The General Audit Chamber Aruba (Algemene Rekenkamer Aruba – ARA) published its investigation into the 2020 Annual Accounts, concluding that the government provided assistance through the FASE program during the pandemic without having the required legal basis at the time it delivered this support. Parliamentarian Xiomara Maduro, who was Minister of Finance at that time, has offered an explanation.
Due to the exceptional circumstances brought by the pandemic, the government had to act quickly with FASE assistance so that everyone could have food. “Everyone can understand that in that moment they did not have the option to wait for the law to be drafted and for Parliament to approve the FASE law before the public received the assistance they were asking for. To avoid a painful situation in Aruba, action had to be taken, and we acted as well,” Maduro emphasized.
During the pandemic, the government provided assistance to 12,446 people who had lost their income, totaling 42.8 million florin under the FASE program so they could cover basic needs. “If we had not acted quickly, today many people would still be lamenting and criticizing the lack of action to help the people overcome the pandemic. The government acted prudently and Parliament worked to approve the FASE law and legalize all such payments made to help the people.”
According to ARA, at that time the government did not have a legal basis to grant this assistance. However, ARA also recognizes that when FASE was introduced, Aruba’s revenue dropped drastically, many people urgently needed assistance, and the government apparatus had to continue functioning with a minimum of personnel.
Maduro also explained that as early as December 9, 2020, the government began the necessary legislative process by submitting the draft FASE law to the Raad van Advies (Council of Advice), which gave its advice on January 21, 2021. Subsequent legislative work experienced delays due to other pandemic priorities, and the additional fact that 2021 was an election year further slowed the process. Ultimately, the FASE law was approved by Parliament in June 2022, and this legal approval then legalized all previous FASE assistance payments.
In her explanation, Parliamentarian Xiomara Maduro appropriately acknowledges responsibility for this delay in establishing the legal basis.