PHILIPSBURG – Minister of Finance Richard Gibson said there is no need now to call for the dismissal of the President of the Central Bank of Curaçao and St. Maarten Dr. Emsley Tromp, but rather wait on the result of the investigation.
“There has been an allegation made that is being investigated. That investigation could turn out to be one where evidence is produced or where no evidence is produced. So a basis to ask him to resign at this point in time is not there. But what is there is when you are subject to investigation of this sort, it is improper for you to maintain your position in such a function; the idea is to put him aside for the duration of the investigation,” Minister Gibson said.
Tromp’s home was searched last week by the RST detectives in connection with a tax fraud investigation. He has been suspended until the investigations are complete. “You cannot function properly as long as that cloud is hanging over you so as long as that cloud is there, he is going to be suspended until that cloud is removed,” Minister Gibson said. He said the state of the investigation has nothing to do with his functioning at the Central Bank.
Earlier this year, Minister Gibson had called for integrity investigations to be launched into the president and directors of the Central Bank of Curaçao and St. Maarten. “I have issued instruction to the secret service of St. Maarten to conduct an integrity investigation relating to the president and the directors of the Central Bank, and I have also directed a letter to my colleague in Curaçao, Minister of Finance requesting him to also instruct the VDSM in Curaçao to conduct a similar investigation, all with the goal in mind to once and for all eliminate all rumors and innuendos regarding the top of the Central Bank,” the Finance Minister said at the time.
