PG: investigation into corruption allegations is necessary

May 31, 2011 5:40 AM

Attorney General (PG) Dick Piar had a conversation with Premier Gerrit Schotte (MFK) this morning in connection with the allegations of corruption from Central Bank director Emsley Tromp against ministers of the current cabinet.

Piar does not wish to elaborate on the contents of the conversation. However, the PG confirms the PAR-party in the States filed a complaint this morning based on Tromp’s accusations. Considering the many discussions in the media and the implications of such, the Public Prosecutor must conduct an investigation into the matters on which one had filed a complaint. Piar calls on the media to discontinue political involvement with this situation because it regards a serious matter. He emphasizes that an investigation is necessary.
 
Leak
Tromp’s accusations occurred after the news leaked out on an uncovered loan of three million guilders from Tromp with Banco di Caribe (BdC). The Banco de Caribe cannot explain how information on a private loan from Tromp with BdC leaked out to the press and the government, says Fons Simon, director of the bank.
As to how the information could have leaked out, BdC-director Fons Simon states that the bank cannot make statements on clients. Nevertheless, he states the information could have been leaked ‘in several other ways’. Meanwhile the documents in question have been leaked to various media – including the Amigoe. From these documents, it appears that amounts of over 400,000 and 100,000 guilders were transferred from Curaçao Fashion Group to respectively ET Pensions and Yanet de Castro. In the press conference yesterday, Premier Schotte stated the government is obtaining additional information on the payments. He was also informed that Tromp’s account with the BdC is no longer accessible and that Tromp’s dossier is in the care of the bank management.
 
Attack on legal security
The entire state of affairs caused Gregory Damoen, former States and Island Council member and former director of the Directorate of Finances of the country Netherlands Antilles to frown. On being asked, he wonders if the government realizes what they are 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 the government indicates they are looking for more information.”
Damoen wonders how the government could have obtained private information from citizens.” Did they exert pressure? However, 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: National Newspaper Amigoe)

27 May 2011