Maria Liberia-Peters
Prime Minister, The Netherlands Antilles, 1984 - 1986 and 1988 - 1993

Maria Liberia Peters was born on May 20, 1941 in Willemstad, Curacao, Netherlands-Antilles. She attended school and earned her degree in teaching in Holland. She later married Niels Liberia, a civil servant. Together they adopted two children. Her road to politics began in the 1970’s, when she started groups for parents and became a member of the National People’s Party. In 1975, after being encouraged by others to run for office she earned a seat on the Curacao Island Council where she stayed a member for the next five years. In 1982 she was appointed as the legislature of the Netherlands-Antilles as well as becoming the Minister of Economic Affairs. After the coalition government she worked under collapsed in June of 1984, she agreed to form a new coalition and was elected as Prime Minister, a position that was hers from 1984-1986 and later from 1988-1994. She attempted a third run in 1994 but her party lost the election. She did however, remain in Parliament.