Parliamentarian Hendrik Tevreden of the MEP faction has characterized the government’s response to rising oil prices as a “50% government.” Tevreden compared Aruba’s measures to those of neighboring Caribbean islands, arguing that the current approach does not sufficiently protect all citizens.
Tevreden noted that while Anguilla absorbed price increases completely and Curaçao froze cooking gas prices, Aruba implemented a “Price Shock” that only partially mitigates costs for car owners. He highlighted that citizens without vehicles bear the full 100% brunt of rising costs, creating visible inequality. The Parliamentarian described the two-month measure as a temporary band-aid lacking a long-term vision.
With the government holding a surplus of 500 million florins, Tevreden argued that the people expected more substantial support. He proposed alternative solutions such as an Emergency Fund, long-term hedging for price stability, and the diversification of import routes to find cheaper goods.
