WILLEMSTAD--The PS/PAIS/PNP/Sulvaran coalition has agreed that Bernard “Ben” Denzil Whiteman (PS) will be the new Prime Minister of Curaçao for the next three months and he was sworn in as such by Governor Lucille George-Wout. The 61-year-old doctor and current Minister of Public Health, Environment and Nature takes over from fellow party member Ivar Asjes, who resigned as per immediate on Monday after the PS-fraction in Parliament withdrew its confidence in him.
Asjes was elected into Parliament but became prime minister in 2013 after the murder of PS-leader and co-founder Helmin Wiels, who was also a parliamentarian at the time.
Asjes has announced a press conference about his departure today, Wednesday, and until then did not want to comment on the problems with his party. There were a handful of supporters who said they would back him if he starts his own political party.
There has been tension for quite awhile within “Pueblo Soberano” (PS) and the now former prime minister was accused of going his own way instead of following the legislative fraction’s instructions. Recently Asjes continued to support the Minister plenipotentiary in The Hague Marvelyne Wiels (PS), despite a damning report by the former Curaçao Ombudsman Alba Martijn.
“He has no integrity,” said some members. A parliamentary motion to give the late Helmin Wiels sister a serious warning supported by the PS-fraction was not carried out by Asjes.
Whiteman does not want to say much about the background of his appointment. He regrets the course of events and is available only for three months as prime minister.
In the meantime, the party can seek a suitable successor and to present him or her for the screening process. Whiteman can then again concentrate on his work as Minister of Public Health, Environment and Nature.
Political observer and scientific researcher Gilbert Cijntje said in his opinion Asjes could have continued had he not postulated himself to become the next board president of PS, only to later withdraw his candidacy due to criticism from the same group. “It’s unthinkable that in a country a prime minister is not in good standing with the fraction that proposed him for the post in the first place.”
He noted that having one of the five fraction members become prime minister is not an option, because the vacated Parliament seat would go back to Asjes based on the last election result.
There were differences regarding the Kingdom dispute regulation and Asjes was blamed for being too positive towards the Netherlands, while PS is a pro-independence party. It’s interesting to note in this regard that Dutch Minister of Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk issued a statement that mentions “great appreciation and respect for the way in which Mr. Asjes led his country and contributed to good relations within the Kingdom.”
Plasterk also had a phone conversation with Whiteman in which he expressed the desire to continue the good manner of cooperating and wished him success with his task.
The name of Glenn Camelia, who helped form the current government, was being mentioned as possible candidate for PS-prime minister in the future.
It is also said that Wiels has no intention of relinquishing her post in The Hague.
