WILLEMSTAD--Just before leaving for the Netherlands on Friday, Cura�ao Prime Minister Gerrit Schotte (MFK) filed a complaint of his own against Central Bank director Emsley Tromp, confirmed prosecutor in charge of press affairs Ludimila Vicento. She would not go into details, but blackmail is considered the likely charge.
Schotte said Tromp came with his accusations against cabinet members in a failed attempt to force the government to drop its inquiry into the role of the head of the Central Bank of Curacao and St. Maarten (CBCS) in a controversial three-million-guilder loan without collateral from Banco di Caribe in 2009.
Meanwhile, New Post director Franklin Sluis has cast doubt on one of Tromp's allegations. He denied having been part of a meeting between Girobank director Eric Garcia and Finance Minister George "Jorge" Jamaloodin (MFK), in which the latter would have suggested that Girobank should employ his security company, "Speedy Security," for money transports in exchange for becoming the government's "house bank."
Sluis said he had been at no meeting where such was discussed, but he would cooperate fully with authorities in the investigation. "I regret that the impression has been created as if I was involved in such a conversation or possible unlawful act."
Cura�ao Banker's Association (CBA) is concerned about the violation of privacy and confidentiality when it comes to information on clients of commercial banks. "The image of the financial sector has been dented," said CBA chairman Chicu Capriles.
He was referring to the moment when Schotte, during a press conference, showed the television cameras he had a copy of a transfer from Tromp's bank account. "That's not normal," said the banker, calling for an investigation into the leak and closing such as quickly as possible.
Cura�ao Business Association VBC, in a release, said the current public row between the Schotte cabinet and the Central Bank director is very damaging to the island. The employers' organisation wants the relation between the government and the financial institution to be restored and is calling for an independent investigation.
"It's bad for the international reputation, the investment climate, and the economy, while it does not contribute to safeguarding the value and stability of the guilder, nor a healthy financial system with safe and efficient money traffic."
VBC said the already decreasing confidence among entrepreneurs could go down to where there is economic stagnation and even a crisis, with business closures and loss of jobs as a result. The association urged Governor Frits Goegdedrag to establish an independent "committee of wise and able men" to at least normalise relations between the government and the Central Bank pending the investigation.
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