Pieters(PPA): “ATA should not become the government's bank”

ORANJESTAD – PPA parliamentarian Eduard Pieters has criticized the government's decision to use Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA) funds for waste management, arguing that a worthwhile objective should not override the law or weaken parliamentary oversight.

Pieters warned that allowing ATA funds to finance projects outside the organization's original mandate could effectively turn the agency into the government's "bank" for public spending.

He also questioned the planned use of Afl. 16 million, saying Parliament has not yet received sufficient information on how the money will be spent and stressing that Parliament is responsible for overseeing public finances.

In addition, Pieters argued that the public procurement process required by law was not fully followed, claiming that several interested companies were denied an equal opportunity to compete for the contract.

The PPA says it will continue to scrutinize decisions involving transparency, legality and the use of public funds.