Protesters demand the government to step down
A few thousand people walked over the Boulevard to the chanting of slogans against the government.
ARUBA – To the tune of loud jeers and the slogans baha (step down) and revoca (revoke) of thousands of protesters, Prime Minister Nelson Oduber accepted a manifesto last Thursday evening. In that manifesto, the social partners demand the government to revoke the increase of the import taxes that went into effect on June 1st last, and deliberate with them on the tackling of the financial problems. Oduber’s reaction was just a danki (thanks), but didn’t indulge. He continued to hold to the measures, but did agree to a meeting.
When Oduber came outside to accept the manifesto from union-leader Rudy Geerman, he was accompanied by Finance-minister Nilo Swaen, Tourism-minister Edison Briesen, and Public health-minister Booshi Wever. Oduber said that his democratic elected government had decided on the challenged measures to solve the financial problems. He said that the measures were necessary and that his government had no intensions to walk away from the problems. Geerman told the premier that he wants to sit and talk with him that same evening if necessary, but the subject of the import taxes must be on the agenda. Oduber’s answer was that he will meet with the unions on Monday at noon to talk about an agenda, but that he refused to be forced to deliberate.
The message of the protesters was bipartite: one part wants the government to step down and all the protesters want the measures be revoked.
Police-spokesman Papito Comenencia couldn’t tell how many people were in the manifestation. At the end he said that everything went smooth and orderly. The police have talked to the leaders of the manifestation and told them to make sure that everything goes well. Only the government had caused unrest by instituting a lawsuit against the police union SPA that was supposed to be down for hearing during the demonstration. Shortly after SPA-chairman Eric Zaandam has received the citation, he also received the notice that the government had abandoned the case.
Not everybody assembled at the Juliana School. Some decided to wait for the others in the vicinity of the government’s office. A 70-year old retired employee of DOW said that Aruba is deteriorating due to bad leadership of Nelson Oduber. This has to stop.
A supporter of the MEP that works in a hotel admitted that he understands the reason for the action. “The government was better off giving more information and openness of business. People do not understand the standpoint of the government. If the people knew more, there would have been more understanding. He said that the influence on the increased import taxes is already noticeable. Just go take a look in the supermarkets. The prices have already increased, but that is not possible, because the products on the shelves are from before the import tax increase; even the prices of products which expiration dates are almost expired have increased. The supermarket-owners have adjusted the prices too soon. That’s theft!”
Also other protesters said that the government had not deliberated with the social partners in order to come to a structural solution for the government deficits. He measures were taken unilaterally.
Also MPA-leader Monica Kock and her fellow party members and Andin Bikker of DR took part in the manifestation, but in a private capacity.
Many groups were recognizable by their clothing, like members of the SPA (t-shirts with police on it), teachers (with white polo shirts) , management and employees of Garage Cordia (red shirts), and others that took part in the manifestation that the AVP organized, were wearing the same t-shirt with No mas medida that they wore then.
A sound truck went in front of the crowd, followed by union leaders, committee-members of the Chamber of Commerce, and ATIA. The parade had a cheerful aspect with all the flags that the protesters were waving, but there were hardly any spectators along the road. Due to the pushing incident of last week, the police decided to block off the boulevard in front of the government’s office.
ATIA has co-signed the manifesto. Chairman Edwin Roos called the attendance a wake-up call for the government. Vice-chairman Juan Yrausquin said that the manifestation was not political, but organized by the commercial sector. He emphasized again that ATIA would love to sit down and talk with the government about the measures. “We still see other solutions.” Yrausquin had heard that the government wants to meet on Monday. He considers this as a strategy to avoid further protests on Friday. He said that he is not aware of the contents of further protests.
http://www.amigoe.com/english/