Oduber:The Aruban government has a duty to combat socially exclusion due to discrimination

According to Aruban Prime Minister Nelson Oduber, the Aruban government has a duty to combat social discrimination as he spoke with members of the COC and the  National Bureau for Combating Race-discrimination in the Netherlands.

PM Oduber, you may want to start with the situation where  two black security guards   were arrested initially in the Natalee Holloway disappearance. Their arrest and search of their homes was quite different that that of Joran Van der Sloot.  Discrimination refers to many, not just homosexuals.

ORANJESTAD – The government has a duty to combat socially exclusion due to discrimination, indicated Prime Minister Nelson Oduber (MEP) during a conversation with representatives of COC , the Dutch association for homosexuals.   The cabinet will also be positive with her plans to make homosexuality debatable amongst the population.    

According to Van Dalen, the image that the social climate in Aruba is one that suppresses and ignores is correct.   “That’s different than tolerate and accept.”   He says that a few matters need preference: relief for persons that are being excluded by their family or social environment due to their nature; take actions to break the taboo; and make sure there is information available.  

Exclusion due to combating discrimination, Amigoe June 14, 2007

Satisfied faces after the conversation with Prime Minister Nelson Oduber.   From left to right: Pascal Maas and Frank van Dalen of the COC and Hubert Fermina of the National Bureau for Combating Race-discrimination in the Netherlands .

ORANJESTAD – The government has a duty to combat socially exclusion due to discrimination, indicated Prime Minister Nelson Oduber (MEP) during a conversation with representatives of COC , the Dutch association for homosexuals.   The cabinet will also be positive with her plans to make homosexuality debatable amongst the population.    

The COC says that the conversation with the premier was open and constructive and it lasted for over an hour.   During that conversation, the premier indicated that the government is for the entire population and that it is her duty to support the minorities in order to take full part in the society.   “Everybody has the right to be him/herself.”    

At the end of the conversation, Frank van Dalen and Pascal van der Maas, respectively chairman and director of the Dutch organization,   said that they are pleased with the premier’s promise, and that they will remind him of his promise.

Van Dalen returns to Aruba in August to evaluate what was realized in the two month he has been in the Netherlands .    

The local foundation ALFA will soon come up with a plan to improve the position of the homosexual Aruban citizens and to make homosexuality debatable on the island.   If necessary, the COC will help ALFA with this plan.  

After the conversation with Oduber, Van Dalen said that he will be here mainly to see and hear what the needs are.   “That didn’t happen just like that.   We have experienced the problems the people from Aruba and the Antilles had to endure with the acceptance of their homosexuality or by not being accepted by their environment.”    

According to Van Dalen, the image that the social climate in Aruba is one that suppresses and ignores is correct.   “That’s different than tolerate and accept.”   He says that a few matters need preference: relief for persons that are being excluded by their family or social environment due to their nature; take actions to break the taboo; and make sure there is information available.  

Van Dalen hopes that next time he is in Aruba , he can make definite arrangements with Education-minister Marisol Tromp (MEP).   “It is clear that homosexuality is still a taboo here, with the consequence that people cannot be themselves and have to lead a secret existence.