The MinEd executed a classic maneuver this week. He gave an interview to a newspaper in Curacao, in which he shared some interesting personal details, that might have caused a hoopla here, but since the information came in second-hand via Curacao, it did not raise an eyebrow. Kudos to Dr. Rudy Lampe.
The Curacao newspaper reported that the MinEd, a former priest who was defrocked because of his political activities, had just entered a registered partnership with a Mexican national – the interview was carefully worded, not to reveal the male or female gender of the significant other — and that he will be starting a new life, living with a partner, abandoning the remains of his Catholic priesthood days.
In the event that the loved one is a female, the MinEd could have opted for marriage, but as a political statement, and in support of many who do not enjoy the freedom to get married in our society, the politician made an exceptional move, and should be commended for standing by his party’s principles and supporting equal rights.
If you recall, the registered partnership was passed in our parliament as an amendment to the civil code, but it was never put into action for fear of voters’ retaliation; one of the parliamentarians who voted pro, later came out with statements against.
But anyway, the MinEd forfeited his right to get married, in order to show solidarity for those who can’t.
In the event that the loved one is male, the amendment to the Civil Code here states that partners of the same sex have the right to legally register their union, making Aruba the first country in the Caribbean to allow that legally binding arrangement.
Among residents of European orientation, registered partnership is a big favorite, as an alternative to the old fashioned marriage institute.
Question: Having entered into a registered partnership, will the MinEd manage to obtain a residence permit for his partner? I am not sure. He will probably have to commute and split himself in two.
I recently reported on a lamentable case in which a house doctor, a physician employed by the local health insurance provider was forced to leave the island because her registered partner did not qualify for residence papers.
The fight continues…
To refresh your memory: Dr. Rudy Lampe, Pader Lampe at the time, participated in elections for the first time in 2005 landing a record number of 2,334 votes in support of his progressive ideas which ushered him into Parliament. In 2009, he suffered a loss of many votes but still managed to secure 1,360. The downward spiral continued in 2013, resulting in just 613 votes. In between election-defeats he strategically stayed away, working as a university teacher abroad preparing for better things to come. Some of my friends insist he was politically ostracized and couldn’t find employment on the island. In this year’s election, the party he founded enjoyed a resurgence and in a surprise move, candidate Ricardo Croes, with 3,359 votes to his name, became eligible for a ministerial position which he gave up in favor of Dr. Rudy Lampe, who then became our MinEd — though he only secured 455 personal votes this time. Life is full of surprises, twists and turns.
