The First Ys cabinet was the 22nd cabinet of the Netherlands Antilles, a former constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands located in the Caribbean. It was formed on 3 June 2002 following the 2002 general election and remained in office until 22 July 2003, when it was succeeded by the Godett cabinet.
Head of state and government
- Head of state: Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, represented in the Netherlands Antilles by the Governor.
- Head of government: Etienne Ys, leader of the Party for the Restructured Antilles (PAR), who served as Minister of General Affairs and Foreign Affairs.
Political context
The cabinet was created after the 2002 Netherlands Antilles general election, which resulted in a coalition government. It succeeded the third Pourier cabinet (Pourier III) and was followed by the Godett cabinet.
Composition
| Office | Minister | Party | Assumed office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minister of General Affairs and Foreign Affairs | Etienne Ys | PAR (Party for the Restructured Antilles) | 3 June 2002 |
| Minister of the Interior, Labor and Social Affairs | Russell Voges | DP‑stm (Democratic Party Sint Maarten) | 3 June 2002 |
| Minister of Justice | Norberto Ribeiro | PAR | 3 June 2002 |
| Minister for the National Recovery Plan and Economic Affairs | Erroll Cova | PLKP (Labour Party People’s Crusade) | 3 June 2002 |
| Minister of Education, Youth, Culture and Sports | Emily de Jongh‑Elhage | PAR | 3 June 2002 |
| Minister of Traffic and Communications | Herbert Domacasse | UPB (Bonaire Patriotic Union) | 3 June 2002 |
| Minister of Finance | Ersilia de Lannooy | PNP (National People’s Party, Curaçao) | 3 June 2002 |
| Minister of Public Health and Hygiene | Islelly Pikerie | PNP | 3 June 2002 |
Key events and dissolution
During its tenure, the First Ys cabinet dealt with issues of internal governance, economic recovery, and social policy across the constituent islands. Political tensions and shifting coalition dynamics led to its dissolution on 22 July 2003, after which the Godett cabinet assumed office.
References
- “South America, Central America and the Caribbean 2003,” Europa Publications, 2002.
- “The Europa World Yearbook 2004,” Europa Publications, 2004.
These sources provide the factual basis for the cabinet’s formation, composition, and operational period.