Adèle van der Pluijm-Vrede

Adèle van der Pluijm-Vrede
Acting Governor of Curaçao
Incumbent
Assumed office
10 October 2010
Prime Minister Stanley Betrian
Daniel Hodge
Ivar Asjes
Preceded by none (office established)
Monarch Beatrix
Willem-Alexander
Governor Frits Goedgedrag
Lucille George-Wout
Acting Governor of the Netherlands Antilles
In office
1 April 2002 – 10 October 2010
Monarch Beatrix
Governor Frits Goedgedrag
Preceded by R.M. De Paula
Succeeded by office abolished
Personal details
Born 1952 (age 62–63)
Curaçao
Nationality Dutch
Residence Fort Amsterdam
Profession Notary

Adèle Pauline van der Pluijm-Vrede (born 1952) serves as Acting Governor of Curaçao since October 10, 2010. When Governor of Curaçao, Frits Goedgedrag, laid down his position on 24 November 2012 due to health reasons, Van der Pluijm-Vrede took over his tasks while remaining Acting Governor until on 4 November 2013 Lucille George-Wout was sworn in as Governor.[1]

Van der Pluijm-Vrede swore in her deputy, N.C. Römer-Kenepa, as second Acting Governor at Fort Amsterdam on 24 June 2013.

Political offices

From 2002 to 2010 Van der Pluijm-Vrede served as Acting Governor of the Netherlands Antilles, with Frits Goedgedrag being Governor.[2] After the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles of which Curaçao was part, Van der Pluijm-Vrede took up the position of Acting Governor of Curaçao. When Governor Frits Goedgedrag resigned in November 2012, Van der Pluijm-Vrede took over his tasks.

In December 2010, Helmin Wiels, leader of Pueblo Soberano in the Estates of Curaçao mentioned that he would like to see the resignation of Van der Pluijm-Vrede. According to Wiels Van der Pluijm-Vrede should not have instructed the Curaçao's intelligence agency to screen Ministers of Curaçao.[3]

On 2 January 2013, Van der Pluijm-Vrede swore in the technocrat cabinet of Daniel Hodge, and honorably dismissed the previous interim-cabinet led by Stanley Betrian.[4] The Hodge cabinet was formed as another interim cabinet, this time to handle reforms after the 2012 elections which failed to produce a coalition ready to reform. On 27 March 2013 the Hodge cabinet resigned after there were indications that political parties in Curaçao would be able to form a political cabinet. The Hodge cabinet took caretaker-status.[5] On 5 May 2013, Helmin Wiels, who was involved in the process of cabinet formation, was killed.[6] On 27 May 2013 Van der Pluijm-Vrede was asked by the then coaliation of PS, PAIS, PNP and independent member Glenn Sulvaran, to install a political cabinet on 3 June 2013. Member of Parliament for PS, Ivar Asjes, resigned his seat to become the new Prime Minister of Curaçao.[7] Formateur Glenn Camelia, who had been appointed previously, handed in his final report to Van der Pluijm-Vrede the same day. The final report contained information regarding the formation and proposed cabinet ministers.[7] Asjes withdrew his resignation from Parliament a few days later, after having received a letter by Van der Pluijm-Vrede which said that the screening on integrity of the new ministers was not yet completed. She said that as a consequence it would not be possible to install the new government on 3 June.[8][9] On 7 June 2013 Van der Pluijm-Vrede installed the new government under Ivar Asjes.[10]

On 30 April 2013, Van der Pluijm-Vrede was present at the abdication of Queen Beatrix. She signed the Act of Abdication (Dutch: Akte van Abdicatie) as a witness for the delegation of Curaçao.[11][12][13][14][15] On Monday, June 24, 2013 she swore in her deputy, N.C. Römer-Kenepa, at Fort Amsterdam.

On 4 November 2013 Lucille George-Wout was sworn in by King Willem-Alexander as the new Governor of Curaçao.[16]

Other career

Aside from her position as Acting Governor, Van der Pluijm-Vrede is a notary. She has her own notary office since 1994.[2]

Legal issues

In October 2011 Van der Pluijm-Vrede was summoned by the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.[17] She was summoned after Barney Ivanovic filed charges against her concerning forgery and perverting the course of justice. Ivanovic claimed that on 1 March 2008 he was forced out of the Plaza Hotel in Willemstad, which he claims was his own after he bought it from the Van der Valk hotel chain. He was supposedly threatened under gunpoint by George Jamaloodin, who at the time of the incident was owner of Speedy Security, but at the time of the charges was Minister of Finance of Curaçao. Ivanovic' charges related to the ownership of the building, which Van der Pluijm-Vrede supposedly incorrectly handled.[18] Ivanovic said that at some times he did not know whether he was dealing with a notary or with the Acting Governor.[17] Van der Pluijm-Vrede refused to go to the court, citing costs and her work as notary and Acting Governor General. She asked the court to drop the charges.[17] On 9 November 2011 the claims filed by Ivanovic regarding Van der Pluijm-Vrede were dismissed. The presiding judge cited lack of personal jurisdiction as the case concerned foreign nationals and companies, having no relation with Florida. The judge also cited failure to state a claim by Ivanovic.[19] On 20 August 2013 Van der Pluijm-Vrede was heard as witness by the Joint Court of Justice on Curaçao in her capacity as notary concerning the same case.[20]

References

  1. ↑ "Governor Goedgedrag submits his resignation". Dutch Caribbean Legal Portal. 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2013-05-29.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "The Present Acting Governor". The Governor of Curaçao. Retrieved 2013-05-29.
  3. ↑ Elisa Koek (2010-12-07). "'Waarnemend gouverneur moet opstappen'" (in Dutch). Versgeperst.com. Retrieved 2013-05-29.
  4. ↑ "Images Of The Installation Ceremony Of The New Government Of Curacao". Curaçao Chronicle. 2013-01-02. Retrieved 2013-05-29.
  5. ↑ "Hodge cabinet Curacao officially resigned". Dutch Caribbean Legal Portal. 2013-03-27. Retrieved 2013-05-29.
  6. ↑ "Curacao politician Helmin Wiels shot dead". BBC News. 6 May 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Coalition Aims For June 3". Curaçao Chronicle. 2013-05-28. Retrieved 2013-05-30.
  8. ↑ "Asjes Withdraws His Resignation From Parliament". Curaçao Chronicle. 2013-06-01. Retrieved 2013-06-03.
  9. ↑ Leoni Leidel-Schenk (2013-06-01). "Gouverneur: beëdiging kabinet niet maandag" (in Dutch). Versgeperst.com. Retrieved 2013-06-03.
  10. ↑ "Curacao’s New Government". Curaçao Chronicle. 2013-06-07. Retrieved 2013-06-09.
  11. ↑ "Getuigen en gasten bij abdicatie Koningin" (in Dutch). Koninklijke Huis. 2013-04-28. Retrieved 2013-06-03.
  12. ↑ "30 April 2013 - Succession to the throne - Programme". Royal Palace Amsterdam. Retrieved 2013-05-30.
  13. ↑ "Wie is aanwezig bij de abdicatie?" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Omroep Stichting. 2013-04-30. Retrieved 2013-05-30.
  14. ↑ "Outline of Abdication and Investiture Programme". Koninklijke Huis. 2013-03-19. Retrieved 2013-05-30.
  15. ↑ "Beatrix tekent abdicatie, Willem-Alexander nieuwe koning (at 14:45)". Nederlandse Omroep Stichting, on YouTube. 2013-04-30. Retrieved 2013-05-30.
  16. ↑ "Koning beëdigt eerste vrouwelijke gouverneur van Curaçao" (in Dutch). de Volkskrant. 4 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Natasja Gibbs (2011-10-05). "Van der Pluijm-Vrede negeert Amerikaanse dagvaarding" (in Dutch). Radio Netherlands Worldwide. Retrieved 2013-05-29.
  18. ↑ "Plaza Hotel Curacao – Crime Scene Story". Curaçao Chronicle. 2012-12-10. Retrieved 2013-05-29.
  19. ↑ "Case 1l-80726-civ-Ryskamp/Vitunac" (PDF). United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. 2011-11-09. Retrieved 2013-05-29.
  20. ↑ Pieter Hofmann (20 August 2013). "Van der Pluijm-Vrede gehoord als getuige" (in Dutch). Versgeperst.com. Retrieved 4 September 2013.

External links