Wever rejects broken-promise criticism: “We reduced excise duty on gasoline and diesel”

ORANJESTAD – During a recent edition of Noticiacla LIVE, journalist Tito Laclé confronted Finance Minister Geoffrey Wever over one of the criticisms still surrounding the government: that both AVP and FUTURO promised during the election campaign to reduce the burden of gasoline and diesel prices, but that consumers have yet to feel that promise has truly been delivered.

Laclé challenged the minister on whether the government can genuinely claim it fulfilled that pledge while fuel remains a significant expense for Aruban households.

Wever rejected the suggestion that the government failed to act. According to the minister, FUTURO committed from the outset to reducing the tax burden on fuel, and the government moved to lower excise duties when preparing its first budget.

“When we prepared and approved the first budget, we immediately looked for a way to include a reduction in excise duty on gasoline and diesel. That reduction applies to every liter.”

Wever said that on that specific commitment, the government had delivered.

“On that point, we fulfilled what we promised: reducing excise duty on gasoline and diesel.”

Laclé’s challenge, however, highlighted an important distinction between lowering taxes and lowering the final price at the pump. A reduction in excise duties provides fiscal relief, but consumers ultimately judge the promise by what they actually pay per liter.

Wever added that the government went further when the conflict involving Iran increased pressure on international fuel prices. According to him, the Cabinet searched for additional room in the budget to cushion the impact.

“In the end, we managed to allocate 10 million florins to continue mitigating the impact on gasoline and diesel prices.”

For that reason, Wever rejected the argument that the government had done nothing or had broken its pledge.

“I do not agree with the claim that the government did nothing or failed to fulfill its promise.”

The exchange on Noticiacla LIVE ultimately raised a broader question: when can a promise to lower fuel prices be considered fulfilled? For Wever, the reduction in excise duties and the Afl. 10 million intervention demonstrate that the government acted. For consumers, the test is likely more straightforward: how much less they actually pay at the pump.

The debate, therefore, is not merely about whether measures were taken, but whether those measures match the expectations created during the election campaign.