Member of Parliament Dangui Oduber has raised serious concerns in Aruba’s Parliament regarding the lack of fiscal relief for small businesses and the middle class outside Oranjestad and San Nicolas.
During a parliamentary session, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Geoffrey Wever presented the government’s new fiscal incentive plans aimed at stimulating development in Oranjestad and San Nicolas. While Oduber stated that there is no objection to these incentives, he questioned when similar relief would be extended to small and medium-sized businesses in other districts across Aruba.
Oduber asked Minister Wever when entrepreneurs in areas such as Pos Chiquito, Savaneta, Brazil, Piedra Plat, Santa Cruz, Paradera, Tanki Flip, Tanki Leendert, and Noord could expect meaningful tax relief—specifically, incentives such as a ten-year exemption from profit tax. According to Oduber, business owners across the island, regardless of size, are struggling and deserve equal support.
He emphasized that Aruba is currently facing an explosive situation due to the rising cost of living and declining purchasing power. Prices continue to increase daily, and residents feel there is no longer any financial breathing room. “One hundred florins today feels like ten florins,” Oduber stated.
He criticized the AVP-Futuro government for increasing costs instead of easing the burden on citizens, pointing to price hikes in gas, gasoline, diesel, and bread. These increases, he said, have drastically reduced purchasing power.
Oduber cited data from the Central Bank of Aruba, which shows that 88% of survey respondents reported a significant decline in their purchasing power over the past eleven months. The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) has also reported an increase in the minimum cost of living, forcing families to spend more just to survive. Many residents are now working two jobs, yet still struggling to make ends meet, while the Central Bank has warned that Aruba’s middle class is shrinking.
Oduber also questioned the government’s position that Aruba is experiencing deflation rather than inflation, calling this claim disconnected from the daily reality faced by citizens.
While acknowledging that pensioners received a 400-florin increase—something he supports—Oduber argued that the government has neglected the middle class, minimum-wage earners, and small business owners. He contrasted this with previous policies that included tax reductions benefiting over 35,000 people.
He concluded by urging the government to take concrete action to improve purchasing power and provide fiscal relief to the middle class and small entrepreneurs, describing them as the backbone of Aruba’s economy.
“Supporting pensioners is important,” Oduber said, “but we must not forget the working families, small business owners, and middle-income earners who are carrying this country forward.
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