SINT MAARTEN/CURACAO - The Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) has bid farewell to President Richard Doornbosch during farewell receptions held in Curaçao and Sint Maarten.
After six years at the helm of the CBCS, Doornbosch will leave as of September 1 to join the Executive Board of the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM). As of September 2, Ference Lamp and Candice Henriquez will assume the roles of President and Executive Director, respectively, at the CBCS. Doornbosch took office as President of the CBCS in August 2020.
His tenure saw several significant developments for the CBCS and the financial sector, including the resolution of the ENNIA case, the strengthening and modernization of the CBCS’s supervision and internal organization, and the introduction of the Caribbean guilder.
In Curaçao, Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas expressed his appreciation for Doornbosch’s contribution over the past six years. “On behalf of the Government and the people of Curaçao, I thank you for your exceptional dedication to our central bank and financial sector.
“For your independence, for your perseverance during the difficult years, and for the calm you ultimately brought to the Bank,” Minister Pisas said. At the reception in Sint Maarten, Minister of Finance Marinka Gumbs highlighted Doornbosch’s commitment to Sint Maarten’s position within the monetary union.
“You made an effort to ensure that we had a seat at the table, that we had a voice, and that our voice was heard. That deserves our appreciation.” She described Doornbosch as “a committed public servant, a respected professional, a valued partner, and a friend of Sint Maarten.” Acting Chair of the Supervisory Board Julian Lopez Ramirez also addressed Doornbosch at both receptions.
“There were storms, there was headwind, but the CBCS stands stronger today. The foundation for the future has been laid,” Lopez Ramirez said. He also praised Doornbosch’s commitment, persistence, sharp judgement and humanity.
Doornbosch, in turn, thanked the CBCS employees, the governments and other stakeholders for their trust and cooperation. In Curaçao, he addressed the employees in particular: “The CBCS and its employees. You are what I am most proud of. And you are what I will miss the most. You have shown that it can be done. That two small countries can have a modern, professional and highly skilled central bank.”
In Sint Maarten, Doornbosch emphasized the shared character of the CBCS: “We are not the Central Bank of Curaçao with a branch in Sint Maarten. We are the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten. Full stop.”
His message to Sint Maarten was clear: “It is your central bank be proud of it. Take full advantage of its strength.”
New composition of the CBCS Executive Board
The Supervisory Board has nominated Ference Lamp to succeed Doornbosch as President and Candice Henriquez as Executive Director. Together with the current Executive Director, Leila Matroos-Lasten, they will form the Executive Board. Curaçao and Sint Maarten have approved both nominations.
Pending completion of the formal appointment process, Lamp and Henriquez will assume their respective roles as of September 2. Lamp has extensive international experience in the financial sector and has held senior executive positions at, among others, Lehman Brothers, SNS REAAL and Bank of America.
He has longstanding ties with Curaçao, where he attended secondary school and, during his university studies, completed an internship at the former Bank van de Nederlandse Antillen.
Henriquez has been with the Bank since 2005 and has held various management positions in the areas of economic analysis, research, monetary policy and statistics.
Since October 2024, she has served as Manager Monetary Policy, Economics and Statistics. The new composition of the Executive Board ensures continuity in the leadership of the CBCS while building on the Bank’s institutional development over the past years.
L to R: Former CBCS President Richard Doornbosch and Sint Maarten's Minister of Finance Hon. Marinka Gumbs.
