Francis Saladin, a member of the Aruba Merchants Union, responded in an interview with DIARIO to criticisms regarding alleged price manipulation and increases.
He emphasized that merchants are not the ones setting the prices, as nothing is produced locally in Aruba — everything is imported. “The profit margin on gasoline, for instance, is based on the international purchase price,” Saladin explained.
“When prices rise internationally, they also rise in Aruba, and when they drop, they drop here as well. Consumers and politicians must begin to understand this,” he remarked.
Saladin then challenged the government directly:
“If you want to lower food prices, eliminate the BBO tax on food. Why hasn’t this been done? We have asked the government many times, but instead, they raised the BBO from 3% to 7%. Now, both political parties argue about who achieved a budget surplus. Whose money is that surplus? The people’s! So, help the people — alleviate them by lowering food costs through the reduction or elimination of the BBO on food. A cumulative 7% equals 14%. Imagine, the government earns 14% — that’s a lot of money,” he stated.
He added that the government has already increased excise taxes on cigarettes, tobacco, and alcohol, collecting significant revenue from these. “Use that money to ease the people’s burden by reducing the cost of food,” the businessman concluded.
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