Ben Whiteman

Bernard "Ben" Denzil Whiteman (born 20 August 1954) is a Curaçaoan politician who served as the fifth prime minister of Curaçao from September 2015 to December 2016. He also was the Minister of Public Health, Environment and Nature since 31 December 2012 in the Asjes-Cabinet and the Hodge-Cabinet before taking the post, retaining the position after becoming prime minister.

Early life Bernard Denzil Whiteman was born on 20 August 1954.

Political career Early political career On 31 December 2012 Whiteman became Minister of Public Health, Environment and Nature in the cabinet of Daniel Hodge. He retained his position in the cabinet of Ivar Asjes.

First Whiteman cabinet Whiteman was sworn in as prime minister on 1 September 2015. He succeeded Ivar Asjes, who resigned after he lost the confidence of his party. Whiteman took on the post of prime minister with the intent of staying in office for three months, to allow his party to search for a successor. Whiteman retained the ministerial position he held in the Hodge and Ajses cabinets after becoming prime minister. The Whiteman Cabinet resigned on 9 November 2015 after losing the parliamentary majority when Marilyn Moses withdrew her support. One week later, Whiteman announced he had formed a new coalition, with the entry of the Party for the Restructured Antilles (PAR) into the coalition. The PAR held two seats in the Estates and was allowed to designate the new Minister for the Economy. The new cabinet began to function on 30 November 2015.

Second Whiteman cabinet Ministry Minister Period Party Prime Minister Ben Whiteman 30 November 2015 – 23 December 2016 Sovereign People Minister for Education, Science, Culture and Sport Irene Dick 30 November 2015 – 23 December 2016 Sovereign People Minister for Social Development, Work and Welfare Ruthmilda Larmonie-Cecilia 30 November 2015 – 23 December 2016 Sovereign People Minister for Justice Nelson Navarro 30 November 2015 – 23 December 2016 Partido pa Adelanto I Inovashon Soshal Minister for Governance, Planning and Service Etienne van der Horst 30 November 2015 – 23 December 2016 Partido pa Adelanto I Inovashon Soshal Minister for Finance José Jardim 30 November 2015 – 23 December 2016 Independent, representative for Glenn Sulvaran Minister for Traffic, Transport and Urban Planning Suzanne Camelia-Römer 30 November 2015 – 23 December 2016 National People's Party Minister for Economic Development Eugene Rhuggenaath 30 November 2015 – 23 December 2016 Party for the Restructured Antilles Minister for Health, Environment and Nature Siegfried Victorina 30 November 2015 – 23 December 2016 Sovereign People Source:

A fourth report on the functioning of the Curaçaohuis, the office of the Minister Plenipotentiary of Curaçao, Marvelyne Wiels, was highly critical. The report, and the fact that it had yet not been shared with the Estates of Curaçao, led coalition parties in the Second Whiteman cabinet to voice severe criticism in July 2016. Alex Rosaria, leader of the Partido pa Adelanto I Inovashon Soshal, called the issue "a dark cloud over the Whiteman cabinet". The leader of the PAR, Zita Jesus-Leito, asked for the voluntary resignation or Wiels or else her dismissal by Whiteman.

In November 2016 he faced criticism after several Ministers signed financial agreements although they were not allowed to do so, public servants who voiced criticism were transferred or faced displinary action.

Whiteman's successor as prime minister, Hensley Koeiman, was sworn in on 23 December 2016.

Post Prime Minister In October 2018, Whiteman succeeded Jaime Córdoba as leader of Sovereign People. As of August 2023 he remained leader of the party although it was no longer represented in the Parliament of Curaçao. After being hospitalized in May 2025, Whiteman laid down his positions as leader and acting chairman of Sovereign People on 3 June due to health reasons.