ORANJESTAD, Aruba — Education Minister Gerlien Croes says long-term DOW underinvestment reduced the public-works department’s capacity and contributed to delays in Aruba’s infrastructure projects.
Minister links resources to government capacity
In an interview reported by DIARIO, Croes said the current budget includes increased spending on goods and services because departments need personnel and resources to function. She cited shortages in the multidisciplinary centre, including psychologists, speech therapists and parenting-support staff.
Croes said the lack of sustained investment has also been visible at the Department of Public Works, known as DOW, where she described the capacity gap as still substantial.
Infrastructure investment remains delayed
The minister acknowledged that infrastructure investment is behind schedule. She linked part of the delay to the process surrounding Aruba’s general investment fund. The source provided no project-level schedule or quantified DOW staffing gap, so the assessment remains attributed to Croes.
