On different occasions the prime minister has informed the press and the community about their continuous talks with The Netherlands regarding the debt issues. The minister has no specific argument on the topic.
Wever-Croes indicated that they had reached an agreement on the terms of the debt repayment in April 2022, but that this was moved 18 months to October 2023. Before this date, the government needs to have a payment plan. Aruba within the Dutch Caribbean Kingdom is the only nation to insist on opening talks on the topic. According to Wever-Croes, she believes that the Dutch will open the discussion with Curacao and St. Maarten as well.
Aruba is on the same boat as the other countries and depends on their development as well. The minister of finances announced that they were working on a memorandum of a new financial economy which will stipulate the trajectory to leave the crisis behind. The government will have to figure out how they will pay back the debt within this new plan.
The government’s point of view is that early on, the idea of a forgiveness or donation would help Aruba enormously. At the time, the Dutch has indicated that Aruba had to progress more in the areas of reform before talks about forgiveness could commence.
The theme remains on the table for the government because if the Dutch can forgive or donate to other countries in Europe, Wever-Croes believes that Aruba should also have the right to receive this. Within this context, meetings have been planned with the United Nations. A general assembly is planned this month and this will be one of the points that Aruba will bring across. The United Nations begs other nations to allow smaller nations like Aruba and other ‘Small Island Development States’, to convert the loans into grants such as subsidies.
With regards to the memorandum of finance, the minister of finances will sign this on Monday and will be completed within six weeks. According to the Prime Minister, the government will have a better understanding by the end of October. By the end of November, it will be announced exactly in detail. The minister explained that just as with the first FEM, as soon as this is signed, it will be published. Naturally, the parliament and other stakeholders will be involved prior to its publishment.
