Ben Leito
{{Short description|20th century politician in the Netherlands Antilles}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Ben Leito
| image = File:Ben Leito Nieuwe gouverneur van Nederlandse Antillen.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Leito (1970)
| office1 = Council of State
| term_start1 = 1 March 1987
| term_end1 = 6 February 1993
| office2 = Governor of the Netherlands Antilles
| term_start2 = 16 June 1970
| term_end2 = 30 April 1983
| predecessor2 = Cola Debrot
| successor2 = René Römer
| birth_name = Bernadito M. Leito
| birth_date = {{birth date|1923|2|6|df=y}}
| birth_place = Curaçao
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1996|9||1923|2|6}}
| death_place =
| nationality =
| other_names =
| occupation = economist, politician and administrator
| party = Catholic People's Party
| years_active =
| known_for =
| notable_works =
| spouse =
}}
Bernadito M. "Ben" Leito (6 February 1923 – September 1996) was a Curaçaoan economist, politician and administrator. He served as Governor of the Netherlands Antilles from 1970 until 1983, and the Dutch Council of State from 1987 until 1993.
Biography
Leito was born on 6 February 1923 in Curaçao.{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=leito&coll=ddd&identifier=ABCDDD:010817805:mpeg21:a0087&resultsidentifier=ABCDDD:010817805:mpeg21:a0087&rowid=1 |title=Drs. B.M. Leito volgt gouverneur Debrot op|website=Trouw |date=2 June 1970|access-date=12 February 2022|language=nl}} He went to the Netherlands to attend the Hogere Burgerschool (high school) in Leiden. In 1945, he studied economy at Tilburg University, and graduated in 1950.{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=leito+curacao&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:011198043:mpeg21:a0147&resultsidentifier=ddd:011198043:mpeg21:a0147&rowid=3 |title=Drs Leito gouverneur Antillen |website=De Telegraaf|date=2 June 1970|access-date=12 February 2022|language=nl}}{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Leito&facets%5Bperiode%5D%5B%5D=2%7C20e_eeuw%7C1960-1969%7C1968%7C&page=1&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:010643927:mpeg21:a0001&resultsidentifier=ddd:010643927:mpeg21:a0001&rowid=2 |title=Waarnemend gezagvoeder de Haseth neemt ontslag |website=Amigoe di Curacao|date=17 April 1968|access-date=12 February 2022|language=nl}}
In 1952, Leito became a civil servant in Curaçao, and started to work for the finance department in 1953. He was a candidate in the 1954 Netherlands Antilles general election for the Catholic People's Party, but did not get elected.{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Leito&facets%5Bperiode%5D%5B%5D=2%7C20e_eeuw%7C1950-1959%7C1954%7C&page=1&coll=ddd&sortfield=datedesc&identifier=ddd:010404441:mpeg21:a0046&resultsidentifier=ddd:010404441:mpeg21:a0046&rowid=9 |title=De Candidaten uitslag |website=Amigoe di Curacao |date=16 November 1954|access-date=12 February 2022|language=nl}} In 1961, he became head of finance for Curaçao, and was promoted head of finance for the Netherlands Antilles in 1965. In 1968, he served as acting Lieutenant governor of Curaçao.
The 1969 Curaçao uprising resulted in the resignation of the Cola Debrot as Governor of the Netherlands Antilles.{{cite news|url=https://www.trouw.nl/nieuws/aruba-ligt-overhoop-met-plasterk-over-benoeming-van-gouverneur~b1c24c3f/ |title=Aruba ligt overhoop met Plasterk over benoeming van gouverneur |author=Hans Marijnissen|date=18 October 2016 |access-date=12 February 2022|language=nl|url-access=subscription}} On 30 December 1969, Leito was appointed acting governor. The States General of the Netherlands nominated Efraïn Jonckheer as new governor, however the Estates of the Netherlands Antilles rejected the nomination,{{cite news|url=https://www.noticiacla.com/news/7414 |title=Nederland acht benoeming Gouverneur conform Statuut |website=Noticia Cla|date=16 October 2016|access-date=12 February 2022}} and Leito was installed as Governor of the Netherlands Antilles effective 16 June 1970. Leito was the first Afro-Curaçaoan governor of the Antilles.{{cite web|url=https://www.curacaohistory.com/1970-the-first-black-governor-of-curacao |title=THE FIRST BLACK GOVERNOR |website=Curacao History|access-date=12 February 2022|language=nl}}
In the early 1970s, the Dutch government under Joop den Uyl tried to persuade the Netherlands Antilles to seek independence. Leito was opposed to independence for the islands, and provided backing for the Isa-Beaujon and Evertsz cabinets in their denouncement.{{cite book|url=https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/34557 |title=Decolonising the Caribbean. Dutch Policies in a Comparative Perspective |author=Gert Oostindie and Inge Klinkers|year=2003|publisher=Amsterdam University Press|pages=116–117|isbn=90-5356-654-6}} In 1980, Leito applied to become a member of the Council of State, the advisory body for the Dutch government, however his application was rejected.{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Ben+Leito&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:010640280:mpeg21:a0053&resultsidentifier=ddd:010640280:mpeg21:a0053&rowid=6 |title=Drs Ben Leito niet naar Raad van State|website=Amigoe |date=1 November 1980|language=nl|access-date=12 February 2022}} In March 1983, Leito resigned as governor effective 30 April.{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Ben+Leito&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:010640522:mpeg21:a0071&resultsidentifier=ddd:010640522:mpeg21:a0071&rowid=2 |title=Leito neemt afscheid van Staten|website=Amigoe |date=30 March 1983|language=nl|access-date=12 February 2022}} On 1 March 1987, Leito was appointed to the Council of State, and served until 6 February 1993.{{cite web|url=https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0002367/2020-07-01/ |title=Wet op de Raad van State |website=Laws of the Netherlands|quote=Article 3. Members retire aged 70 unless they resign or are dismissed|access-date=12 February 2022|language=nl}}{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=leito+raad+state&page=1&coll=ddd&identifier=KBPERS01:003053018:mpeg21:a00061&resultsidentifier=KBPERS01:003053018:mpeg21:a00061&rowid=4 |title=Raad van State |website=Algemeen Dagblad |date=21 February 1987|access-date=12 February 2022|language=nl}}
Leito died in September 1996, at the age of 73.{{cite news|url=https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/persoonlijk~b2b794f8/ |title=Persoonlijk |website=de Volkskrant |date=7 September 1996|access-date=12 February 2022|language=nl|url-access=subscription|quote=No exact date or place of death in obituary}}
Honours
- {{flag|Netherlands}} Commander in the Order of the Netherlands Lion.
- {{flag|Netherlands}} Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau.
- {{flag|Venezuela}} Grand Cordon in the Order of the Liberator.{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=leito+orde+venezuela&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:010639224:mpeg21:a0048&resultsidentifier=ddd:010639224:mpeg21:a0048&rowid=5 |title=Onderscheiden door de President|website=Amigoe|date=15 February 1978|access-date=12 February 2022|language=nl}}
- {{flag|Dominican Republic}} Grand Cross in the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella.{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=leito+orde+Dominicaanse&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:010461085:mpeg21:a0088&resultsidentifier=ddd:010461085:mpeg21:a0088&rowid=1 |title=Onderscheiden |website=Amigoe di Curacao|date=28 January 1972|language=nl|access-date=12 February 2022}}
References
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Category:Governors of the Netherlands Antilles
Category:Members of the Council of State (Netherlands)
Category:Tilburg University alumni
Category:Place of death missing
Category:Curaçao people of African descent
Category:Commanders of the Order of the Netherlands Lion