Parliament of the Netherlands Antilles

Staten van de Nederlandse Antillen
Parlamento di Antias Hulandes
History
Founded5 April 1938 (1938-04-05)
Disbanded10 October 2010 (2010-10-10)
Preceded byColonial Council of Curaçao and Dependencies
Succeeded byParliament of Curaçao
Parliament of Sint Maarten
States General of the Netherlands
Seats15 (1938–1949)
21 (1949–1950)
22 (1950–2010)
Elections
Last election
22 January 2010
Motto
Cum lege libertas (Latin)
"With the law there is freedom"
Meeting place
Statengebouw, Wilhelminaplein, Willemstad
Politics of the Netherlands Antilles
Constitution
Executive
Legislature
Judiciary
Elections
Related topics

The Parliament of the Netherlands Antilles (Dutch: Staten van de Nederlandse Antillen; Papiamento: Parlamento di Antias Hulandes), also translated as the Estates of the Netherlands Antilles, was the parliament of the Netherlands Antilles. It comprised 22 members, elected for a four-year term in three multi-seat constituencies and two single-seat constituencies.[1] On 10 October 2010, the Netherlands Antilles were dissolved, and so was the parliament.[2]

History

Main article: Elections in the Netherlands Antilles

On 20 December 1937, the first parliamentary election took place following the reorganization of the Colonial Council of Curaçao and Dependencies. The first Parliament of the Netherlands Antilles consisted of 15 members, of which 5 were appointed by the Governor of the Netherlands Antilles and 10 were elected through elections held in the territories. In 1949, universal suffrage was introduced and parliament grew from 15 to 21 seats. Beginning in 1950, the Parliament consisted out of 22 seats, elected through proportional representation for a period 4 years.[1]

Seats

Number of seats by constituency
Constituency Timespan
1938–1945 1945–1949 1949–1950 1950–1985 1986–2010
 Aruba 2 3 8 8 –
 Bonaire 1 1 2 1 3
 Curaçao 6 5 8 12 14
Windward Islands 1 1 – 1 –
 Saba – – 1 – 3
 Sint Eustatius – – 1 – 1
 Sint Maarten – – 1 – 1
Appointed members 5 5 – – –
Total 15 15 21 22 22

List of presidents

Following the 1937 general election, the Members of the Parliament of the Netherlands Antilles elected J.H. Sprockel as the first president of the Parliament. The last person to hold this position was Pedro Atacho (2007–2010).

Presidents of the Parliament of the Netherlands Antilles
No. Name Term of office Party Constituency
1 J.H. Sprockel 1938-1945 CKP Curaçao
2 A.W. Desertine 1945-1947 CKP Curaçao
3 E.A. Romer 1947-1949 CKP Curaçao
4 J.E. Yrausquin 1949-1950 PPA Aruba
5 W.R. Plantz 1950-1951 − −
6 J.C. Debrol 1951-1952 KVP Curaçao
7 P.C. Henriquez 1952-1953 NVP Curaçao
8 J.E. Yrausquin 1954-1956 PPA Aruba
9 R.J. Isa 1956-1959 DP Curaçao
10 J.A.O. Bikker 1959-1966 DP Curaçao
11 O.R.A. Beaujon 1966-1968 DP Curaçao
12 L.A. Abraham 1968-1969 PDB Bonaire
13 C.E. Cathalina 1969-1971 DP Curaçao
14 F.L. Maduro 1971-1973 PRO Aruba
15 R. ElHage 1973-1975 PSD Curaçao
16 F.D. Figaroa 1975-1976 MEP Aruba
17 A. Nita 1976-1977 FOL Curaçao
18 J.A.O. Bikker 1977-1979 DP Curaçao
19 F.D. Figaroa 1979 MEP Aruba
20 G.F. Croes 1979-1980 MEP Aruba
21 P. Bislip 1980-1982 ADN Aruba
22 R.A.E. Markes 1982 MAN Example
23 R. Lopez Henriquez 1983 AVP Aruba
24 R.A.E. Markes 1984-1985 MAN Curaçao
25 J.A.O. Bikker 1986-1988 DP Curaçao
26 E.A.V. Jesrun 1988 NVP Curaçao
27 H. Thomas 1988-1990 NVP Curaçao
28 R.F. McWilliam 1990-1993 NVP Curaçao
29 D.A.S. Lucia 1993-1994 FOL Curaçao
30 L.A. George-Wout 1994-1998 PAR Curaçao
31 E.A. Cova 1998-1999 PLKP Curaçao
32 D.A.S. Lucia 2001-2005 FOL Curaçao
33 D.E. Puriel 2006 MAN Curaçao
34 R.J. Francisca 2006-2007 MAN Curaçao
35 P.J. Atacho 2007-2010 PAR Curaçao

References

  1. ^ a b Amigoe di Curaçao, "Dertig jaar: eerste Staten N.A.", 20 december 1967
  2. ^ Besluit van 23 September 2010 tot vaststelling van het tijdstip van inwerkingtreding van de artikelen I en II van de Rijkswet wijziging Statuut in verband met de opheffing van de Nederlandse Antillen


Categories