WILLEMSTAD – Former statutory director of TeleCuraçao, Terry Hernandez, has lost a lawsuit he filed against the broadcaster following his dismissal. Hernandez sought reimbursement for medical expenses, but the judge rejected his claim. In addition, he has been ordered to repay more than NAf 9,000 for a car allowance he received without proper justification. 

Hernandez was appointed interim statutory director of TeleCuraçao on July 8, 2022, for a one-year term. The appointment was formalized in a service contract signed on May 10, 2023, retroactively covering the period from July 8, 2022, to July 7, 2023. The agreement included a monthly car allowance of NAf 2,000 and stipulated that TeleCuraçao would reimburse medical expenses for Hernandez and his partner, including check-ups, travel, and accommodation. 

However, TeleCuraçao argued that the car allowance was unjustified, as Hernandez was using a vehicle belonging to Antilliaanse Televisie Maatschappij (ATM), a subsidiary of TeleCuraçao. The company’s lawyer demanded repayment of the car allowance over an 11-month period. Although Hernandez had previously acknowledged owing TeleCuraçao NAf 18,000, he later retracted that statement. The judge ultimately ruled that Hernandez must repay NAf 9,000 for the unjustified car allowance. 

On the issue of medical expenses, the court found that Hernandez was not entitled to reimbursement because he had failed to pay the premium for the legally required basic health insurance. Other medical claims—such as those for travel and check-ups—were also dismissed due to a lack of legal grounds. 

In addition to repaying the car allowance, Hernandez must also cover NAf 2,500 in legal costs incurred by TeleCuraçao. 

The ruling brings a definitive close to the legal dispute and reinforces employer rights regarding contractual compliance and the limits of executive entitlements.