Serge Mansur

As many of you know, the board of the ATIA has been working diligently over these past weeks to try to stop the Government from introducing the BBO law in its current form. We have been doing this together with our partners in the commercial sector as well as the trade unions united in the SdU.

We have held numerous meetings and have attended a series of informative gatherings on this topic, including with Government representatives and departments. We have also read a number of reports prepared by a variety of organizations. As a result of these efforts we have been able to conclude that every single independent organization is strongly against the introduction of this law.

Different organizations have different issues and concerns as to the current form of the law, but all these issues are due to the law being prepared without sufficient input from the private (productive) sector, and it being prepared too hastily.

Throughout the years we have made the point over and over that good decisions must be based on good and complete information. As long as the Government refuses to gather such information the decisions it makes will not be up to acceptable standards.

Over the past three days we have met with our partners in the commercial sector, with the trade unions, with the Central Bank, with the Government and even with the Governor of Aruba. These meetings were part of our effort to try to convince the Government not to introduce the BBO law.

On Thursday we sent a letter to the Government asking them to postpone introduction of the law while we try to reach a consensus on this matter. The Government’s answer, as we had feared, was negative.

The Government’s position is basically that it came into being democratically and that everyone back off and allow them to do as they wish. While we do not dispute, even for a moment, the legitimacy of this Government or their ultimate responsibility to make decisions, we feel that they should make an effort to make good decisions, and not just “decisions”.

The Government insists that the private sector come up with comprehensive studies and reports within a matter of days. Naturally, such a request is not realistic. Such a request is also not necessary. Already, the main advisory bodies of our Government have expressed their strong objection to the introduction of this law. The same is true of experts from the private sector, including tax experts and economists. As far as we know, not one single organization, company or individual expert outside of the Government supports this law.

As this Flash is being written (Friday afternoon) a number of trade unions have already announced their respective decisions to go on strike starting this coming Monday. More unions are expected to announce similar decisions as the weekend progresses.

The ATIA, as a representative of the commercial sector is not much inclined to be enthusiastic about such actions. However, considering the concerns we share with these trade unions, we sympathize with their position. We also respect the right of trade unions to express their views as they seem fit.

Naturally, we will not, under any circumstances support or condone any actions which include violence, destruction or intimidation. But as we understand from the unions, neither will they.

We will do our utmost, during the coming days to keep the lines of communication open between all parties, because, in the end, that is the only healthy way to reach agreements and resolve differences.

The Board of the ATIA considers this (obviously important) issue a symptom of the larger problem of an utter lack of good governance on Aruba. As long as there is no parliamentary supervision, as long as our advisory bodies are ignored and as long as the voting public continues to accept mediocrity in Government, these types of problems will recur with ever-increasing frequency.