During a public parliamentary session on Tuesday morning, AVP Member of Parliament Carlos Bermudez delivered a clear and constructive presentation aimed at informing the people of Aruba with transparency and optimism regarding the Rijkswet Houdbare Overheidsfinanciën Aruba (HOFA) process — the proposed Kingdom law on sustainable public finances.
Bermudez clarified that the current discussion is not about accepting or rejecting the Rijkswet, but rather about analyzing the ongoing process. “Today is not the day for a final decision,” he emphasized. “We must wait for the advice of the Raad van Advies of Aruba and the Raad van State of the Netherlands before Parliament can take a final position.”
He reminded the public that on June 4, 2024, the former Prime Minister signed a Bestuurlijk Akkoord (Administrative Agreement) between Aruba and the Netherlands — a formal commitment to create a new legal framework, including a Rijkswet.
“When you sign such an agreement, you bind yourself,” Bermudez said. “The text clearly states that both governments committed to drafting the law and promoting its parliamentary approval.”
Bermudez pointed out that during the pandemic, the previous government accepted Dutch financial aid as the only survival option. However, by 2024, when the economy was recovering, that same government chose to negotiate with the Dutch — the very people they had previously called ‘pirates.’ “If you call someone a pirate, but you sit with them to negotiate 90% of a Rijkswet, that’s political hypocrisy,” he added.
The AVP parliamentarian stressed that governance is a continuation, and the current government inherited a process that was already 90% completed under the previous administration. “That’s the reality — this is not a new invention but a continuation of what was initiated before. The same professionals are working to finalize the consensus document,” he said.
Bermudez urged the public not to be misled. “This Rijkswet process began under the former government. Don’t fall for political manipulation — look at what was actually signed in 2024. Our relationship with the Netherlands must remain serious, based on respect, trust, and maturity,” he concluded.
Aruba must stand firm — not through political noise, but through transparency, maturity, and institutional respect.
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