PHILIPSBURG/WILLEMSTAD — The appointing of a permanent seventh member of the Board of Commissioners of the Central Bank of Curaçao and St. Maarten (CBCS) seems to become the subject of discussion again between the two countries. Curaçao wants to appoint the seventh member and doesn’t think the approval of St. Maarten is necessary. However, St. Maarten insists on the agreement that there be consensus between the countries on the seventh member.

Premier of St. Maarten, Sarah Wescot-Williams, stated before the press yesterday: “We now hear reports that the government of Curaçao disagrees with the agreement made.” According to the premier of St. Maarten, parties need to work out the bank issues. In her opinion, both countries agreed during bilateral meetings in August that the necessary laws and agreements on the composition of the Board of Commissioners are to be applied to get things going again. In other words: ‘Each country appoints three members and mutually agrees on the seventh member, the chairman. In our opinion, this is what we agreed during these meetings”, said Wescot-Williams. “It now seems there may be a misunderstanding between Curaçao and St. Maarten.”

Based on that ‘clear agreement’, St. Maarten recommended two names to the government of Curaçao earlier this month, for mutual consideration. Curaçao had already recommended three candidates earlier on. As far as St. Maarten is concerned the problem needn’t be solved immediately and could wait until a new cabinet is installed on Curaçao. However, Wescot-Williams stated ‘we will stand by the agreement’.