Bloem nominee as Richardson withdraws from Central Bank

April 20, 2011 7:59 AM

PHILIPSBURG--Well-known attorney Jairo Bloem is now one of St. Maarten's candidates for member of the Supervisory Board of the Central Bank of Curaçao and St. Maarten.

The Council of Ministers made this decision on Tuesday because former Lt. Governor and attorney Ralph Richardson had withdrawn his name on Monday following some controversy in Curaçao.

Finance Minister Hiro Shigemoto said in a press statement that the resolution would be sent to Governor Eugene Holiday soon for signature, before Curaçao Minister of Finance George Jamaloodin and President of the Central Bank Emsley Tromp were informed.

St. Maarten's other two candidates for the board member posts are maritime businessman Robbie Ferron and Senior Tax Consultant Marciela Illidge.

"We need to move forward with the appointment of members of the bank's supervisory board," Shigemoto said, adding that this was a pivotal step in moving forward with numerous pending Central Bank matters.

A transition regulation for the Central Bank was signed by Shigemoto and Jamaloodin in March. The signing was seen as a significant development in the young lives of the just-over-six-months-old countries.

Shigemoto has travelled to Curaçao several times and met with his counterpart to discuss the future role of the Central Bank and pending matters that needed to be dealt with.

(Source: The Daily Herald St. Maarten)

20 April 2011

Hassink again nominee for Central Bank post

PHILIPSBURG--Financial Consultant Martin Hassink is again St. Maarten's nominee for Chairman of the Supervisory Board for the Central Bank of Curaçao and St. Maarten.

Finance Minister Hiro Shigemoto has confirmed that Hassink has indicated that he is "still willing" to be the country's nominee. Government gave Hassink the "first right of refusal" for the post because of the controversy that led to the previous nominee, Casino Financial Officer Rudolf Baetsen, to withdraw his nomination at the end of March.

Baetsen's nomination came from Curaçao and although St. Maarten had already approved Hassink as its candidate at the time for the chairmanship, the putting forward of Baetsen was not objected to, according to Shigemoto.

Government waited to see what would happen on Curaçao when it came to the nomination of a casino official, he said.

The nominee for the chairmanship has to be jointly agreed on by the two countries. Shigemoto and his counterpart Curaçao Finance Minister George Jamaloodin still have to meet to work out Hassink's nomination.

19 April 2011

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