Otmar Oduber (PPA) Calls for National Unity to Defend Autonomy
The People’s Political Alliance (PPA) believes that the recent IPKO meetings in the Netherlands left Aruba’s delegation with a bitter reality check. According to PPA leader Otmar Oduber, instead of attending with a clear mandate and unified stance on the proposed Rijkswet, Aruba’s parliamentarians found themselves in a room where Dutch professors and members of both the Eerste and Tweede Kamer declared: “Aruba has already given everything away and failed to use proper procedures, and that is regrettable.”
Oduber criticized the lack of preparation, noting that Aruba’s delegation went without a clear agenda or position paper, merely to listen and observe what the Netherlands and other islands had to say.
Fast Ball Against Parliament – He accused the Government of Aruba of breaking the 2022 IPKO agreement, which required a two-thirds parliamentary consensus before any draft of the Rijkswet could be submitted. Instead, the government bypassed Parliament and delivered what Oduber called a “fast ball,” undermining democracy and weakening Aruba’s Status Aparte.
Unconstitutional Law – During the meetings, Dutch legal experts and senators reportedly deemed the Rijkswet unconstitutional and unlawful, questioning how Aruban parliamentarians could support a law that effectively silences their own voices. “If Aruba says one thing, the Netherlands could decide the opposite. This is a frontal attack on democracy and autonomy,” Oduber warned.
Call for Correction – The PPA insists that the government has taken Aruba down the wrong path by sidelining Parliament. Oduber urged immediate corrections and called this a moment of truth: “Greatness is in admitting mistakes and correcting them – and the time is now.”
Lesson for the Future – He stressed that young parliamentarians must learn from this mistake, as Aruba’s delegation went unprepared, without consensus or unified notes. Former Prime Minister and Parliament President of St. Maarten, Sarah Wescott, also pointed out that Aruba failed to comply with the 2022 agreement to follow proper procedures before reaching a Rijkswet.
Oduber concluded that Aruba still has a path forward: by rejecting the current form of the Rijkswet, demanding necessary changes, and defending autonomy. He appealed for a National Front, uniting across political divisions to protect the sacrifices of past generations: “Aruba cannot lose its autonomy or allow its Parliament to be silenced.”
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