ARUBA GOVERNMENT

Aruba government is very friendly and established which makes this Caribbean island very safe. Being a member of the Netherlands Antilles which has a hereditary constitutional monarchy, Aruba's governor is appointed by the Queen of the Kingdom. He does not exactly wear the royalty wardrobe consisting of a cape and a crown, but he does act as the sovereign's representative on the island. The governor has a term of six years from the date of appointment.

The Legislature of the Aruba government is a 21-member parliament, holding a four-year term of office and duly elected through popular vote. An elected prime minister heads the Aruba government and receives legislation from the seven-member Council of Ministers, forming the executive power. The judicial powers in the Aruba government is carried out by the common court, the Justice of Aruba, and the Supreme Court of the Netherlands.

The State Constitution was approved on August 9, 1985 but was proclaimed on August 19 using the Dutch language. The translation of the Constitution to Aruba's national language, Papiamento was completed on the same year, but it still hasn't been proclaimed. The Aruba government stated its independence day on the first day of the year 1986. Aruba officially became a sovereign and independent member State of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Aruba used to be a part of the Netherlands Antilles along with five other islands, which are Bonaire, Curacao, St. Maarten, St. Eustatius, and Saba. However, around March 1983, at a Round Table Conference, all partners in the Kingdom which consist of Holland, The Central Government of the Netherlands Antilles, and the governments of each of the islands agreed that Aruba be given separate status within the Kingdom. Hence, January 1, 1986 was the beginning when the Kingdom consisted of three partners: Holland, Aruba, and the five-member islands of the Netherlands Antilles. This means that while Aruba will remain part of the Dutch Kingdom with direct ties with Holland, the Central Government of the Netherlands Antilles will no longer have a say on any of its affairs. The affairs that were formerly handles by the Central Government of the Netherlands Antilles which are now under Aruba government jurisdiction are aviation, customs, immigration, communications and other internal and external matters. Defense and foreign affairs matters are still under the Kingdom's responsibility.

The stability of the Aruba government is evident in its people. Island locals are well-educated, friendly, and generally emit a positive attitude. The Aruba government has been promoting the island as an upscale type, supported by the absence of beggars, street vendors and camp sites. Residents are evidently happy and most enjoy high standards of living. Now you know that when they say "bon bini", they actually mean it!