During an interview with Gravier Crastz in Curaçao, Minister Cooper delivered a strong message about Aruba’s current political direction. Speaking from his perspective as a politician with many years in the field, Cooper stated that there are serious concerns about how Aruba is currently being governed.
According to Cooper, Aruba has fallen under the leadership of a new minister who does not have sufficient political experience or technical knowledge to guide such a sensitive portfolio as finance and to deal with the requirements of the Kingdom law HOFA. He referred to Geoffrey Wever, a politician who wants to manage Aruba in a commercial manner. Despite only being in his position for a few months, he is already making decisions that, according to Cooper, could push the country in a direction the people of Aruba do not want to go.
Cooper also warned that Aruba is being represented in its dealings with the Netherlands without the level of preparation that such a relationship requires. He said this could put Aruba at a disadvantage during discussions and negotiations with the Dutch Kingdom. Minister Cooper expressed regret about Minister Wever’s view that, even though Aruba is financially on the right track, he still wants to hand Aruba’s finances over for the Netherlands to manage.