuses must stop. “MEP and AVP, the public is tired of blame-shifting, and AVP-FUTURO must step up to manage and govern this country. Protect nature, respect the rights of the people, and execute the law that Aruba already has,” Eduard Pieters concluded.