During a public meeting with Minister Wendrick Cicilia, Parliamentarian Xiomara Maduro raised a fundamental question: Does the Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA) Law allow tourism funds to be used to pay for the management and processing of waste in Aruba?
The limit of the ATA Law: According to Maduro, the law is clear: ATA was created to promote tourism and strengthen Aruba as a destination. Nowhere does the law state that ATA is responsible for financing cleaning or waste processing. “Promoting a clean destination is not the same as paying to process waste,” Maduro stated.
Lack of an Integral Plan: Maduro noted that the “Baki den Bario” project began using government funds, and when those ran out, they turned to ATA. She criticized the lack of a comprehensive plan and the increasingly broad interpretation of ATA’s mandate to cover costs that do not legally fall under its responsibility, noting that other entities like Serlimar or the Tourism Product Enhancement Fund (TPEF) exist for these purposes.
Questions for the ATA Board: The parliamentarian questioned the Board’s expertise in waste management, how the private company was chosen, and whether there were independent studies supporting the decision, emphasizing that these are questions of good governance.
Request for a Legal Opinion: To move beyond political rhetoric, Maduro proposed that the Directorate of Legislation and Legal Affairs (DWJZ) and the CAD issue an independent legal opinion on whether the ATA Law permits the use of its funds for waste management. “If the answer is yes, the people will know. If the answer is no, they will also know. What Aruba needs is clarity,” she concluded.