Third attempt to remove head of intelligence fails

September 04, 2011 4:06 PM

A third attempt by the Schotte cabinet to remove Edsel Gumbs as Head of Curaçao's Intelligence Agency VDC has also failed.

Judge, Joop Drop, in a provisional ruling, suspended the June first decree by Prime Minister Gerrit Schotte relieving Gumbs of his duty for six months and prohibiting his intended transfer to the prison.

On November 23 last year, the court had already suspended the decision of October 27, to bar Gumbs from his office. A similar decision on November 23 was again suspended on December 23, pending a regular court procedure.

The judge did say that considering the fact that talks had taken place on a possible settlement, it would not be unreasonable to give Gumbs other tasks in the meantime. However, this can only be temporary so it would not resolve the conflict, as managing the prison cannot be considered adequate in light of Gumbs' complete lack of knowledge and experience in the penitentiary field.

In any case, parties are to reach an agreement or the minister is amongst others to take more consequential decisions towards Gumbs in coming up with a solution.

According to the judge, in fairness the Minister cannot decide to entrust Gumbs with duties at the prison. He has no experience in managing huge institutions comparable with a penitentiary institution and has no affinity with the prison system. Therefore, managing the penitentiary corrective institution is not a suitable task for Gumbs even though he would be entrusted with this temporarily. For that matter, although the order of June 1st was co-signed by Minister of Justice, Elmer ‘Kadè’ Wilsoe, it is the Minister of General Affairs who is responsible for managerial and personnel aspects at the VDC. The Minister of Justice is only co-responsible for the actions of the department and therefore unauthorized in taking the order of June 1st.

2 September 2011