The KvK (Chamber of Commerce) invited the entire Parliament of Aruba to a meeting—an invitation that was extended following a meeting with commercial trade associations in the parliament hall earlier that same day. Members of Parliament Evelyn Wever-Croes, Rocco Tjon, and Dangui Oduber accepted the invitation to attend the meeting, where the commercial sector would listen to a presentation by Minister Wever and where they could share their views and position on the Kingdom Act on Financial Supervision Aruba (HOFA).
As representatives of the people of Aruba, and as a faction that from day one has stood by the side of the people who massively rejected HOFA, we considered this a legitimate and necessary opportunity to listen directly to the perspective of the commercial sector on a matter that affects our autonomy as a country.
Upon our arrival at the KvK, we were welcomed with a warm reception. Everything changed when Minister of Finance Geoffrey Wever arrived. The minister formally demanded from the KvK board that we—representatives of the people of Aruba—must leave the auditorium. His threat was clear: if we did not leave, he would not give his presentation. The KvK board, placed on the spot and under pressure from the minister, complied with the demand. We respected the board’s decision and left in a dignified manner and without incident.
However, we cannot remain silent about what happened today.
A minister of finance who uses his governmental position to demand the exclusion of members of parliament from a room, within a civil and independent space, and at the invitation of the institution itself, is crossing an important line. This is not a matter of protocol or personal preference. This is a question of democratic principle.
We want to be clear on one point: we were not there to confront the minister. We were there to listen to the commercial sector, exactly what the KvK invited us for. Minister Wever himself turned the situation into a confrontation by demanding our departure.
And this leaves a question hanging for the people of Aruba:
If HOFA is so good for our country, why can’t the minister of finance defend it in the presence of the representatives of the very people he governs?
A truth that is strong has no fear of questions. A minister who is convinced of his case does not need to silence the opposition to present it.
Because of this, we demand Minister Wever—if he truly wants to be transparent—to not only talk about the benefits of HOFA, but also talk openly about the price we as a country must pay. Talk about what we lose. Talk about what we have to surrender. Talk about the consequences for our autonomy, for our finances, and for our people.
Real transparency is not selective. A government that governs for the people does not get to choose what the people can hear and what they cannot.
We urge Minister Wever to make his presentation on HOFA publicly available—all the figures, all the arguments, all the projections—so that every citizen can judge for themselves. If he is convinced that HOFA is in the best interest of the people of Aruba, let the people judge it.
The MEP faction will continue to stand firm for the right of the people of Aruba to know, to hear, and to participate in decisions that affect their future.