WILLEMSTAD – Minister of Economic Development Roderick Middelhof intends to continue the appointment procedure of Amanda Sargo Ribeiro to the Supervisory Board of the Curaçao Tourism Development Foundation (CTDF), despite serious objections from corporate governance adviser SBTNO about whether her professional background meets the established profile.
Ribeiro is being considered for the position of Commercial-Tourism Expert. According to correspondence dated August 31, SBTNO questioned whether she has the required commercial and strategic experience for the position.
The concerns focus particularly on her professional background, which has been largely in human resources, recruitment and talent acquisition. SBTNO concluded that it had not been sufficiently demonstrated that Ribeiro has at least five years of experience in a commercial-strategic position, in-depth marketing knowledge or experience evaluating long-term commercial strategies and investment plans.
Publicly available professional information supports the characterization of much of her recent career as HR and recruitment-focused. Her LinkedIn profile identifies her with Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort, while other publicly available employment information lists roles including Multi-Property Recruitment Manager, Recruiter and Human Resources Coordinator.
Middelhof does not entirely dispute the shortcomings identified by SBTNO. In his response, the minister acknowledges that the deficiencies have not been overlooked but argues that Ribeiro's broader education and practical experience should also carry weight.
He points to her Bachelor of Business Administration with a specialization in Finance, a diploma in International Business and her work in Curaçao's tourism and hospitality industry since 2019.
According to the minister, Ribeiro has gained experience in strategic workforce planning, recruitment, hotel openings, stakeholder management and international corporate standards. Middelhof believes that combination provides sufficient grounds to continue the appointment procedure.
SBTNO has also raised concerns about a possible conflict of interest, or at least the appearance of one, because Ribeiro currently holds a management position within a hotel business directly active in Curaçao's tourism sector.
Instead of excluding her on that basis, Middelhof proposes managing potential conflicts through Curaçao's corporate governance rules. If appointed, Ribeiro would be required to refrain from discussions and decisions whenever her professional interests, or those of her employer, intersect with the interests of CTDF.
The minister's decision means the appointment process will continue despite SBTNO's serious objections.