Director
Ernesto Kross is the Director of the AFTA and is responsible for the day‑to‑day management of the Bureau. He studied computer science and organizational sciences in Utrecht, worked as a programmer and as a manager in the insurance sector, and led the Aruba branch of the Joint Court of Justice for eight years. As Director, he guides the team in a complex and evolving work environment in which both the organization and its supervisory role are continuously developing. Ernesto considers it important to nurture talent within the team and to strengthen internal collaboration.

Senior Researcher
Carondina Leijdekkers studied Fiscal Economics at the University of Amsterdam and also holds a Post-Master in EU Customs Law. Before joining the AFTA, she worked as a customs inspector at the Departamento di Aduana. Subsequently, as a member of the implementation team, she was part of the process that led to the establishment of the AFTA. Within the AFTA, Carondina is involved in supervision and enforcement tasks, where she combines her legal expertise with her fiscal-economic background. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.

Senior Researcher
Amanda Maduro studied law at the University of Aruba and, since 1 January 2024, has been a Senior Researcher and designated supervisory authority at the Aruba Fair Trade Authority (AFTA). She specializes in competition law and consumer protection. During the implementation phase, she played a key role in the establishment of AFTA. From 2014 through 2022, Amanda worked as a legal officer with the authority responsible for oversight of rental and consumer affairs. During that period, she gained extensive experience in consumer protection, policy development, and providing legal advice and mediation in complex disputes. In her current role, the focus is on the legal assessment of competition and consumer protection matters. In doing so, she translates complex factual and market analyses into legally sound and enforceable decision-making. In her free time, she enjoys contributing to sports and social projects and especially values spending time with her family.

Senior Researcher
Viviana Bermudez holds an MSc in Business Administration in Global Business & Stakeholder Management. Before joining the AFTA, she worked as a pension manager at the largest pension fund of Aruba. Within the AFTA, Viviana is involved in market studies and various issues in the field of consumer protection. Her analytical background and practical experience enable her to translate complex market problems into concrete insights and solution directions. Viviana appreciates the professional and flexible work culture of the AFTA and sees her role as an opportunity to actively contribute to fair and transparent markets in Aruba. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family. In addition, she can regularly be found at the swimming pool as a volunteer and proud swim mother, and she relaxes by traveling, reading and watching films and series.

Senior Researcher
Lorraine Tromp is an experienced economist with a strong focus on economic policy and supervision. She holds a Master of Science in Economics and has applied her expertise at the Central Bank of Aruba, where she was involved in overseeing compliance with various national ordinances, including those related to credit institutions, insurance operations, and foreign exchange transactions. Her work contributes to strengthening financial structures and promoting economic stability in Aruba. With her deep knowledge and commitment to transparency and fairness, Lorraine plays a crucial role in shaping the island’s economic landscape.

Senior Researcher
Valerie Wanga studied Notarial Law at Leiden University and possesses broad legal expertise, built through her many years of experience as a senior candidate civil-law notary and acting civil-law notary in the Netherlands. After her move to Aruba, she worked as a senior policy lawyer at the Directorate of Legislation and Legal Affairs, where she gained extensive experience with policy and legislative matters within the public sector. At AFTA, she focuses, among other things, on legal analyses, substantive investigations, and the application and development of the legal supervisory framework. This role aligns with her ambition to contribute, as a regulator, to societal impact and well-functioning markets for consumers and businesses. In her free time, she enjoys reading and traveling and volunteers for social and charitable initiatives.

Researcher
Charlène Wever has a background in Medical Biology (HLO, Rotterdam) and worked for more than eleven years in the pharmaceutical sector, six of which were as a team leader at Janssen Vaccines. After returning to Aruba, she broadened her expertise by completing an MBA at the University of Aruba, graduating Magna Cum Laude. At the Aruba Fair Trade Authority, she is a researcher, where she focuses on competition and consumer law, research, legal analyses, and the further development of the Consumer Desk and public information activities. The combination of substantive analysis and societal impact makes her work particularly meaningful to her. In her free time, she enjoys going to the beach, kitesurfing, traveling, exploring cryptocurrency, reading, exercising, and watching series.

Manager of Operations
Armand Frank studied finance at the University of Central Florida and previously worked as Head of Finance & Administration within the prison system. At the AFTA, he is responsible for finance, HR, ICT, procurement and facility management. Armand enjoys cooking, swimming, and spending time with his family. He believes that despite its small size, the AFTA can help drive changes that contribute to a healthy economy.

Management Support Officer
Emely Geerman was the first employee to join the AFTA. She plays a key role in the day-to-day support of the entire organization. From financial administration and facility management to HR and ICT, Emely approaches every task with enthusiasm and a strong willingness to learn. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, and she is actively involved in youth football. She sees her broad role as the creative heart of the organization.