Yesterday morning, six ministers of the new AVP-Futuro Cabinet were sworn in, in front of Governor of Aruba His Excellency Mr. Alfonso Boekhoudt. After a very long process of cabinet formation, finally Aruba has a new government.
This follows the previous Wever-Croes II Cabinet, led by ex-prime minister Mrs. Evelyn Wever-Croes.
Upon leaving their swearing in ceremony, the new Cabinet gave statements to the waiting press. Leader of the AVP party and new (again!) Prime Minister, Mike Eman, said it was a very special moment, full of emotion.
“An emotional moment, of taking such a big responsibility again to lead our country in a coalition in which we invested a lot of time to create a base of trust between AVP and Futuro. I feel that the enthusiasm, determination and will to go and serve our community is very big, and particularly on the topics that are important we share thoughts to help those who needs us the most in this moment,” he commented.
At the same time, Eman thanked the people of Aruba for the support and trust that they received, which brought them where they are today. “Trust is earned and you need to work for it every day, be present every day, have an ear for our community, have heart for our community; and this government will be one that will be with the people, that will listen, visit the neighborhoods, feel the needs of our people. We have a lot of confidence that this government will respond to the expectations of the community,” he added.
For her part, leader of Futuro and vice-prime minister, Ms. Gerlien Croes expressed her gratitude for having been part of the special moment. “Thankful for what life brings to us, and I am honored to be sworn in as a minister of the country of Aruba. Really, so much change continuously, but certainly with a lot of will and love to work for Aruba,” she said.
Croes explained that they have already received some dossiers that they needed from the outgoing cabinete, and based on that, work starts right away.
Yesterday afternoon already, Parliament – composed now of almost all ex-ministers of the Wever-Croes II Cabinet – held a session on the budget for the new government for 2025. Croes said that this is to comply with an agreement with the Netherlands on this, which means that Aruba had to complete the budget by the 31st of March.
For their part, the departing ministers from the Wever-Croes II Cabinet shared images and heart-felt comments on social media of their last moments in office. Among them, ex-prime minister Wever-Croes shared a visit she paid to ex-minister of Transport, Ursell Arends on their last day. Ex-minister of Tourism, Dangui Oduber also shared an image leaving his office, while ex-minister of Justice, Rocco Tjon and ex-minister of Finance, Xiomara Maduro, shared images of the handover process to their successors, Mervin Wyatt-Ras and Geoffrey Wever, respectively.
CAPTIONS FOR PICS
1 – Newly sworn-in AVP-Futuro Cabinet
2 – Youngest minister, Wendrick Cicilia of Tourism, Transport and Labor (AVP), gives comments to the press after being sworn in.
3 – Ex-minister of Justice, Rocco Tjon handing over duties to new minister Mervin Wyatt Ras.
4 – Ex-minister of Finance, Xiomara Maduro with her successor, Geoffrey Wever.
5 – Ex-minister of Tourism, Dangui Oduber leaving office on the last day.
6 – Ex-minister of Transport, Ursell Arends talking to his successor, Wendrick Cicilia.
7 – Ex-prime minister Evelyn Wever-Croes pays a visit to ex-minister Ursell Arends and his team on their last day.
