Aruba Government and AFTA strengthen consumer protection with new protocol

ORANJESTAD – Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs and the Primary Sector Geoffrey Wever has signed a cooperation protocol between the Country of Aruba and the Aruba Fair Trade Authority (AFTA), aimed at strengthening consumer protection and creating a more transparent and efficient market.

The agreement forms part of the implementation of the Landsverordening bestuursrechtelijke handhaving consumentenbescherming, which partially entered into force on March 15, 2026.

Under the new framework, AFTA is responsible for supervising compliance with legal standards related to collective consumer protection, while DEACI handles individual complaints, complaint registration, information, legal advice and mediation.

The protocol establishes clear rules for information exchange, coordination, supervision and the protection of confidential data. This should better connect the handling of individual complaints with broader enforcement when a problem affects multiple consumers.

An important element is Consuloket, the digital consumer portal. AFTA will finance and manage the platform, while DEACI will process consumer reports submitted through the system.

According to Minister Wever, consumer protection is an essential part of economic policy because a strong market requires clear rules, functioning institutions and consumers who understand their rights.

He also stressed that purchasing power is not only about prices, but also about protection and access to reliable information.

AFTA and DEACI will meet at least four times a year to evaluate the cooperation, while the protocol itself will be reviewed annually.

With the agreement, the government aims to create a more modern and reliable market in which consumers are protected, businesses understand the rules and authorities can act more effectively when problems arise.