WILLEMSTAD - Unlike MFK Member of Parliament Eduard Braam, who indicated yesterday that he would no longer be available for a ministerial post because of all the commotion surrounding his person, Ramon Chong does not think about withdrawing his candidacy. As far as he is concerned, all allegations against him are false.
Ramon Chong has been nominated as Minister of Economic Affairs on behalf of the PNP party and gave a press conference yesterday about the allegations against him that recently made the news.
At the start of the press conference, Chong didn't seem very sure of his own story. When the reporter from the Dutch news site NU.cw arrived, he was quickly shown the door. Perhaps because the reporter has worked at CBA Television in the past and therefore might have wanted to shed a different light on the matter during the question period. Something the already irritated Chong was not waiting for. The reporter did not allow himself to be silenced and did not leave the room.
The question is whether many new things were said during the press conference. Chong insisted he had no responsibility in the mess left at CBA Television. Something a group of former CBA employees recently accused him of in a letter to informateur Chester Peterson. In the letter, the former employees cited a laundry list of reasons - from poor leadership to convictions for corruption - that would indicate that Chong is anything but suitable for the ministry.
At the press conference, Chong brushed aside every allegation and washed his hands in innocence. He labeled nearly every paragraph of the letter false. He wouldn't have owned CBA Television anyway, but merely an advisor dealing with a crisis at the TV station. "And no one has put as much effort into that as I have," he added.
According to Chong, the waiting is now for the screening. But according to several lawyers he has asked for advice, he shouldn't have to worry about that. He doesn't know yet what he will do if the outcome turns out to be different. Chong did indicate that if he doesn’t come through the screening process he might take his case to court.