WILLEMSTAD -- Curaçao Governor Frits Goedgedrag was the man behind the formation of the interim cabinet, MFK parliamentarian Pik Pisas had said during a press conference of his party last Sunday.

 

According to Pisas, it was by order of an anonymous group and the governor that former fellow party member and now independent chairman of Parliament chosen by "the new majority" Dean Rosier attempted to bribe him and his colleagues to leave the MFK fraction.

 

However, Rozier categorically denies such and intends to take legal steps to restore his good name. The prosecution has also requested a recording of Pisas' press conference, because it appears his statement there differs considerably from what he had told them earlier.

 

Pisas now claims the MFK-fraction members were to receive half a million guilders for letting the MFK/PS/MAN coalition collapse. He said he decided to go public because the Public Prosecutor's Office had not acted upon his complaint against Rozier on August 6.

 

Rozier had supposedly invited fraction members Pisas and Rudney Garmers on July 5, to his home for a meeting where he explained that he had held lengthy talks recently with the governor. Goedgedrag supposedly was not happy with the constant controversial actions and remarks by coalition partner Helmin Wiels of "Pueblo Soberano" (PS).

 

The governor would have aimed for a business cabinet. Once such a cabinet was installed he was to suggest that The Netherlands withdraw the budgetary instruction from the Kingdom Council of Ministers and Curaçao would be granted the much-discussed new hospital as a gift.

 

Former prime minister of the Netherlands Antilles for PAR Etiënne Ys was supposedly the obvious person to recommend candidates for the business cabinet. Goedgedrag allegedly emphasised that he had no faith in PAR leader Emily de Jongh-Elhage, because she had messed up the country.

 

Rozier had also invited MFK parliamentarian Monique Koeyers-Felida for a talk and offered her money to leave the party. "I rejected this offer," said Koeyers-Felida.

She was also offered a job with Girobank. The parliamentarian, formerly a teacher and still presenting a TV programme, said she was not qualified for the job nor did she need to be. Her salary would be deposited into her account whether she chose to stay home or show up for work.

 

During talks with MFK members, now independent parliamentarian Eugene Cleopa had supposedly said he was prepared to leave MAN party and continue as a one-man fraction, which he also did later. Lipo Elhage's name was supposedly also mentioned as the "front man" for the anonymous group.

 

Pisas admitted he cannot prove that Rozier and Cleopa had received money to bring down the Schotte cabinet. "This dramatic TV novella is costing our community money," he said.

 

Pisas feels the governor interfered in local politics. "People are now seeking all kinds of ways to prevent this cabinet from coming back after the election," he said.

 

Ousted Prime Minister Gerrit Schotte and Finance Minister George Jamaloodin (both MFK) were received with great acclaim at the press conference. Schotte said he had handed in the keys of the Council of Ministers in Fort Amsterdam at 8:00pm on Sunday.

 

"Nobody needs to remove us with force. The interim cabinet didn't come about according to the rules of a democracy. We'll continue to fight for freedom and hope justice will prevail," he said.

 

"Stanley Betrian may enjoy 'Forti' the coming two and half weeks," he said, referring to the newly appointed interim prime minister and the October 19 elections.

 

"The instruction was a means to put Curaçao under pressure. The financial situation of the country is not critical. MFK will promote peace and rest the coming weeks."

 

Eric Garcia, director of the Girobank, can only laugh about the insinuations involving his bank. "Girobank was never involved directly or indirectly with offering Koeyers-Felida a position with the bank. Conversation on this topic never took place. I don't know who fabricated this."

 

The director said he and the supervisory board will consider possible steps in this matter. "I don't know if we will file a complaint," Garcia said with a sigh.

 

Ys, whose name was also mentioned, relegated the accusations to the world of fantasy. "Not a word of it is true. The governor never approached me to assist in forming an interim-cabinet.

 

"Everyone knows that political parties which support a cabinet nominate the candidate ministers. The governor, an individual nor I have the authority to do so. Every politician knows how it works and so does the governor.

 

"That's how democracy works. If Pisas believes what he was told, it's apparently due to his inexperience."

 

The story is also inconsistent on several points, according to Ys. "Why would Rozier seek out more accomplices? His switch was sufficient for the collapse of the cabinet because Cleopa had already withdrawn his support. Nobody with a logical mind, including Rozier, would come up with this unlikely story."

 

Rozier's lawyer was already preparing an injunction for rectification against Pisas and a regular court procedure for damages. "I will hold them liable for all damage caused to my name. There was no bribery. They are to prove their accusations or bear the consequences."

 

Rozier said he was actually surprised they accused him of bribery. "It was only last week that I spoke with MFK chairman Amerigo Thodé. We always had a difference of opinion but respected each other. I had never expected this," said Rozier.

He attributed it to his former party "acting as a cornered rat. I will not accept this and fight back with all my strength."

 

To prove his point, Rozier made public email traffic between himself, Pisas, Koeyers-Felida and Garmers of July 22 and 23, showing that it was the latter who had been concerned about certain issues that he wanted to discuss. Garmers wanted Jamaloodin replaced as minister by an objective financial expert who would also handle utility company Aqualectra rather than Schotte.

 

In addition, chairman of the supervisory board both at Aqualectra and Curacao Ports Authority (CPA) Oswald van der Dijs, also uncle of Schotte's female partner, had to go. Garmers did not want the position of Aqualectra Director Darick Jonis to be threatened. He also urged that the other MFK ministers Jacinta Constancia of Public Health and Abdul Nasser el Hakim be provided with advisors that they would have to listen to.

 

Meanwhile, the Prosecutor's Office has obtained the recording of the MFK press conference from television station CBA. Pisas' statements differ considerably from what the parliamentarian, who is a police officer by profession, had claimed in a witness statement to the prosecution on August 6. The attorney general had called him in on account of his then unnamed bribery allegations in the local media.

 

Prosecution spokesman Norman Serphos refuted the claim by both Schotte and Pisas that nothing had been done with the latter's complaint. Various people have been heard and it is in the hands of the national detectives, who are now looking at the tape from Sunday as well.