Efraïn Jonckheer

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Efraïn Jonckheer

| image = File:Efraïn Jonckheer, premier van de Nederlandse Antillen, Bestanddeelnr 920-4404.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Jonckheer (1967)

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1917|10|20}}

| birth_place = Curaçao, Curaçao and Dependencies

| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1987|03|30|1917|10|20}}

| death_place = Amsterdam, Netherlands

| death_cause =

| office1 = Prime Minister of the Netherlands Antilles

| term_start1 = 8 November 1954

| term_end1 = 14 February 1968

| predecessor1 = Moises da Costa Gomez

| successor1 = Ciro Kroon

| monarch1 = Queen Juliana

| office2 = Minister Plenipotentiary of the Netherlands Antilles

| term_start2 = 1968

| term_end2 = 1971

| predecessor2 = Wem Lampe

| successor2 = Boy Rozendal

| occupation = business owner, politician

| nationality =

| party = Democratic Party

| other_names =

| notable_works =

| education =

| relatives =

| signature =

| website =

| footnotes =

}}

Efraïn Jonckheer (20 October 1917 – 30 March 1987) was a businessman and politician of the Netherlands Antilles. Jonckheer served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands Antilles from 8 November 1954 until 14 February 1968. He served as Minister Plenipotentiary of the Netherlands Antilles from 1968 until 1971, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Venezuela from 1971 until 1976, and to Costa Rica from 1976 until 1982. As of 2022, Jonckheer was the longest serving Prime Minister in the history of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.{{efn|The Kingdom of the Netherlands is defined as the Netherlands, the former Netherlands Antilles and her successors Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten as well as Suriname until 1975.}}{{cite news|url=https://nu.cw/2021/01/12/elsa-rozendal-gekozen-tot-leider-democratische-partij/ |title=Elza Rozendal gekozen tot leider Democratische Party |website=nu.cw|access-date=13 January 2022|language=nl|date=12 January 2021}}

Biography

Jonckheer was born on 20 October 1917 in Curaçao. In 1933, he obtained his mulo (junior high school) diploma, and became director of several businesses.{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Efrain+Jonckheer+mulo&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:010650868:mpeg21:a0005&resultsidentifier=ddd:010650868:mpeg21:a0005&rowid=1 |title=DP-oprichter Efraïn Jonckheer op 69-jarige leeftijd overleden|website=Amigoe|date=31 March 1987|access-date=13 January 2022|language=nl}} During World War II, he became politically active, and desired autonomy for the islands.{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Efrain+Jonckheer&coll=ddd&page=2&identifier=ddd:010470367:mpeg21:a0068&resultsidentifier=ddd:010470367:mpeg21:a0068&rowid=10 |title=Verhouding met Nederland moet worden herzien|website=Amigoe di Curacao|date=20 January 1967|access-date=13 January 2022|language=nl}} In 1944, he was one of the founders of the Democratic Party, and was elected to chair the party.

In 1945, Jonckheer was first elected to the Estates of the Netherlands Antilles.{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Efrain+Jonckheer&coll=ddd&page=2&identifier=ddd:010650868:mpeg21:a0104&resultsidentifier=ddd:010650868:mpeg21:a0104&rowid=6 |title=Dr Efrain Jonckheer| website=Amigoe |date=31 March 1987|language=nl|access-date=13 January 2022}} In 1948 and 1952 until 1954, he was the representative of the Netherlands Antilles in the Round Table Conference about the future of the Dutch empire.

On 8 November 1954, Jonckheer was elected Prime Minister of the Netherlands Antilles. On 15 November, he signed the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands which resulted in the Netherlands Antilles becoming a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Jonckheer would serve until 14 February 1968 when he was succeeded by Ciro Kroon.{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=jonckheer&facets%5Bperiode%5D%5B%5D=2%7C20e_eeuw%7C1960-1969%7C1968%7C&page=1&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:010956546:mpeg21:a0281&resultsidentifier=ddd:010956546:mpeg21:a0281&rowid=2 |title=Kroon opvolger van Jonckheer|website=Het vrije volk|date=16 February 1968|language=nl|access-date=13 January 2022}} He would subsequently serve as Minister Plenipotentiary of the Netherlands Antilles until 1971.

In 1969, Jonckheer was nominated by the Estates of Netherlands Antilles as successor of Cola Debrot as Governor of Netherlands Antilles,{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Efrain+Jonckheer&coll=ddd&page=2&identifier=ddd:010554835:mpeg21:a0012&resultsidentifier=ddd:010554835:mpeg21:a0012&rowid=9 |title=Gouverneur Debrot van Nederlandse Antillen opgevolgd door Jonkheer|website=Nederlands dagblad|date=14 May 1969|access-date=13 January 2022|language=nl|quote=Nederlands dagblad printed the story a little too soon}} however the Council of Ministers voted against the nomination.

In March 1971, Jonkcheer was appointed Ambassador of the Netherlands to Venezuela, and served until 1976. In 1976, he became Ambassador of the Netherlands to Costa Rica, and served until 1982.{{cite web|url=https://www.parlement.com/id/vg09llzeaiq6/e_efrain_jonckheer |title=Dr. E. (Efraïn) Jonckheer |website=Dutch Parliament|access-date=13 January 2022|language=nl}}

On 30 March 1987 Jonkcheer died in Amsterdam, at the age of 69.{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Efrain+Jonckheer&coll=ddd&page=2&identifier=ABCDDD:010829821:mpeg21:a0154&resultsidentifier=ABCDDD:010829821:mpeg21:a0154&rowid=4 |title=Jonckheer overleden|website=Het Parool|date=31 March 1987|access-date=13 January 2022|language=nl}}

Honours

Honorary doctorate in law at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (1965).{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Efrain+Jonckheer&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:010462447:mpeg21:a0051&resultsidentifier=ddd:010462447:mpeg21:a0051&rowid=8 |title=Ruime instemming met promotie Jonckheer|website=Amigoe di Curacao|date=20 October 1965|access-date=13 January 2022|language=nl}}
{{flag|Netherlands}} Commander of the Order of the Netherlands Lion.
{{flag|Netherlands}} Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau.
{{flag|Panama}} Grand Officer of the Order of Vasco Núñez de Balboa.

On 15 December 1994, a statue of Jonkcheer was revealed on the Rif Fort in Otrobanda, Curaçao.{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Efrain+Jonckheer&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:010645421:mpeg21:a0094&resultsidentifier=ddd:010645421:mpeg21:a0094&rowid=6 |title=Onthulling buste|website=Amigoe|date=14 December 1994|language=nl|access-date=13 January 2022}}