After several months, the AVP–Futuro government has finally presented amendments to the National Ordinance on the Establishment of Ministries (LIM). However, according to Aruba’s Advisory Council (Raad van Advies), the way the AVP–Futuro coalition has structured its ministries lacks logic and poses a serious risk to Aruba’s governance.
The Advisory Council formally rejected the proposed ministerial organization introduced by former Prime Minister Mike Eman and the rest of the AVP–Futuro cabinet, citing major concerns regarding effectiveness, accountability, and concentration of power.
Ministry of KOJIS Identified as the Most Problematic
The Advisory Council identified the Ministry of Kingdom Relations, Education, Youth, Innovation, and Sports (KOJIS) as the most problematic structure. The ministry, under the responsibility of Minister Gerlien Croes, combines five highly demanding and unrelated portfolios into a single ministry.
According to the Council, this combination lacks coherence and creates an unmanageable workload that risks weakening governance outcomes across all sectors involved.
“Five Portfolios Under One Minister Is a Recipe for Failure”
The Advisory Council warned that assigning five distinct ministerial responsibilities to one minister is a dangerous experiment with the future of the Aruban people. Each portfolio requires full attention, strategic oversight, and specialized management. By combining them, the government risks losing focus, delaying progress, and delivering incomplete or ineffective policies, ultimately harming the community.
Aruba’s Position Within the Kingdom at Risk
The Council further emphasized that Kingdom Relations is a highly sensitive and strategic portfolio that traditionally falls under the Prime Minister, who leads diplomatic engagement within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Combining this role with education, youth affairs, innovation, and sports significantly reduces the attention and diplomacy required to protect Aruba’s interests at the Kingdom level.
The Advisory Council warned that this politically motivated restructuring could weaken Aruba’s position within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Concerns Over Concentration of Power
Parliamentarian Xiomara Maduro expressed deep concern that the AVP–Futuro government is treating critical governance matters as political tools rather than prioritizing the well-being of the people. She stated that ministerial organization should be based on effectiveness and public interest—not on political convenience or power concentration.
According to Maduro, the KOJIS ministry creates an unjustified political power stronghold that lacks a logical foundation and places Aruba’s stability and governance at risk. She criticized AVP–Futuro parliamentarians for ignoring the advice of the Advisory Council and failing to recognize that such concentration of power is irresponsible and detrimental to the citizens they swore to represent.
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