WILLEMSTAD/GREAT BAY--The Centrale Bank van Curaçao en St. Maarten (CBCS) has formally bid farewell to President Richard Doornbosch after six years at the helm, as the institution prepares for a leadership transition that will see Ference Lamp and Candice Henriquez assume senior roles on September 2.
Doornbosch leaves the CBCS effective September 1 to join the Executive Board of the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM). Lamp will assume the role of President of the CBCS, while Henriquez will become Executive Director. Together with current Executive Director Leila Matroos-Lasten, they will form the Bank's Executive Board.
Farewell receptions were held in both Curaçao and St. Maarten to recognize Doornbosch's tenure, which began in August 2020. During his six years as president, the CBCS pointed to several major developments, including resolution of the ENNIA case, modernization and strengthening of the Bank's supervision and internal organization, and the introduction of the Caribbean guilder.
At the St. Maarten reception, Minister of Finance Marinka Gumbs highlighted Doornbosch's efforts to ensure that St. Maarten maintained a meaningful 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,” Gumbs said.
She described Doornbosch as “a committed public servant, a respected professional, a valued partner, and a friend of St. Maarten.”
Doornbosch also used his farewell in St. Maarten to underscore that the CBCS belongs equally to both countries in the monetary union.
“We are not the Central Bank of Curaçao with a branch in St. Maarten. We are the Central Bank of Curaçao and St. Maarten. Full stop,” Doornbosch said.
His message to St. Maarten was equally direct: “It is your central bank be proud of it. Take full advantage of its strength.”
Acting Chair of the CBCS Supervisory Board Julian Lopez Ramirez also addressed Doornbosch at the farewell receptions, reflecting on the challenges the Bank faced during his tenure.
“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 for his commitment, persistence, judgement and humanity.
Doornbosch thanked CBCS employees, the governments of both countries and other stakeholders for their trust and cooperation throughout his tenure.
Addressing Bank employees, he said they represented the achievement of which he was most proud.
“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.”
The transition now moves the CBCS into a new leadership period.
The Supervisory Board nominated Lamp to succeed Doornbosch as President and Henriquez as Executive Director, with both Curaçao and St. Maarten approving the nominations. Pending completion of the formal appointment process, both will assume their respective roles on September 2.
Lamp brings extensive international financial-sector experience, having held senior executive positions at Lehman Brothers, SNS REAAL and Bank of America. He also has longstanding ties with Curaçao, where he attended secondary school and later completed an internship at the former Bank van de Nederlandse Antillen while pursuing his university studies.
Henriquez brings more than two decades of institutional experience at the CBCS. She joined the Bank in 2005 and has served in various management positions covering economic analysis, research, monetary policy and statistics. Since October 2024, she has served as Manager Monetary Policy, Economics and Statistics.
The CBCS said the new composition of the Executive Board is intended to provide continuity in the Bank's leadership while building on its institutional development of recent years.
