WILLEMSTAD – The Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) has initiated legal action against the pension foundation of its former president, Emsley Tromp, seeking repayment of millions in benefits and allowances.
According to a public notice issued by Ramazan, bailiff of the Joint Court of Justice and the Court of Curaçao, the foundation Stichting E.T. Pensioenen has been summoned to appear in court on January 26, 2026. The claim stems from earlier rulings in favor of CBCS, which held Tromp liable for a series of improper payments and benefits.
Court Rulings Against Tromp
In February 2025, the court largely upheld CBCS’s claims, declaring that Tromp was responsible for the damage caused by so-called Girobank bonuses paid to his then-colleague and director-secretary, Jerry Hasselmeyer, totaling 203,463 guilders.
The court further ordered Tromp to reimburse CBCS for multiple payments and perks he had received, including:
NAf 1,162,979.84 in excess gratuities
NAf 30,036 in one-time benefits
NAf 177,437.50 in legal and tax advisory costs paid on his behalf
NAf 310,103.19 for Aqualectra utility bills
NAf 300,870.82 for solar panels installed at his residence
All amounts are subject to statutory interest dating back to August 27, 2020. Tromp was also ordered to pay the legal costs of CBCS, including summons fees, court fees, attorney’s fees, and additional costs in the event of late payment.
Enforcement and Next Steps
The ruling was declared provisionally enforceable, meaning the bailiff is now seeking Tromp’s assets to settle the outstanding claims.
Tromp, who joined the former Bank of the Netherlands Antilles (BNA) in 1985 and became its president in 1991, transitioned into the role of president of CBCS in 2010 when BNA was dissolved. He was dismissed in 2017.
His legal team confirmed that the civil appeal is still ongoing, with written pleadings expected by the end of October.
This case marks another chapter in the long-running legal battles surrounding Tromp, whose decades-long tenure at the central bank has been overshadowed by allegations of financial mismanagement.
