Tromp must step down, says MAN

WILLEMSTAD--Cura�ao coalition party MAN says Central Bank director Emsley Tromp must resign to open the way for a thorough investigation at the highest financial institution on the island. This is according to the blue party's Secretary General Giovani Atalita.

MAN wants both the controversial three-million-guilder loan without collateral that Tromp was reportedly involved in, and his corruption accusations against three members of the Schotte cabinet to be looked into.

The director of the Central Bank of Cura�ao and St. Maarten (CBCS) has meanwhile filed an official complaint regarding the latter with the Public Prosecutor's Office, which had already decided to investigate the matter on its own.

New in Tromp's complaint is the claim that Finance Minister George "Jorge" Jamaloodin (MFK) threatened Radio Direct owner/director Jachmine Pinedo that he would put drugs in her office if she broadcast negative stories about him. There is apparently a recording of that conversation.

MAN reasons that since Tromp said earlier he had considered stepping down he should now do so in order not to obstruct the probe that must be conducted as quickly as possible.

The coalition party said Tromp's accusations against several cabinet ministers damaged not only the government, but the entire country. "If one or more ministers were to be declared suspects by the authorities, they too would have to leave."

Amigoe newspaper has learned that the Dutch Central Bank DNB will conduct an investigation into the integrity of Tromp. He had apparently asked for such himself before, but the government had refused, so it's not clear who gave the instruction.

The entire state of affairs caused Gregory Damoen, former Antillean Parliament and Cura�ao Island Council member, as well as ex-head of the Directorate of Finances of the Netherlands Antilles, to frown. He wonders if the government realises what it's doing.

"This is an attack on our legal security and it is even more alarming that it's done by our own government. How could the government possibly leak private information from citizens?

"Bank data are leaked to the press and the government brings this information into the open. I am very concerned about the state of affairs, particularly now that the government indicates it is looking for more information."

Damoen wonders how the government could have obtained private information from citizens.

"Did they exert pressure? Even if they have this information, they are not allowed to use it. The government must guarantee the legal security. It is not about the person Tromp. I do not wish to defend anyone, but it's about the government going after private information from citizens, having obtained such, and subsequently bringing it into the open. In my opinion, this even contravenes the law."

Damoen wonders now what guarantees investors have that their bank data is safeguarded on the island.

Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/17249-tromp-must-step-down-says-man.html

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