Former leader of the People’s Electoral Movement (MEP) and former Prime Minister of Aruba, Orlando Nelson “Nel” Oduber, launched sharp criticism against the current AVP–FUTURO government, particularly targeting the Minister of Kingdom Relations, Gerlien Croes, describing her actions as “a disgrace for Aruba within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.”
According to Oduber, almost a year after the government took office, Aruba still does not have a Minister Plenipotentiary in the Netherlands, which he considers unacceptable. “Without a Minister Plenipotentiary, Aruba is without a voice in the Netherlands. This is not just an administrative failure — it is political damage to the country,” he stated.
Rijkswet and political contradiction
Oduber recalled that the MEP previously opposed the Rijkswet, but said that the current AVP–FUTURO government is now “embracing the same law only for money,” without clearly explaining how it defends Aruba’s interests within the Kingdom framework.
Declining tourism and climate of insecurity
The former Prime Minister also expressed concern about the tourism sector, noting that tourism recently declined by nearly 6%. According to Oduber, the current government is “a government of bad luck,” pointing to ongoing problems with flights, accidents, violent incidents, and a general feeling of insecurity on the island.
He added that since AVP–FUTURO took power, there is a perception of “lawlessness” and social deterioration that does not align with traditional Aruban culture.
Legalization of immigrants: ‘the government’s biggest mistake’
Oduber labeled the process of legalizing undocumented immigrants as “the biggest mistake of the current government.” According to him, the process was carried out without proper screening and without clarity regarding:
- whether there was a background check;
- whether these individuals paid taxes during the years they were undocumented;
- how many people were actually legalized.
“They are legalizing just to legalize, without order, without structure, and without control,” he emphasized.
According to Oduber, this decision has contributed to an increase in theft in tourist areas and neighborhoods, which he sees as harmful to Aruban culture. He asked openly:
“What kind of Aruba do we want for our children?”
Lack of government vision
Oduber harshly criticized the lack of vision from AVP–FUTURO, asking:
- What is the vision for tourism?
- What is Aruba’s direction?
- What is the strategy for relations with the Netherlands and the United States?
According to him, there is currently no clear plan or strategic direction for the country.
MEP versus AVP: debt and financial management
The former Prime Minister defended MEP’s legacy, stating that whenever MEP governed, Aruba became financially stronger. He highlighted that the previous government under Evelyn Wever-Croes reduced national debt from 120% of GDP to 71%, meaning that for every florin Aruba earns, 71 cents go toward paying debt.
In contrast, he said that AVP historically left debt with annual interest exceeding 300 million florins, and now that MEP is in opposition, it sees new financial damage being created for the country.
Power imbalance in government
Finally, Oduber pointed out that there is an imbalance of power within the AVP–FUTURO coalition, where a party with only three seats practically determines the government’s direction. He criticized that several ministers lack experience and are putting Aruba in a situation that, in his words, “we will all regret tomorrow.”
