San Nicolas Business Association SNBA sends a message: If you do not know what Aruba went through to achieve its Status Aparte in 1986, you will not understand how to maintain and defend it either. That is the living reality that the community is feeling right now, as the discussion surrounding the HOFA Kingdom Law once again puts our autonomy at stake.
These days, the big question that many are asking themselves is simple: Do we no longer understand what the principle of “Boss in our own house” structurally means?
The current situation reminds many people of the children’s game: “Mother, may I go on a trip? Yes, where to?”. Every time Aruba needs to stand strong on its own feet, we structurally bend our knees and surrender portions of our freedom to the Netherlands. The big question left hanging in the air is: Why?
Structural Money versus National Dignity
The idea behind the implementation of HOFA (Kingdom Law on Aruba Financial Supervision) is well-known: lowering the interest rates on the structural public debt in exchange for giving The Hague more control over our budget. In appropriate terms, many see this as an attempt to look for a “sack of money” just to keep dragging along—meaning, to provide an artificial breather to continue spending and “doing as we please,” regardless of the long-term political cost.
The reality is that the Aruban people are already paying off this debt, which all governments, without exception of political color, have caused since 1986. The historic struggle for our freedom and self-determination does not structurally have a price tag, and it is not worth surrendering, no matter how beautifully or ornately politicians present this agreement in their speeches.
The “Bonaire Effect” is a real threat
To all those who are firmly pushing for the approval of HOFA today, a direct question must be asked: Are you capable of surrendering our autonomy for a temporary financial benefit?
“Shortly, we will have to ask the Netherlands for permission for every decision, just like what is already structurally happening in Bonaire.”
If you look around you today in Aruba, the influx of Dutch nationals into structural positions is already becoming structurally structural. If we allow this control to enter structurally into the heart of our finances, the danger is great that we are structurally on our way to losing the rights that the grandfather, father, and brother of Eman fought for, and the struggle that Betico Croes ultimately fought for to achieve.
People of Aruba, this is a wake-up call. Do not let these decisions pass by so easily, because the autonomy we surrender today will not be returned tomorrow.
