Analysis: Why can't Aruba achieve Singapore's level of discipline?

By Tito Laclé

Wherever you go in Aruba today, one problem has become impossible to ignore: litter or the Papiamento word: Sushi. Not the food delicacy sushi—no. Let me use the government's new label for it instead: waste. Along our roads, in parking lots, on our beaches, in the countryside and even in our neighborhoods, litter has become part of Aruba's landscape.

For years, the government, DOW and various organizations have launched cleanup campaigns, installed trash bins across the island and urged the public to help keep Aruba clean. Yet very little has changed. That raises a legitimate question: Why has an island like Singapore—roughly four times the size of Aruba—managed to become one of the cleanest and most disciplined places in the world, while Aruba continues to struggle with the same problem?

The answer is not that Singapore has more trash bins or more public awareness campaigns. Its success lies in a combination of laws that are enforced every single day, a government that makes no exceptions, and a society that understands that the rules apply to everyone.

In Singapore, if someone throws litter onto the street, that person knows there is a very real chance of receiving a substantial fine. More importantly, they know that fine will actually be collected. There is no "let it slide," no "I know someone," and no "just this once." Rules are rules.

In Aruba, the reality is often quite different. Laws exist to protect the environment and keep the island clean, but they are not always enforced consistently. When people see others throwing litter without facing any consequences, they begin to believe there is nothing wrong with doing the same. Gradually, bad habits become accepted as "normal."

Education also plays a crucial role. Looking again at Singapore, discipline begins at home and in school. Children are taught from an early age that they have a personal responsibility to care for the place where they live. But those lessons are not based on words alone. They are reinforced by clear laws, consistent enforcement and real consequences when the rules are broken.

Schools in Aruba also teach children not to litter. But when a child leaves school and sees adults throwing bottles, bags or food wrappers onto the street without anything happening, the message taught in the classroom quickly loses much of its impact.

There is another important difference. In Singapore, people are unlikely to ignore someone damaging public spaces. Social pressure is strong. In Aruba, however, many people prefer to look the other way rather than confront someone. As a result, unacceptable behavior often continues without anyone stepping in.

This does not mean Aruba should copy everything Singapore does. The two countries have different cultures, political systems and legal frameworks. But there are valuable lessons to learn. Rules must be clear, they must apply equally to everyone and, above all, they must be enforced every single day.

Technology can also help. More surveillance cameras, more inspectors and an effective system for monitoring violations could significantly increase the likelihood that those who break the rules are held accountable. When people know there is a genuine chance they will be called to account, behavior often changes.

Ultimately, however, the solution does not rest solely with the government. A clean island is not created by a ministry, a department director or an annual cleanup campaign. It is created by citizens who take pride in the place they call home. If we do not respect our own island, no law will ever be enough to solve the problem.

Aruba has every opportunity to become a cleaner and more disciplined island. What we lack is not the ability—it is the determination. Until we leave behind the culture of "let it slide" and accept that the rules apply equally to everyone, we will continue to see litter on our streets and continue asking why other countries can succeed while we cannot.

Real change will not begin in Parliament. It begins with each and every one of us.

C'est la vie!