Reports on illegal diesel cause aggravation

WILLEMSTAD — The illegal import and distribution of diesel on Curaçao exercises many minds within the politics. This is especially due to the lack of clarity, which exists on the current investigation and contradictive information in the media on what had possibly happened.

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This afternoon, at four o’clock, Deputy of Energy Affairs Humphrey Davelaar (PNP) will hold a press conference together with representatives of the fuel distribution company Curoil, Refineria di Kòrsou and utility company Aqualectra. In a reaction, Davelaar stated ‘that this way we will simultaneously provide the media with information".
He is aggravated about the reports in various newspapers and on the radio where different information is constantly being published through anonymous sources on the investigation, for example, that the investigation is supposedly now in the hands of the Security Service (VNA). Davelaar could not comment on that. "I am not aware of that, but all involved parties will be present soon and the press will receive all information." The assumption exists that two tank trucks had pumped illegal diesel from El Goajiro, which is the tugboat that had entered the harbor of Curaçao on October 9th.

Lieutenant Governor Lisa Dindial also explained to the Amigoe that she does not dispose of all information and that the information received by the government is scanty. She had had contact with Curaçao Ports Authority (CPA) when the alleged smuggling of diesel through the tugboat ‘El Goajiro’ had taken place.
Dindial: "At the time, I understood that the Custom’s criminal investigation department was occupied with the investigation in particular with regard to excises and taxes. I had read in the newspapers that the investigation was now in the hands of the VNA, but I am not aware of this."
The Lieutenant Governor also states that she was not the one who had gotten the Prosecution Council involved with the investigation. When the CPA had decided to arrest the tugboat, the investigation was taken from there. I was not the one who had informed the Prosecution Council."

MAN council-member Gerrit Schotte is convinced that an amount of diesel has been imported illegally and that the VNA has taken over the investigation. In a press report, he wonders how it was possible that the diesel had been transported from the dock, where the tugboat is moored, to the gas stations on the island. He also finds it strange that there are contradictive reports on whether the diesel had been cleared through Customs or not. In addition, he points to the fact that not long after the ‘toko den toko’ affaire at Curoil, there is now a question of supplying cheaper diesel again in comparison with the prices maintained by Curoil.