Our entire community has the right and duty to participate. Differences of opinion can always exist and is even healthy in any discussion, as long as the opinion is heard and respected. This does not mean that we should accept opinion, but there should be space to air opposed opinions, otherwise we will fall into the same decadence as the countries around us and may even be dangerous for our democracy.
Business associations and any other organizations in Aruba have the right undoubtedly, but they also have a responsibility, like the government, to open the avenues of dialogue for the benefit of our community. Unfortunately, we see that in these times of greatest challenges that our country is facing, there is not any person, body or institution that stands up and leads the efforts to unite the people behind an only goal for the welfare of the country.
The government should understand that the respect you create when you provide this to those who have a difference of opinion without attacking and trying to silence the opposing opinion. On the other hand, the associations and institutions in our community must also realize the strength they have as organizations that can stand for a difference if they are truly united behind an open-minded thinking to the arguments of a government in turn.
These two forces, united behind a national goal, will create a respect of any international organization and even the government of the Netherlands. A respect that has unfortunately been lost purely because of the differences and lack of internal communication to face these challenges of Aruba. This force behind the unity of the country will be achieved only if there is a leader who is willing to put aside all personal, partisan or individual organization interests and take the general welfare of the country and align all organizations behind this common goal.
Former Minister Otmar Oduber concluded with a call once again to all political parties inside and outside of the parliament, to business associations and trade unions, to individual institutions in our community and naturally the government, to unite and realize that the challenges we face today, will not be overcome if we continue with the traditional attitude. The attitude of attacking and trying to score on each other. The Netherlands is a champion in this, they are masters in “Divide and Conquer”, divide our community here in Aruba and thus make decisions for us in The Hague.
Let’s use this opportunity to put aside our differences for many other discussions that we can then continue to discuss on them and focus on a national summit on this specific challenge of our public finances and public spending cuts. Our people deserve and have an urgent need for relief in the quality and cost of living. And the time is NOW.
