Head Intelligence Service demands job back

November 22, 2010 6:07 AM

Head of the current Intelligence Service Curaçao (formerly VNA of the Netherlands Antilles) Ed Gumbs wants to return to his place of work.

Prime Minister Gerrit Schotte (MFK) dismissed him several weeks ago.

The court case that Gumbs filed in conformity with the Civil Service Tribunal LMA took place behind closed doors due to the sensitive information regarding national security. Government lawyer Eric de Vries did not wish to comment on the case at all, also not on the motives why Gumbs was suspended and denied access to his office.

However, leader of coalition party Pueblo Soberano (PS) Helmin Wiels alleged at the time that Gumbs had leaked sensitive information and that the new MFK/PS/MAN government no longer had confidence in him. Expectations are that the date for a ruling will be announced this week.

Gumbs' lawyer Melrose Bloem was not able to comment on the case either regarding content. However, she resents the media reports that information had been leaked while this cannot be verified.

Gumbs had been the official head of the VNA since 2006, but employed with the service for a longer period. "The insinuations are very damaging for the image of the service, also internationally; this does not serve national security," according to Bloem.

For that matter, her client has a secrecy obligation.

Among other things, the agency collects information and subsequently advises positively or negatively on ministers after screening them. "That information is kept private. Gumbs has no interest in leaking information.

"What a prime minister subsequently does with the information is up to him/her. The advice is not binding," the lawyer explained.

It is the minister who must give an explanation if Parliament requests such in a public meeting. "Those are unwritten rules, customary law," said Bloem.

19 November 2010