Minister of Economic Affairs, Geoffrey Wever, expressed his opinion on the concern for the approval of a new hotel project on the island. According to the minister, these developments should never have been authorized due to their negative impacts on the community and the environment.
Balance between development and sustainability
Wever emphasized that the construction of large hotel and tourism projects does not always benefit Aruba’s overall development. While these projects may provide an initial boost to the economy, in the long term, they can create imbalance and problems that affect the quality of life of Arubans. Furthermore, the importation of foreign labor for these projects can have consequences on the local job market and the island’s cultural identity.
Commitment to a balanced approach
The minister also pointed out that his government is committed to a balanced approach that prioritizes both economic development and environmental sustainability. In this sense, he illustrated the importance of promoting projects that are environmentally friendly and contribute to the well-being of the community as a whole.
Limiting hotel growth
In this context, Wever mentioned that the current government shares the view that Aruba has reached a saturation point concerning hotel projects. In the future, approved projects must be sustainable and provide real benefits to the community. Additionally, he indicated that plans are being developed for long-term investment that includes sustainability and economic development aspects.
Minister Wever: “It’s no secret how I feel about our country’s development. I’ve said it on several occasions, in parliament, in press conferences, many times. Today, we have several new hotel projects under construction that, in my opinion, should never have been approved. But previous governments approved these hotels, and now we have to deal with the consequences. Consequences like the RWZI issue, labor market shortages, importing workers, something that is also very close to my heart. In my opinion, all these developments have a negative impact on us, as Arubans, on our Papiamento language, our identity, and other aspects of our community.”
I completely agree with those who say that we have reached a “point of no return.” With the construction of large-scale projects, such as hotel projects, tourism projects, it is no longer to the benefit of Aruba’s overall development. If I am not mistaken, the Minister of Tourism also stands behind this mindset. The Government of Aruba as a whole, stands behind this principle. I say this, in all honesty, the projects under construction should never have been approved, in my personal opinion.”
Relation with the Netherlands and sustainable financing
Wever also illustrated the relationship with the Netherlands and the importance of funds such as those from the European Union to finance projects that accelerate the energy transition and other sustainable initiatives. He gave examples such as the 13 million euros obtained for the E-Government project and the inauguration of Maria Convent, projects that demonstrate Aruba’s ability to manage investments that benefit the entire economy.
Commitment to Aruba’s sustainable future
Finally, the minister reaffirmed that the government of Aruba will continue to work on projects that balance economic development with the preservation of the environment, ensuring a positive and sustainable impact on the island.
