ORANJESTAD, ARUBA - Former Infrastructure Minister Otmar Oduber, now leader of the Partido Patriotico Arubano (PPA), will participate in the Dec. 6, 2024 elections despite serious allegations of corruption in the "Flamingo" investigation. His candidacy is drawing much criticism as he faces legal challenges over allegations of bribery, document forgery and abuse of power.
The Flamingo case, launched in 2019, revolves around allegations that Oduber used his position as minister from 2017 to 2019 to secure government land deals for personal and political gain. Prosecutors accuse him of taking bribes and manipulating official records to favor certain business interests. The scandal has implicated several close associates of Oduber, including his son Jeandrick and political aide Aisha Esser, both of whom were detained in connection with the case. Another person involved, Humphrey "Fito" Croes, paid a hefty fine in 2023 to settle his role in the case.
An additional complication in the case is that Oduber's name appears in the ICIJ Offshore Leaks Database, raising questions about possibly offshore accounts that were used to manage funds related to these alleged illegal activities. While offshore holdings are not illegal per se, the timing and context of these accounts raises suspicions that undisclosed financial transactions may have occurred. Oduber has not publicly responded to these offshore disclosures.
Oduber's political career has been turbulent. Formerly a member of the AVP, he broke away to form POR (Pueblo Orguyoso y Respeta) with others. After a separate scandal that led to the fall of the Weaver-Croes administration in 2021, Oduber made the move to the PPA, where he now leads the party's election campaign. His leadership has made PPA a prominent candidate, but the party's credibility is in question because of Oduber's legal problems.
Despite the controversies, Oduber is campaigning with a program focused on reform and integrity. He has declared his innocence and asked that his trial, which begins Nov. 18, be broadcast live to show his side of the story. His defense argues that transparency in the proceedings will reveal the flaws in the charges. Many Arubans, however, question how a candidate with such serious charges can credibly pledge to commit to ethical leadership.
The Flamingo investigation is part of a broader anti-corruption initiative in Aruba, parallel to the "Avestruz" case targeting former Minister Benny Sevinger. These concurrent cases highlight a disturbing trend of alleged misconduct among Aruba's political elite. Multiple raids on homes and offices of key figures have yielded documents and electronic data that are now central to the charges against Oduber and his associates.
Oduber's leadership of the PPA while on trial is a crucial test of Aruba's commitment to transparency and accountability. While PPA supporters believe Oduber's experience can bring needed reforms, critics argue that his ongoing legal issues should bar him from public office. This crucial election will likely shape Aruba's political future, testing voter confidence in a candidate under investigation for alleged abuse of power, and setting a precedent for how Aruba handles integrity in public office.
