Since entering the government apparatus, Minister Gerlien Croes has presented herself as the face of “new politics.” However, when analyzing the reality behind the facade of propaganda, the image that remains is one of populism, a lack of transparency, and decisions that are severely questioned as a danger to the political future of Aruba.
Transparency in Question: The Private Jet Trip One of the darkest points in the minister’s short trajectory is the lack of respect for the Parliament of Aruba and, consequently, for the people they represent. The questioning regarding the private jet trip remains an open wound. Not only did the minister fail to provide a proper account, but she also claimed to have paid for it out of her own pocket—yet to this day, Minister Gerlien Croes has not submitted a receipt or a copy of a bank transfer. This is a manipulative statement. It places the Minister’s integrity in a very negative light, categorizing her actions as a “shame” for the level of governance Aruba deserves.
Education: Salary Increases vs. Structural Problems In the field of education, the Minister is selling the idea of easy solutions. Although a salary increase was given to teachers, this is seen as a populist measure that does not touch the root of the problem: the “35-year plateau.” Frustration within the educational world remains high, as reality shows the official pretends to solve problems while, in practice, she is creating more confusion and conflict within the sector.
“Fake” Titles and Departments for Campaigners Another point drawing attention is the title of Minister of Kingdom Relations. According to legislative criticism, this position does not officially exist in the Law of Ministerial Institutions (LIM) under any minister other than the Prime Minister of Aruba, nor in other Aruban laws. It is questioned whether this is simply a “fake” position under the Minister of Sports to create an international image without a solid legal basis.
Even more concerning is the management of human resources. The creation of the “Ban Studia / Education USA” department is seen as an unnecessary duplication of tasks that already existed within the Department of Education. The question resonating in the community is: Is this a new department created to provide jobs for political campaigners in exchange for votes? The same pattern was noted with the Department of Youth and Children, where structures were closed and reopened with the same content, simply to give an impression of innovation that isn’t there.
A Disaster in the Eyes of the Netherlands The official’s politics have not gone unnoticed in the Netherlands either. Information indicates that in The Hague, there is also growing concern about the direction this policy is taking Aruba. What was presented as a “bright future” looks more like a “disastrous future” after barely a year of governance.
For many observers, Minister Gerlien Croes represents an opportunistic populism that puts Aruba’s well-being at risk for personal and political interests. If this trend continues, the future political misfortune of Aruba could have a very clear name and surname. This is the type of modus operandi that causes the Netherlands to lose confidence in Aruba—the actions of politicians who behave like ostriches.