Moises Frumencio da Costa Gomez
Dr. Moises Frumencio da Costa Gomez (27 October 1907 – 22 November 1966)[2] was the president of the first Governing Council (Regeringsraad) of the Netherlands Antilles and is often referred to as the first Prime Minister.[3]
Dr. Moises Frumencio da Costa Gomez | |
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Dr. Moises Frumencio da Costa Gomez, 1960 | |
1st Prime Minister of the Netherlands Antilles | |
In office 1951–1954 | |
Monarch | Juliana |
Succeeded by | Efraïn F. Jonckheer |
Personal details | |
Born | 27 October 1907 |
Died | 22 November 1966 59)[1] | (aged
Political party | Founder of the National People's Party (PNP/NVP) |
Spouse(s) | Lucina da Costa Gomez-Matheeuws |
Da Costa Gomez, a lawyer by training, was a member of the Roman Catholic Party before founding the National People's Party in the 1940s.[4] Da Costa Gomez was president of the first Governing Council (Regeringsraad) at the head of a coalition government with the Aruban People's Party (AVP) from 1951 to 1954, and is often referred to as the first Prime Minister of the Netherlands Antilles. His party negotiated full autonomy at the 1954 Roundtable Conference, involving the Netherlands and Suriname.[5] Following the 1954 elections, the Democratic Party took over governing the Netherlands Antilles.[4] Da Costa Gomez remained the leader of the National People's Party; he was succeeded in leadership by Juan Evertsz after his death in 1966.[4]
Da Costa Gomez's doctoral thesis called for self-government and universal suffrage and inspired his followers as well as the Roman Catholic Party.[5] Reforms led by Gomez led to legalization of tambú music parties in 1952.[6] In 1973 a statue of the statesman was unveiled in the center of the Curaçao capital Willemstad.[1]
He is buried in a monument at the Morada Santa (cemetery) in Bottelier.
References
- Caribbean monthly bulletin: Volumes 7-9, 1973
- "Amigoe di Curacao : weekblad voor de Curacaosche eilanden". www.delpher.nl (in Dutch). November 22, 1966. Retrieved 2018-09-29.
- "Staatkundige geschiedenis periode 1". www.nationaalarchief.cw. Retrieved 2018-10-02.
- Anderson, William A; Russell R Dynes (1975). Social movements, violence, and change: The May Movement in Curasao. Columbus, OH: Ohio State University Press. pp. 50–52. ISBN 0-8142-0240-3.
- Modern political culture in the Caribbean by Holger Henke, Fred Reńo, page 386
- The 'air of liberty': narratives of the South Atlantic past by Ineke Phaf-Rheinberger, page 124
Political offices | ||
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Preceded by office established |
Prime Minister of the Netherlands Antilles 1951 – 1954 |
Succeeded by Efraïn F. Jonckheer |