PHILIPSBURG:--- The recent commentary by Mr. Jairo Bloem, suggesting that the controversy surrounding his conditional nomination to the Supervisory Board of the Central Bank of Curaçao and St. Maarten is a “political ploy,” must be firmly rejected. This matter is not about personalities or politics; it is about governance, law, and safeguarding the integrity of one of our most critical institutions.
It is important to clarify that both coalition and opposition Members of Parliament have raised serious concerns about the procedure followed. The Supervisory Board itself has also contested the interpretation advanced by the Minister of Finance. This clearly demonstrates that the issue is not political theater, but a matter of legal compliance and institutional protection. Parliament has a responsibility to question and challenge actions that appear inconsistent with the legal framework. Doing so is not politicization; it is fulfilling our constitutional role.
Mr. Bloem has referred to letters from 2011 as precedent. If such letters exist, it must be explained how he obtained what should be internal ministerial communications, and whether these carry any legal weight compared to the clear provisions of the Charter. The Charter and the national decree process remain unambiguous: the Supervisory Board recommends, the Ministers nominate, and the appointment is finalized by Kingdom decree. This three-step process cannot be bypassed or reshaped by individual interpretation.
During my own tenure as Minister of Finance, no such unilateral process was followed. In fact, a nomination was submitted by the Supervisory Board, Mr. Etienne Ys, which was rejected by the Curaçao authorities. This led to a stalemate that was being addressed in accordance with the established process. At no point was the recruitment or nomination procedure redefined in the manner we see today. The suggestion that this precedent exists is incorrect and contradicts the facts, as confirmed by the Board itself.
It must also be noted that legal advice was reportedly sought only after the Council of Ministers had already given its approval, raising serious questions about whether this advice was objective or merely sought to justify a predetermined decision. If the government truly wanted an impartial opinion, the proper course would have been to request advice from the Department of Legal Affairs or our long-standing external legal counsel, not a politically affiliated source.
Concerns about Mr. Bloem’s past engagements
Beyond the current nomination dispute, it is also important to acknowledge the controversy surrounding Mr. Bloem’s past relationship with NV GEBE and its Supervisory Board. Public reporting has documented how his law office was retained by GEBE’s Supervisory Board, with significant sums paid out for legal opinions and advice. These invoices were later criticized by some board members as excessive, raising concerns about transparency and accountability. Mr. Bloem himself acknowledged in an open letter that his firm was contracted directly by the Supervisory Board and that invoices were approved swiftly by its then chairman. These circumstances fueled internal disputes at GEBE and raised doubts about whether the company’s funds were being managed responsibly.
It should also be recalled that during my own tenure as Minister of Finance, Mr. Bloem personally came to my office with what I can only describe as a savior attitude. He insisted that only he could save the Central Bank and that if I wanted to protect the institution, I had to appoint him as chair. Such a posture not only demonstrated desperation but also raises questions about where that desperation stems from. This approach is inconsistent with the independence and integrity required of someone seeking to serve on the Supervisory Board of the Central Bank.
When someone linked to such controversies is now proposed for one of the most sensitive financial oversight positions in the country, it raises legitimate questions about judgment, independence, and the risk of politicization. This reinforces the need to ensure that appointments to the Central Bank are based on the law, merit, and institutional integrity, rather than political maneuvering or personal connections.
The Central Bank’s independence, credibility, and stability are directly tied to how appointments are handled. The best way forward is to respect the legal process fully: the Supervisory Board must fulfill its responsibility to recommend, Ministers must act within their defined authority, and appointments must be finalized strictly through the joint decree process.
For me, this appointment under the current Minister of Finance is a moot point. I do not see her being able to bring a national decree for Mr. Bloem’s appointment through the Council of Ministers for approval, nor do I see her colleague Ministers supporting such a decree, particularly when she has not even secured the agreement of her counterpart, the Minister of Finance of Curaçao.
