Frans Ponson of the General Store, and Francis Saladin of Frasa International Trading NV, formed a new merchant association a while ago.
Then the pandemic interrupted.
They are now back on the scene and hosted their first business networking event at Harbour House in Oranjestad on the lovely pool deck, with wine and beer courtesy of Aruba Trading Company, sound by Elite Production & Entertainment. They even had a guest speaker from AAA, Shensly Tromp, Director of Development & Technology to talk about the back-on-track, Gateway 2030, the multi-million dollar expansion project of the airport.
The well-attended gathering introduced an APP, easily downloaded via the QR code on display, that would tie all members together. Aki no tin red tape, Ponson declared, here we talk to each other directly.
(C.U.A. Comerciantenan Uni Aruba in the APP store)
CUA was created as a form of grassroot protest, when GOA decided to bundle all taxes, namely, BBO/BAZV and BAVP, into the total price on the bottom of the consumer receipt. The merchants then sent a collective petition, July 4th, 2019, to MinFec, asking her to reconsider and postpone the implementation of that ruling until such time when the complete upcoming tax reform was revealed.
They wanted to keep the BBO / BAZV / BAVP on the receipt, until then, for the sake of transparency.
You know what happened.
No one listened to them. Their requests were ignored.
So, they decided by become more vocal, organize, talk to the press, until GOA was willing to actually read the formal petition, but remained totally unprepared to take any suggestion into consideration.
Normally, explainss Saladin, commerce would be organized under ATIA the Aruba Trade & Industry Association, the so called “leading advocacy organization representing the interests of the Aruban businesses and providing a range of services to its members, since June 18th, 1945.”
But somewhere along these years ATIA fell asleep or lost its edge and Ponson & Saladin decided on an alternative, CUA, which in Papiamento stands for United Merchants Aruba, representing more than 10 thousand locals.
Last year, they bit the bullet and registered a legal entity, creating an APP and a platform on which merchants can communicate, apparently many are afraid to speak up for fear any protest would hurt their business and that retaliation will reward open criticism.
On the CUA APP, merchants are sheltered, encouraged to conduct more dialogue and take more action.
Especially in view of the upcoming tax reform promoted by the Dutch and agreed upon by GOA, a total switch, and CUA is asking to have a voice in the process, and see a broader representation of trade in the decision making.
Excessive taxation, they say, is affecting the cost of doing businesses negatively and further diminishes the buying power of the consumer. It also creates deep uncertainty among consumers.
CUA wants to be better informed, contribute to economic decisions, seek transparency, and accountability, help diversify the economy, and adjust labor laws, as well as taxation. Via its APP it now can solicit direct input from members and reach effective recommendations based on consensus.
Who can download the APP and register?
Small, medium and large companies, no multinational, no government entities. If the company is foreign held, by an expat, for example, it must be in Aruba for at least five years.
Aki no tin red tape, aki tin contacto directo y accion inmediato!
Randell Croes, cofounder CUA and treasurer of the Board, who put together the first version of the bylaws, and drafted the House Rules writes: We have been active from the start; we urged GOA to sign with the Netherlands and get loans and help with fiscal discipline, we also posted videos encouraging people to mask up to protect our economy, later our videos promoted vaccination as a mean of overcoming the pandemic. I wear multiple hats in commerce and am familiar with all issues as director of an Insurance company, as well as owner and technical supervisor, after 5pm, on weekend and vacation days, of the nitrogen gas factory in the refinery, Tower Consulting, besides co-ownership and board membership at Talk of the Town Hotel since 2003. I am also familiar with issues facing non-profits as the volunteer President of the Foundation of Protestant Education (SPCOA) since 2015. May God give us the wisdom and energy to continue, because all aspects of doing business on Aruba require reform and renovation.
