While Aruba passes through a period of political and institutional uncertainty, the faction leader of the PPA, Eduard Pieters, continues to insist on a consistent message: Aruba needs more dialogue, more communication, and more responsibility in leadership. “We are living in turbulent times. A time of uncertainty for our country and for our people. But precisely in moments like these, we must sit at the table, look each other in the eye, and have the right conversations for the benefit of Aruba,” Pieters declared.
Aruba’s future must come first
According to Pieters, the current discussions are not solely about politics or political parties. They are about the future of the next generations. “When I sit in Parliament, I think about my grandchildren and their grandchildren. My obligation is to safeguard the future of Aruba.”
This is the exact reason why PPA continues to promote dialogue on issues such as HOFA, autonomy, and governance. Pieters recalled that the recent meeting with merchants confirmed that the public wants information, wants to participate, and wants to be heard.
“We provided information, but we received information as well. That is how democracy is supposed to function.”
The problem is not the decision, but the lack of communication
Commenting on the Prime Minister’s recent announcement that he will step down from his position next January, Pieters stated that more so than the decision itself, the main concern is the manner in which the process and announcement were handled. “If a leader makes a personal or political decision, that is their right. But a country cannot be governed via Facebook.”
According to Pieters, the way the announcement was communicated raises serious and deeply concerning questions regarding coordination, communication, and leadership within the government.
The Member of Parliament pointed out that even key members of the same government seemed unaware of this abrupt decision, which certainly gives a worrying indication. The Deputy Prime Minister, instead of addressing this within the Council of Ministers (Ministerraad), also chose to address the matter on Facebook. The same goes for the “political son of Mike.” It appears that this government is governing via Facebook. To make matters worse, there is still no plan regarding who will become the next prime minister.
“When you lack internal communication, you cannot expect coordination in the management of your country.”
Governance is not just reaction, but structural planning
Pieters connected this situation to other recent problems within the government, indicating that choices are often made without the preparation, institutional capacity, or coordination necessary to execute them. This is the case with the problem at the Civil Registry (Censo) due to a decision by Minister Dowers regarding permits. This decision affected Censo’s operations, and no citizen can currently make an appointment to register there. On the other hand, Ministers are not communicating with one another to solve this issue.
“Governing is not just about making decisions. Governing is ensuring that the structure, the capacity, and the communication are ready before you make a move.”
Dialogue is the only way
PPA maintains its stance that Aruba does not need more division, but rather more dialogue. “We are not seeking conflict. We are seeking conversation and dialogue. Only when we sit together, listen to each other, and look one another in the eye can we make decisions that are truly for the benefit of Aruba, and not for a single party or small group.”
For Pieters, Aruba’s greatest challenge is not merely economic or political. It is to rebuild trust, communication, and leadership at a moment when the country needs it most.
