WILLEMSTAD--The so-called Group of Eleven in Curaçao's Parliament adopted motions of no-confidence against five ministers of the caretaker Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Hensley Koeiman (MAN) and plenipotentiary Minister in The Hague Eunice Eisden. They also replaced President of Parliament Giselle McWilliam (MAN) and Marilyn Alcala-Walle (PAR) with respectively Gilmar "Pik" Pisas (MFK) and Norberto Ribeiro (KdNT).
The "new majority" formed by the fractions of MFK, KdNT, PS and MP plus independent (former PAR) parliamentarian Eduard Braam elected both Pisas and Ribeiro by 11 votes to nine.
They had originally announced no-confidence motions for all ministers except those of PS, which had abandoned its coalition with MAN, PAR and PNP to bring down the current government. The latter resigned after losing majority support in the legislature, but also moved to dissolve Parliament and call early elections on April 28.
However, during the meeting called by McWilliam, no motions against Koeiman, Justice Minister Ornelio “Kid” Martina (PNP) and acting plenipotentiary Minister in The Hague were presented. MFK-leader Gerrit Schotte said they are being responsible by not leaving the Council of Ministers too empty. “They can divide the remaining portfolios,” he added.
The Group of Eleven notified Governor Lucille-George Wout that they want her to immediately dismiss the five ministers against whom motions were passed. They had earlier asked her to appoint PS-minister Ruthmilda Larmonie-Cecilia as “formateur” of a new transitional government that enjoys majority backing in Parliament.
This interim cabinet is to take over until the next government is formed after the elections. However, there are suggestions that once the interim cabinet is installed they will seek to postpone the elections, as did the William Marlin Cabinet I in St. Maarten.
Motions were also passed to reverse a NAf. 5.6 million project for a police officer bachelor's course at the educational institute of Carl Camelia, husband of Traffic, Transport and Spatial Planning Minister Suzanne “Suzy” Camelia-Römer (PNP) and instead give NAf. 300,000 to the police school led by Alpha Falbru, as well as to have the General Audit Chamber look into the functioning of the Koeiman Cabinet.
