WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG--Suspended President of the Central Bank of Curacao and St. Maarten Emsley Tromp has not passed the security screening required by law for persons holding confidential positions in Government and government-related entities.

 

  Finance Minister Richard Gibson Sr. announced the result of the screening in the Council of Ministers Press Briefing on Wednesday. While the law stipulates the embattled Central Bank cannot serve the post due to the results, he does have the possibility to challenge the situation in Court. Should Tromp take this route, filling the president's seat will continue to be in limbo until a final decision is rendered by the Court.

 

  The screening was conducted by the National Security Service of St. Maarten VDSM on the request of Gibson Sr. A similar screening is also on the way by the Security Service of Curacao VDC. The minister does not expect that screening to turn up a different result in relation to Tromp.

 

  Tromp is under investigation since late last year for tax evasion among other charges levied by the Prosecutor's Office. He has been on non-active duty for several months now. The operations of the Central Bank have been in the hands of a deputy bank president since that time.

 

  The Central Bank is now faced with quandary related to its top management. The other managing directors have passed the screening, but they are both to retire this year; one at mid-year and the other at the end of the year. This means the process to fill these two positions must start soon.

 

  The screening of the three top Central Bank officials was conducted after it was discovered that they never underwent the required process, said Gibson Sr.