Juan Alfonso Boekhoudt (Papiamento pronunciation: [ˈʒwan alˈfɔnso buˈkhɑwt]; born 27 January 1965) is an Aruban politician serving as the 4th governor of Aruba since 2017. He previously served as minister plenipotentiary from 14 November 2013 to 17 November 2016.

Alfonso Boekhoudt
4th Governor of Aruba
Assumed office
1 January 2017
MonarchWillem-Alexander
Prime MinisterMike Eman
Evelyn Wever-Croes
Preceded byFredis Refunjol
Minister Plenipotentiary of Aruba
In office
14 November 2013 – 17 November 2016
Prime MinisterMike Eman
Preceded byEdwin Abath
Succeeded byJuan David Yrausquin
Personal details
Born (1965-01-27) 27 January 1965 (age 59)
Aruba, Kingdom of the Netherlands

Biography

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Boekhoudt was born on Aruba on 27 January 1965.[1] Between 1991 and 1994, he worked in the cabinet of the minister plenipotentiary of Aruba. From 1994 to 2005 he worked as financial manager and director in the private sector. He served as director of the Aruba Ports Authority between 2005 and 2013.[2][3] He also served as the chairman of the Aruba Red Cross between October 2010 and November 2013.[1][4]

He was appointed as minister plenipotentiary of Aruba per 13 November 2013, he succeeded Edwin Abath. Boekhoudt was succeeded by Juan David Yrausquin on 17 November 2016.[5]

Appointment as governor

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In October 2016, the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of the Netherlands appointed Boekhoudt as governor of Aruba per 1 January 2017.[6] He was nominated by the Dutch minister of the interior and kingdom relations, Ronald Plasterk.[7]

The move drew criticism from the Aruban cabinet, which stated that the rules of the Council of Ministers of the kingdom regarding gubernatorial appointments had not been followed. With the Aruban cabinet wishing that the appointment was reversed. The Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations stated that the rules had been followed.[8] The Aruban cabinet had nominated Finance Minister Angel Bermudez for the position.[9]

The Aruban cabinet subsequently withdrew confidence in Boekhoudt, forcing him to resign as minister plenipotentiary of Aruba per 1 November 2016.[10] On 18 October the conflict between Eman and Plasterk was settled, with Eman accepting the appointment of Boekhoudt, with the parties jointly declaring that the process was not handled perfectly.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b "J.A. (Alfonso) Boekhoudt" (in Dutch). Parlement.com. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  2. ^ "RESUME J.A. Boekhoudt" (PDF). Montesquieu Instituut. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020.
  3. ^ "Alfonso Boekhoudt nieuwe gevolmachtigde minister" (in Dutch). Caribisch Netwerk. 8 November 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  4. ^ "Alfonso Boekhoudt, gevolmachtigde minister in Den Haag" (in Dutch). Aruba Gobierno. Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  5. ^ "Het Kabinet van de Gevolmachtigde Minister van Aruba" (in Dutch). Arubahuis. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  6. ^ "Benoemingen Aruba en Sint Maarten" (in Dutch). Rijksoverheid. 7 October 2016. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  7. ^ "RMR: Alfonso Boekhoudt nieuwe gouverneur Aruba" (in Dutch). NoticiaCla. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  8. ^ Charlotte Huisman (16 October 2016). "Alfonso Boekhoudt niet gewenst als gouverneur van Aruba" (in Dutch). de Volkskrant. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  9. ^ "Aruba pikt benoeming nieuwe gouverneur niet" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Omroep Stichting. 16 October 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  10. ^ Sharina Henriquez. "Aruba boos over benoeming en zet toekomstige gouverneur Boekhoudt aan de kant" (in Dutch). Caribisch Netwerk. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  11. ^ "Plasterk en Aruba leggen conflict om gouverneur bij" (in Dutch). NRC Handelsblad. 18 October 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
Government offices
Preceded by Governor of Aruba
2017–present
Incumbent