THE HAGUE–Aruba Prime Minister Evelyn Wever-Croes on Wednesday met with the Permanent Committee for Kingdom Relations of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament.

This was the first meeting of the prime minister since her arrival in the Netherlands that same morning. During the meeting Wever-Croes used the opportunity to discuss Aruba’s financial situation and the objections of the Aruba government to an instruction by the Kingdom Council of Ministers.

The prime minister, who had requested the meeting with the Second Chamber, provided documents with figures. Other topics discussed during the meeting included the effects of the Venezuela crisis on Aruba, integrity within government and the oil refinery.

Member of the Second Chamber André Bosman of the liberal democratic VVD party said after Wednesday’s meeting that he was worried about the sustainable budget discipline of the Aruba government.

Bosman said he was disappointed that the 2020 budget had not been submitted on time. He said he would also like to see multi-annual figures to put things in perspective, to see structural revenue being generated. He expressed concerns about the lack of tax measures and the insufficient collection of taxes.

Other Members of the Second Chamber who were present at the meeting with Wever-Croes were: Chairman of the Committee for Kingdom Relations Jan Paternotte (Democratic Party D66), Ronald van Raak (Socialist Party SP), Antje Diertens (D66), Attje Kuiken (Labour Party PvdA) and Roelof Bisschop (Christian Party SGP).

Wever-Croes had several other meetings on Thursday in anticipation of the meeting of the Kingdom Council of Ministers today, Friday, when the issuing of an instruction to Aruba is on the agenda. The Aruba government is vehemently objecting to an instruction, which is considered unjust and unnecessary.

Bron: Daily Herald