The Parliament of the Netherlands Antilles (; ), 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.Amigoe di Curaçao, "Dertig jaar: eerste Staten N.A.", 20 december 1967 On 10 October 2010, the Netherlands Antilles were dissolved, and so was the parliament.
History
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 whom 5 were appointed by the Governor of the Netherlands Antilles and 10 were elected in elections held in the territories. In 1949, universal suffrage was introduced and parliament grew from 15 to 21 seats. From 1950, the Parliament had 22 members, elected by proportional representation for a term of 4 years.
The Parliament received subsequent criticism for the way it allocated representation, with it being viewed by academics that the smaller islands in the Netherlands Antilles were overrepresented. It was also felt that the attempt to create an Antillian identity in the Dutch Caribbean was similar to the British attempt with the West Indies Federation.
Seats +Number of seats by constituencyConstituencyTimespan1938–19451945–19491949–19501950–19851986–20102388–112136581214Windward Islands11–1–––1–1––1–1––1–3Appointed members55–––Total1515212222
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. Römer 1947-1949 CKP Curaçao 4 J.E. Yrausquin 1949-1950 PPA Aruba 5 W.R. Plantz 1950-1951 – Windward Islands 6 J.C. Debrol 1951-1952 KVP Curaçao 7 P. Cohen 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