Hensley Koeiman

Hensley Felix Koeiman (born 21 May 1956) is a Curaçaoan politician who served as the 6th Prime Minister of Curaçao between 23 December 2016 and 24 March 2017. A member of the Partido MAN, he was Minister of Social Affairs, Employment and Welfare in the Gerrit Schotte cabinet (October 2010 – September 2012). Afterwards Koeiman served in the Parliament of Curaçao from the 2012 general election until his appointment as Prime Minister.[1][2] Since 29 May 2017 he has been Minister of Social Affairs, Employment and Welfare in the Eugene Rhuggenaath cabinet.

Hensley Koeiman
Koeiman in 2017
6th Prime Minister of Curaçao
In office
23 December 2016 – 24 March 2017
MonarchWillem-Alexander
GovernorLucille George-Wout
Preceded byBen Whiteman
Succeeded byGilmar Pisas
Minister of Social Affairs, Employment and Welfare
In office
29 May 2017 – 14 June 2021
Prime MinisterEugene Rhuggenaath
Preceded byJaime Córdoba
In office
10 October 2010 – 29 September 2012
Prime MinisterGerrit Schotte
Preceded bypost created
Personal details
Born (1956-05-21) 21 May 1956
Political partyPartido MAN

Career

Koeiman was born in Wacawa, Banda Bou, Curaçao, on 21 May 1956. He went to the Netherlands to study architectural engineering at the Hogere technische school in Tilburg.[3] Koeiman worked as a teacher of architectural engineering at a Middelbare technische school. He was also head of the country building service of the Netherlands Antilles as well as head of the facilitary services of the Bank of the Netherlands Antilles.[3]

From 2007 until the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles on 10 October 2010, Koeiman was member of the island council of Curaçao.[3] He was number five of the candidate list for the 2010 Curaçao general election.[4]

On 1 June 2013 Koeiman was elected Partido MAN party leader and succeeded Charles Cooper.[5][6]

Koeiman was lijsttrekker for the Partido MAN for the 2016 Curaçao general election. His party won the most votes, resulting in four seats in the Estates.[7] Koeiman stated he was ready to take a role in government.[8] On 14 December a coalition agreement was signed between the Partido MAN, the Party for the Restructured Antilles (PAR), National People's Party (PNP) and Sovereign People (PS). Kenneth Gijsbertha of the Partido Man had been formateur. Koeiman was designated as Prime Minister of Curaçao.[9] A new cabinet could not be immediately installed pending screening of the ministers.[10]

Prime Minister

Koeiman's cabinet was sworn in by Governor George-Wout on 23 December 2016.[11][12] Seven members of Parliament joined the cabinet.[13]

Ministry Minister Period Party
Prime Minister Hensley Koeiman 23 December 2016 – 24 March 2017 Partido MAN
Minister for Education, Science, Culture and Sport Elsa Rozendal 23 December 2016 – 24 March 2017 Partido MAN
Minister for Social Development, Work and Welfare Jaime Córdoba 23 December 2016 – 24 March 2017 Sovereign People
Minister for Justice Ornelio Martina 23 December 2016 – 24 March 2017 National People's Party
Minister for Governance, Planning and Service Ruthmilda Larmonie-Cecilia 23 December 2016 – 24 March 2017 Sovereign People
Minister for Finance Kenneth Gijsbertha 23 December 2016 – 24 March 2017 Partido MAN
Minister for Traffic, Transport and Urban Planning Suzanne Camelia-Römer 23 December 2016 – 24 March 2017 National People's Party
Minister for Economic Development Eugene Rhuggenaath 23 December 2016 – 24 March 2017 Party for the Restructured Antilles
Minister for Health, Environment and Nature Zita Jesus-Leito 23 December 2016 – 24 March 2017 Party for the Restructured Antilles

Source:[11]

On 12 February 2017 the Koeiman cabinet fell after Sovereign People withdrew its support in Parliament.[14] The Sovereign People parliamentarians in their letter of withdrawal of support also announced to support a government led by the Movement for the Future of Curaçao of Gerrit Schotte.[15] Koeiman stated that there had been pressure on his government coalition from the start.[16] His cabinet continued as a demissionary cabinet.[17] Koeiman announced he wished to hold new elections on 28 April 2017.[14]

On 24 March 2017 Koeiman was succeeded as Prime Minister by Gilmar Pisas.[18][19]

Political career

On 29 May 2017 he joined the cabinet of Eugene Rhuggenaath as Minister of Social Affairs, Employment and Welfare.[20] On 13 June 2019 he announced he was willing to vacate the position of leader of the Partido MAN.[21] On 12 August 2019 the party granted his request and started a search for a new leader.[22]

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Curaçao following the introduction of a lockdown, Koeiman stated that nobody would be allowed to be on the streets, with the exception of vital-care workers. This was the first time in the history of Curaçao.[23]

Personal life

Koeiman is divorced. He has six children.[3]

References
  1. "Hensley F. Koeiman" (in Dutch). Estates of Curaçao. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  2. "Nieuwe Staten aangetreden" (in Dutch). GoCuraçao. 2 November 2012. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  3. "De K's van Koeiman" (in Dutch). Radio Nederland Wereldomroep. 10 November 2010. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  4. "Lijsten van kandidaten" (PDF) (in Dutch). Edson Evertz. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  5. "Hensley Koeiman leidt partido MAN" (in Dutch). qracao.com. 3 June 2013. Archived from the original on 21 February 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  6. "Koeiman nieuwe leider MAN". Antilliaans Dagblad (in Dutch). 3 June 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  7. "Sociaal-democraten verslaan Schotte op Curaçao" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Omroep Stichting. 6 October 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  8. "Koeiman says ready to govern Curaçao". The Daily Herald. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  9. "Kabinet-Koeiman dichtbij". Antilliaans Dagblad (in Dutch). 15 December 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  10. "Nieuwe premier Curaçao belooft strijd tegen corruptie" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Omroep Stichting. 16 December 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  11. "Vandaag benoeming kabinet Koeiman". Knipselkrant Curaçao. 23 December 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  12. "Kabinet Koeiman vrijdag beëdigd". Noticia Cla. 24 December 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  13. "Alle namen van parlementariërs bekend". Dolfijn.fm. 28 December 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  14. Etienne Verschuren (13 February 2017). "Regering Curaçao valt na zeven weken". NRC Handelsblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  15. "Regering van Curaçao gevallen". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). 13 February 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  16. "Kabinet Curaçao alweer gevallen, nieuwe verkiezingen op komst" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Omroep Stichting. 12 February 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  17. "Nieuwe verkiezingen". Antilliaans Dagblad (in Dutch). 12 February 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  18. "Pisas beëdigd als nieuwe premier Curaçao" (in Dutch). NU.nl. 24 March 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  19. "Pisas Sworn In As New Prime Minister Of Curaçao" (in Dutch). The Curaçao Chronicle. 24 March 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  20. "Kabinet treedt maandag aan". Antilliaans Dagblad. 23 May 2017. Archived from the original on 11 July 2017.
  21. "Hensley Koeiman stelt positie als leider Partij Man ter beschikking" (in Dutch). Paradise FM. 14 June 2019. Archived from the original on 10 May 2020.
  22. "MAN zoekt officieel opvolger Koeiman". curacao.nu. 12 August 2019. Archived from the original on 15 September 2019.
  23. "Niemand mag zondag in Curaçao de straat op". Dagblad van het Noorden. 4 April 2020. Archived from the original on 8 April 2020.
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