Members of Parliament recently held a closed-door meeting with the Crisis Management Office (CMO) to discuss the potential impact of the ongoing situation in Venezuela. Due to the confidential nature of the meeting, no specific details could be shared publicly. However, it was confirmed that the CMO is well prepared and has developed multiple scenarios to respond effectively to possible crises.
According to Member of Parliament and MEP faction leader Evelyn Wever-Croes, the current state of preparedness reflects the strong foundation built in previous years. She expressed pride in seeing how earlier investments in the institution are now paying off.
Wever-Croes highlighted the critical role played by the CMO—formerly known as BRA—during the COVID-19 crisis. Despite limited financial resources at the time, the government prioritized strengthening the organization. As a result, CMO staff underwent extensive training, including specialized programs within the Kingdom, and have since become capable of training others.
She stated that Aruba can be confident it has a highly capable Crisis Management Office ready to support the country during challenging times. Using a maritime metaphor, she noted that while Aruba may face rough waters, the “crew” is prepared to manage the situation.
During the meeting, CMO representatives indicated that additional funding would further enhance their readiness. However, no extra funds were allocated to the office in the 2026 national budget. The MEP parliamentary faction assured CMO that now that financial resources are available, pressure will be placed on the government to allocate additional funding.
Wever-Croes criticized what she described as a lack of leadership at the national level, specifically pointing to Prime Minister Mike Eman in his role as commander-in-chief. She stated that insufficient transparency and communication are creating unnecessary panic rather than reassurance among the public.
“The country is missing strong leadership. This is not the image of a leader who is in control during a crisis. Aruba deserves better, and we sincerely hope to see improvement soon,” Wever-Croes concluded.
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