ORANJESTAD, Aruba – The Raad van Advies Aruba Annual Report 2025 was officially submitted recently to the Governor of Aruba and the Prime Minister. The presentation was made by the President of the Council of Advice, Mr. D.G. Kock, together with the Secretary, Mr. A. Braamkamp.
As is customary each year, the Raad van Advies Aruba Annual Report 2025 provides a transparent and comprehensive overview of the Council’s responsibilities, activities, and advisory work carried out over the past year. The report also includes a summary of the recommendations issued during 2025, as well as the contributions of its Scientific Bureau.
In his introductory remarks, the President highlighted that 2025 was a historic year in several respects. He referred to the notably lower number of draft laws submitted during the year. At the same time, he pointed out that several legislative proposals previously identified as priorities remain stalled within the legislative process or have faced long delays before implementation.
Reflecting on 40 years of Status Aparte, the Raad van Advies Aruba Annual Report 2025 expresses concern about these legislative delays. According to the Council, such developments may impact the credibility and effectiveness of Aruba’s legislative system.
One of the most debated topics during 2025 was budget supervision (begrotingstoezicht). For this reason, the Council dedicated special attention to this matter within the Raad van Advies Aruba Annual Report 2025. The discussion was approached from the Council’s institutional perspective, even though proposed legislation — including a draft Kingdom Act and a draft national ordinance — has not yet been formally submitted to the Council for advice.
Through the selected theme of the report, the Council aims to contribute to a constructive and balanced national discussion. The intention is to present structured points that may assist policymakers and stakeholders in reaching well-considered decisions, always keeping the national interest of Aruba at the forefront.
The report also encourages open and content-driven dialogue, particularly within the broader national reflection surrounding 40 years of Status Aparte. As Aruba approaches its jubilee year in 2026, the Council considers this an appropriate moment to evaluate whether, after four decades of autonomous status, the rule of law and democratic foundations are sufficiently anchored in Aruba’s constitutional and social reality.
The full Raad van Advies Aruba Annual Report 2025 is available to the public on the official website of the Council of Advice at www.rva.aw.
