ORANJESTAD – The Movimiento Electoral di Pueblo (MEP) faction has formally submitted two legal opinions to the Governor of Aruba concerning the recent controversy surrounding Minister Gerlien Croes’ use of a private jet. The party asserts that the minister currently has no legal solution to the issue.
Faction leader Evelyn Wever-Croes explained that MEP approached the Governor after various efforts to obtain clarity within Parliament failed to yield results. These efforts included parliamentary questions, petitions for debate, and an official request for information, none of which provided sufficient answers.
The submitted legal advice consists of one local and one international opinion, analyzing the matter based on American aviation laws and local integrity standards. According to the American legal counsel, the private jet in question was not authorized to conduct paid commercial flights. MEP argues that if Minister Croes paid for the flight, this transaction could constitute an “illegal charter” under U.S. law.
Conversely, the local legal opinion suggests that if the flight was not paid for by the minister, it could be classified as a high-value gift or favor. MEP contends that this would conflict with established integrity and transparency norms for public officials. The faction concluded that the ongoing situation erodes public confidence and that Parliament cannot remain idle while clarity on the matter is still pending.
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