As was announced last week, the unions SPA, SEPPA, SADA, and SIMAR together with the OPPA organization, organized a silent protest to demonstrate their frustration with the situation of Aruba at the time. With the protest, they are demonstrating that they will not sit back arms crossed while the Wever-Croes cabinet imposes more measures.
In the words of Josephine Albertus, president of SIMAR, “they are taking to the streets because if you stay home, if you stay quiet, tomorrow nothing will change because you are sending the message that you are once again conforming to their policies.” She added that it is a shame to see the public suffer the way they are with families that are unable to afford food.
On the other hand, the OPPA organization also protested in support of the retirees who have taken a “hit to their wallets.” Francis Figaroa of OPPA, mentioned that OPPA members manifested their hardship during this time, and are seeking attention for the different topics such as their ‘christmas bonus’ and also ‘indexation.’
On behalf of the SPA union, Rodney Solognier, president of the union also expressed that the Police Corps is demotivated by their continuous work throughout the pandemic without receiving back pay.
