About The Laws

Have you heard about our former minister, Sevinger? It appears he couldn't resist sticking his hand in the cookie jar one too many times, and now he's facing the consequences. He's been convicted of "passive official bribery" and "embezzlement". That's not exactly a merit badge you'd want to earn from the Boy Scouts, is it? But wait, it gets better. The whole case was code-named "Ostrich". What’s that all about? Were they comparing him to an ostrich sticking his head in the sand? It's just too funny. And the cherry on top? US$1.3M from his pal forfeited. You can’t make this up. The verdict was a whopping 50 pages long. I doubt even I could make it through all that legal jargon in one read. No wonder his media and party supporters are downplaying the whole thing and trying to move on. But it also seems that some in his camp might finally have stumbled upon a conscience like a penny on the sidewalk. Better late than never, right? 

I have spared you 50 pages of reading and have condensed the thing into this podcast. Listen and find out what Benny Boy and his buddies did, according to the court.

Join us on "Part 2: Why Aruba Should Consider Reducing Its Reliance on Cruise Ships. Reliance and not Dependence.", as we explore the critical issues facing Aruba's tourism industry. Host Lincoln Gomez invites the community to discuss sustainable and responsible tourism practices, the impact of cruise ships on the local economy and environment, and the future of tourism in Aruba. This series aims to shed light on the challenges and opportunities of building a tourism industry that benefits everyone. So come along for the ride and discover Aruba beyond cruise ships.

In this episode of About The Laws podcast, we discuss the BBO tax on the border and its fairness. The tax will be expanded to cover all goods except for some materials, and an offset mechanism will be used to create a level playing field for importers. Online sales and certain processed goods will also be taxed. The BBO will increase tax compliance, prevent unfair competition, and promote a healthy business climate. Click play to tune in.

Welcome to "About the Laws," a weekly podcast where we dive into critical legal and general topics to keep you informed and up-to-date on everything you need to know. Join your favorite lawyer as we explore fascinating issues that will spark interesting conversations. From the impact of foreign-owned properties on local housing markets to the misuse of subsidies by Airbnb-type businesses in Aruba, we'll cover it all. So please sit back, relax, and let's get started!

Welcome to the latest episode of the About the Laws podcast. In this episode, we will discuss Aruba's real estate market, which has been experiencing a significant boom. The growing demand for alternative accommodations for tourists has led many foreigners to buy properties in Aruba to be exploited as vacation rentals through channels like Airbnb. While this may seem like a positive development for the island's economy, the rise of vacation rentals has significantly impacted the availability of affordable housing in Aruba. This has created a shortage of rental properties on the island, increasing rental costs and making it difficult for many residents to find affordable housing. Today, we'll be exploring the long-term implications of this trend and how it has made it difficult for young local professionals and those working in the tourism industry to afford a house in Aruba. Join us as we dive into vacation rentals' impact on Aruba's real estate market.

#realestate #vacationrentals #Aruba #affordablehousing #podcast #aboutthelaws

The Aruba Pride Foundation recently won a landmark case against the Country of Aruba in the matter of same sex marriages. The Government of Aruba has announced it has filed an appeal with the Supreme Court. In this week’s About The Laws podcast I shed some light on the Supreme Court, its role, its functions and the requirements for a successful appeal. At the end I share my opinion on what I expect the outcome to be. Tune in.

or read about in my blog/LEGAL column: https://www.aboutthelaws.com/equality-is-off-to-the-supreme-court/

In this week’s podcast, I will address whether businesses should make or continue to make political donations or if, as a best practice, they should stop doing this to protect themselves from criminal liability.

Remember that scene in the movie with Jackie Chan and Chris Rock where Chris says to the Chinese detective: “Do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth”? If you did, you saw a great movie. If you haven’t and need a few laughs, look it up. This podcast is not about movie reviews, but when I learned about this next case I am about to share with you, it did remind me of that movie.

#YourFavoriteLawyer

Get ready for the inside scoop on doing business in Aruba! The usual sources tout their "stable government" and "multilingual community" as the reason to invest, but what about the absolute, raw truths? This week, we're ditching the sugarcoated sales pitch and diving into the nitty-gritty details. It's time to peel back the layers and uncover the secrets they don't want you to know. Join me on this eye-opening experience as we explore the true colors of conducting business in Aruba. #YourFavoriteLawyer

A story of unlawful sips

In this week's podcast, I tell a story about a bartender or two that lost their job because they may have had a few "unlawful sips."The bartenders are the ones who know all the cocktails, who always have a good story to tell, a new cocktail to try or know exactly what your “usual drink” is. The one friend when you sit at the end of a bar deep in thought. Discrete enough to give you space yet present enough when to engage you in a casual chat....I end the podcats with a toast to all bartenders.

#YourFavoriteLawyer

Lincoln