WILLEMSTAD - The Curaçao government has to choose a new operator for the Isla refinery. According to credible sources three parties are involved: Luis Giusti, the former president of PDVSA, the Brazilian Roberto Viana, previously a partner of the Curaçao Oil Refinery Complex bv (CORC), and the Indian Essar group.
It is now up to the government of MFK and PNP ministers to make a choice. That is not easy, because there seems to be a discord. Last week Wednesday, the specially appointed headhunting committee gave a presentation, in which the Council of Ministers was handed a list of the three parties that emerged as the best - after submitting and studying their 'binding proposal'. Reportedly, however, the Supervisory Board (RvC) of government-owned company Refineria di Kòrsou (RdK) has its own preference, or at least a different order.
In an advisory report, RdK’s supervisory board, chaired by chairman Elvis Quarton, would be more in favor of the selection of the Viana group, which is represented locally by former PNP minister Rutsel Martha; he claims to be a representative and legal advisor to a group of which Viana is a part.
There are strong indications that the headhunting committee sees this (very) differently and that the group Giusti is put forward as the number one 'preferred bidder'. Essar, with the so-called Aldea group, is originally Indian, but has had major Russian financial interests for some time. Viana Batista from Brazil, as a partner of Corc (Curaçao Oil Refinery Complex), was ultimately unable to demonstrate that he had sufficient funds. How that is now is unknown.