No "Kingdom probe" into Central Bank controversy

June 27, 2011 7:26 AM

The Kingdom Council of Ministers will not conduct its own investigation on the integrity of the Central Bank and Curaçao's government after all.

That's what Dutch Minister of Kingdom Relations Piet Hein Donner (CDA) stated during a press conference together with Curaçao Prime Minister Gerrit Schotte (MFK) after their meeting in Fort Amsterdam on Monday.

Instead, an independent committee will be established to come with recommendations how the confidence in both institutions can be restored, following the recent allegations back and forth between Central Bank director Emsley Tromp and several MFK-ministers.

That decision taken during a meeting in The Hague with Schotte at his initiative was based on the mutual assistance article in the Kingdom Charter and is in no way being imposed on the island, the Dutch minister explained. It can also not replace whatever investigation the Supervisory Board of the joint Central Bank of Curaçao and St. Maarten is having done by the General Audit Chamber, as requested by the Parliament and government of Curaçao.

Donner said the wrong impression had been created in this matter. The committee's task is limited to what has happened, what is now going on, how the peace can be re-established and how to ensure a proper debate as well as good governance in Willemstad.

One of the recommendations may be for an investigation, but that remains to be seen, as does the constellation of the committee. Donner emphasised that when it comes to investigating specific functions and persons each country has its procedures and it's not the intention for another Kingdom partner to "cross right through those."

(Source: National Newspaper Amigoe)

 21 June 2011