HOFA changes remain unclear; response due in September

ORANJESTAD – Aruba and the Netherlands are preparing a joint response to the Council of State’s advice on HOFA. According to Dutch State Secretary Eric van der Burg, the document, known as the nader rapport, is expected to be ready in September.

Noticiacla asked whether the Netherlands is prepared to limit approval by the Kingdom Council of Ministers to the concrete financial standards contained in the Lwho, as recommended by the Council of State to protect Aruba’s autonomy.

Van der Burg was also asked what would change for Aruba if the advice is adopted and whether the emphasis on autonomy partly validates criticism that the original HOFA proposal gave The Hague too much control.

He did not answer those substantive questions directly:

“A joint response by Aruba and the Netherlands to the advice is currently being prepared. This ‘further report’ is expected to be ready in September. It will explain how the countries intend to deal with the Council of State’s advice.”

It therefore remains unclear whether HOFA will be amended and how much authority the Kingdom Council of Ministers would retain.