Amigoe: Prime Minister Oduber: ‘Aruba can do it alone’

Oduber considers Aruba as an independent country, with her own political institution and with an own responsibility for the financial situation of the island. “Aruba does not ask the Netherlands for financial aid. We must do it ourselves.”

In a response from Aruban Prime Minister Nelson Oduber to Aruba’s autonomy under dispute, he states Aruba can do it alone. Looking back on the events of what has transpired in the Natalee Holloway investigation didn’t Aruba basically take the same approach? In retrospect, they were not able to handle the magnitude of the investigation. Or were just were not willing to. That disastrous investigation both in practice and perception has caused a major hardship on the island with the direct drop in tourism coming from it.

One had wished that someone in Aruba had taken “responsibility” when it came to the Natalee Holloway investigation. There are some Aruban citizens that probably feel the same.

“Aruba does not ask the Netherlands for financial aid.”? That may not necessarily be the case. If the tourism keeps going down or continues to stay down, taxes are continually increased, or business owners react to the tax increase one does not know what will occur.

Read the full Amigoe (6/20/06) article below:

ARUBA – Prime Minister Nelson Oduber’s reaction on a statement of the Dutch Minister of Kingdom Relations, Alexander Pechtold (D66) during a press conference of last Thursday was: “Aruba is willing to collaborate with the political changes within the Realm, but Aruba self wants to stay out.”

During the tripartite deliberation in The Hague, Pechtold pointed out a protocol in 1993, in which is stated that Aruba was to set things right financially and governmentally in exchange for abandoning the independency claim.

Oduber says that Pechtold made a tentative suggestion just because CuraÃƒ §ao is also going to get a status aparte. “The protocol that Pechtold is talking about was established via the then Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Ruud Lubbers and Justice-minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin (both CDA, editor). It was never mentioned again.”

Oduber considers Aruba as an independent country, with her own political institution and with an own responsibility for the financial situation of the island. “Aruba does not ask the Netherlands for financial aid. We must do it ourselves.”