ORANJESTAD (AAN) – Members of the MEP faction, including Parliamentarians Evelyn Wever-Croes, Rocco Tjon, and Dangui Oduber, were asked to leave a meeting at the Kamer van Koophandel en Nijverheid (KvK) on Monday, May 25. The request reportedly came from Minister of Finance Geoffrey Wever prior to his presentation on the Rijkswet Financieel Toezicht Aruba (HOFA).
According to a statement from the MEP faction, the parliamentarians had accepted an invitation extended by the KvK to hear the minister’s presentation and engage with the commercial sector. The group stated that they were welcomed warmly but that the atmosphere changed upon the minister’s arrival. MEP officials alleged that Minister Wever formally demanded their exit, stating he would not proceed with his presentation if they remained. The KvK board subsequently complied with this request.
The MEP faction described the incident as a crossing of democratic lines, emphasizing their presence was intended to listen rather than confront. In their response, the parliamentarians questioned why the minister excluded elected representatives from a civil forum regarding a law affecting national autonomy. They argued that a confident administration should not fear the presence of the opposition.
Concluding their statement, the MEP faction called for full transparency regarding the HOFA legislation. They urged Minister Wever to make his presentation, including all financial figures, arguments, and projections, available to the public. The faction asserted that every citizen has the right to access this information to judge the implications for Aruba’s future.
