Eduard Pieters (PPA) Highlights the Growing Emergency
ORANJESTAD (AAN): While businesses, tourists, and neighborhoods in Playa continue to struggle with the impact of homeless addicts, a deeper truth is becoming impossible to ignore: this crisis is no longer limited to the city center. On Tuesday morning, during a visit to the most affected areas, Eduard Pieters of the PPA underscored the urgency of the escalating mental health and addiction crisis. According to Pieters, Aruba lacks a comprehensive and effective national policy that treats addiction and mental health as true national priorities.
A Crisis Growing Across Neighborhoods
Recent incidents have shown that the situation in Caya Grandi is worsening. Neighborhoods such as Socotoro, Companashi, Paradijs, and Madiki have issued urgent calls about harassment, danger, and property damage caused by homeless individuals battling addiction. This makes it clear that Aruba is facing a nationwide issue—one that cannot be solved by simply cleaning one street corner.
The temporary cleanup recently carried out by KPA provided brief relief, but the reality is unchanged: without proper treatment, rehabilitation, and professional guidance for the addicted homeless population, the problem will continue to grow and spread across all districts.
Pieters emphasized:
“While the community is asking for safety and care, the Ministry of Public Health—responsible for addiction management—has still not responded to the questions our PPA faction submitted on October 22. Today is December 1, more than five weeks later, and there is still no clarity or direction.”
This, according to Pieters, represents a breakdown in transparency and leadership. During the election campaign, both AVP and FUTURO promised rapid responses within 2–3 weeks and a direct, comprehensive plan to address mental health and addiction issues.
Yet, as of today:
- No legislation has been presented to Parliament
- No operational plan exists
- No start date for integrated services has been announced
- And Parliament has not received any official answers
What the public sees, Pieters says, is silence from government and cosmetic cleanups, leaving citizens and businesses more vulnerable each day.
Mental Health: A National Priority, Not a Nuisance
According to PPA, addiction must be treated as a mental health issue. Pieters stressed that the national debate must shift: homeless addicts are not simply a “nuisance,” but individuals in need of mandatory treatment and structured care.
He referenced a complete mental health report presented in 2013 by former Minister Visser, which included recommendations for prevention, treatment, and reintegration. Twelve years later, that document seems forgotten—and Aruba is now dealing with the consequences.
To address the crisis, the PPA faction is advocating for:
- A national addiction law, allowing mandatory admission
- An integrated model of treatment, rehabilitation, and job reintegration
- Removing individuals from harmful environments and placing them in psychosocial and medical treatment centers
- Partnerships with businesses to create pathways to independence
- Strong collaboration between Ministers Dowers, Wyatt-Ras, and Eman
- Support for Respaldo, which is awaiting permits and land to build a mental health clinic with adequate professional staff
A Call for Leadership
Pieters concluded that government silence can no longer continue. Aruba urgently needs leadership, clarity, and action.
“Homeless addicts deserve dignified care, and our people deserve safety and a functioning city,” he said.
