Ciro Kroon

Ciro Domenico Kroon (31 January 1916 – 9 June 2001) was an Curaçao politician and businessman. He served as Minister of Social and Economic Affairs from 1957 until 1968, and Prime Minister of the Netherlands Antilles from 1968 until 1969. The 1969 Curaçao uprising caused the collapse of his government.

Ciro Kroon
Kroon (1963)
Minister of Economic Affairs, Sports and Culture
In office
20 November 1973 – 14 October 1977
Prime Minister of the Netherlands Antilles
In office
15 February 1968 – June 1969
MonarchQueen Juliana
Preceded byEfraïn Jonckheer
Succeeded byGerald Sprockel a.i.
Minister of Social and Economic Affairs
In office
November 1957 – 14 February 1968
Personal details
Born
Ciro Domenico Kroon

(1916-01-31)31 January 1916
Curaçao
Died9 June 2001(2001-06-09) (aged 85)
Curaçao
Political partyDemocratic Party of Curaçao (1944–1970)
Movimento pa adelanto Social Antiyano (1970–)
Occupationpolitician and businessman

Biography

Kroon was born on 31 January 1916 in Curaçao. After finishing high school, he worked in trade.[1] In 1942, he joined the civil service in the Department of Social and Economic Affairs. In 1944, he was one of the founders of the Democratic Party of Curaçao.[2] In 1945, he was a candidate for the Estates of Curaçao and Dependencies,[3] but did not get elected.[4]

In 1949, Kroon was elected to the Estates.[5] On 16 June 1951, he became a member of the island council of Curaçao, and served until 1957.[1][6] In 1956, he first served as acting Lieutenant governor of Curaçao. In November 1957, he was appointed Minister of Social and Economic Affairs.[6]

Prime minister

In January 1968, prime minister Efraïn Jonckheer announced his intention to retire from active politics, and named Kroon as his successor.[7] On 15 February, Kroon became Prime Minister of the Netherlands Antilles. The same day, he wanted to drive to the airport to say goodbye to Jonckheer, however he was involved in a traffic accident with a bus, and was hospitalised with a concussion.[8][9]

Main article: 1969 Curaçao uprising

On the outside, Curaçao appeared to be in great shape. It had one of the highest per capita incomes, a 99.5% literacy rate, a tourist friendly capital with luxury hotels and many duty-free shops,[10]: 1–2  however Royal Dutch Shell, the largest employer, had laid off 2,000 workers. About 20% of the population, mainly of African descent, was unemployed, and many were living in slums on the edge of Willemstad.[10]: 2  On the other hand, the mainly Caucasian management was living in the segregated and gated villa wards of Julianadorp and Emmastad.[11][12]

Aftermath of the 1969 riot

Royal Dutch Shell announced using plumbers of subcontractor Werkspoor Caribbean (WESCAR), where the employees received significant lower wages. A strike was called for the end of May by the unions. On 30 May 1969, the strikers were joined by disgruntled personnel of Texas Instruments, and a march was organised to the centre of Willemstad which escalated in a riot where houses were set on fire, and shops were looted.[13][10]: 2–3 

The police were unable to handle the situation, prime minister Kroon could not located, governor Cola Debrot was in New York, therefore, Ronchi Isa, Minister of Justice, called in the Netherlands Marine Corps.[14]: 348 [15] The riot ended when it was announced that Shell and WESCAR had given into the demands,[13] and the marines left on 6 June.[14]: 349  The riot had resulted in two deaths, 69 wounded, 53 buildings were destroyed, and 190 looted. Damages were estimated at US$40 million.[16] The government of the Netherlands Antilles announced its resignation,[10]: 2–3  and an ad interim government was formed headed by Gerald Sprockel which would act as a place holder until the 1969 elections.[17][18] Ernesto Petronia was later elected as the first Prime Minister of African descent, however the Democratic Party would remain the largest party in the coalition.[19][18]

Later life

In July 1970, Kroon founded the party Movimento pa adelanto Social Antiyano (Movement for Antillian Social Advancement).[20][1] In 1971, he was re-elected to the Estates.[1] On 20 November 1973, he became Minister of Economic Affairs, Sports and Culture in the Evertsz cabinet,[21] and served until 14 October 1977.[22]

After retiring from politics, Kroon became president of the Curaçao branch of Mercantil Banco, and in December 1985, he was appointed formateur of a new government which resulted in the Don Martina government.[23][24]

Honours

See also

References
  1. "Ministers in Cabinet Evertsz". Amigoe di Curacao (in Dutch). 13 December 1973. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  2. "Kroon, Ciro D." Amigoe di Curacao (in Dutch). 3 March 1971. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  3. "De candidaten van de Democratische Partij". De West (in Dutch). 6 August 1945. Retrieved 14 February 2022. De West notes that at least 5 of the 8 candidates including Kroon are Freemasons
  4. "Curaçao". Amigoe di Curacao (in Dutch). 6 November 1945. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  5. "Het nieuwe statencollege". Amigoe di Curacao (in Dutch). 18 March 1949. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  6. "Kroon lid van de ministerraad". Amigoe di Curacao (in Dutch). 7 November 1957. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  7. "Jonchkheer neemt ontslag als premier van de Antillen". Het Parool (in Dutch). 26 January 1968. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  8. "Premier gewond bij aanrijding". Amigoe di Curacao (in Dutch). 15 February 1968. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  9. "Premier nog zes weken in het ziekenhuis". Amigoe di Curacao (in Dutch). 21 February 1968. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  10. Frank McDonald (1 September 1969). "Insurrection in the Dutch Antilles" (PDF). Institute of Current World Affairs. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-03-14.
  11. Anil Ramdas (1992). De papegaai, de stier en de klimmende bougainvillea. Amsterdam: De Bezige Bij. p. 120. ISBN 90 234 3282 7.
  12. Diederik van Engelen (14 February 2022). "Oliedorpen". National Archive of Curaçao (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2022-03-14.
  13. "30. Dertig Mei 1969". Canon of Curaçao (in Dutch). 14 February 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-03-14.
  14. Gert Oostindie (2005). Curaçao, Willemstad. De revolte van 30 mei 1969 (in Dutch). Amsterdam: Bert Bakker. ISBN 9789053563724.
  15. "Premier Silent as Rioters In Curacao Insist He Quit; Premier Silent on Curacao Rioters' Ouster Demand". New York Times. 2 June 1969. Archived from the original on 2018-03-16. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  16. "Remembering the uprising in Curacao May 30, 1969". Curaçao Chronicle. 30 May 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  17. "Sprockel aanvaardt formatie-opdracht". Het Parool (in Dutch). 25 June 1969. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  18. "Politieke partijen en verkiezingen". Historia di Aruba (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  19. "Het Koninkrijk heeft twee nieuwe Premiers". Het vrije volk (in Dutch). 11 December 1969. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  20. "Ex-Premier Kroon right eigen partij op". Vrije Stem (in Dutch). 28 July 1970. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  21. "Ministers gaan en komen". Amigoe di Curacao (in Dutch). 20 December 1970. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  22. "Antilliaans parlement keurt regering Rozendal goed". Reformatorisch Dagblad (in Dutch). 14 October 1977. Archived from the original on 2022-03-14. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  23. "Oud-premier Kroon benoemd tot informateur op Antillen". NRC Handelsblad (in Dutch). 4 December 1985. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  24. "Don Martina premier van kabinet Antillen". NRC Handelblad (in Dutch). 31 December 1985. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  25. "Decoration (in the year 1815–1993)". Open Archives. Archived from the original on 2022-03-14. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  26. "Decoration (in the year 1815–1993)". Open Archives. Archived from the original on 2022-03-14. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
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