WILLEMSTAD – Questions have arisen over the position of Curaçao’s fire chief, Jair Tromp, after his role was reportedly changed in what sources describe as a strange and inexplicable manner.

Tromp, an Aruban national, was appointed in 2023 without a set end date. During a performance review in July of last year, everything appeared to be in order. However, one year later, he unexpectedly received a letter stating that his appointment was still considered a probationary period, despite that period having already expired.

He has since been temporarily reassigned to the Department of Disaster Prevention, pending the termination of his contract in October.

The situation is particularly striking given that Tromp was publicly honored in July during the celebration of the fire department’s 50th anniversary, only to step down from his position shortly thereafter.

Before his tenure in Curaçao, Tromp served as Commandant-General of the fire brigades on the BES islands. On Curaçao, he was tasked with implementing the Fire Department Strengthening Plan, which focuses on five key areas: organizational structure and functions, the legal status of personnel, the professional training system, legislation and regulations, and a comprehensive plan for both internal and external communication.