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| Rafael Boasman | |
|---|---|
| Name | Rafael Boasman |
| Birth date | 1953 |
| Birth place | Willemstad, Curaçao |
| Occupation | Politician, civil servant, entrepreneur |
| Nationality | Dutch Sint Maarten |
| Office | Prime Minister of Sint Maarten (Acting) |
| Term start | 25 November 2017 |
| Term end | 15 January 2018 |
| Predecessor | William Marlin |
| Successor | Leona Marlin-Romeo |
Rafael Boasman (born 1953) is a Sint Maarten politician and civil servant who served as Acting Prime Minister of Sint Maarten. He has held ministerial positions and senior posts in public administration, participating in post-hurricane recovery and constitutional discussions involving the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Netherlands, and Caribbean entities.
Boasman was born in Willemstad, Curaçao, during a period when the Netherlands Antilles included Sint Maarten, Curaçao, and Bonaire. He pursued higher studies and professional training that prepared him for roles in public administration and finance, interacting with institutions such as the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten, the University of the Netherlands Antilles, and regional development agencies tied to the Caribbean Community and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States. His background linked him to civil service networks spanning Philipsburg, Willemstad, and other capitals in the Dutch Caribbean.
Boasman entered politics and public administration amid evolving constitutional arrangements following the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles and the reconfiguration of relations among Kingdom of the Netherlands partners. He served in ministerial portfolios under cabinets connected to parties and figures such as the United People's Party (Sint Maarten), Democratic Party (Sint Maarten), Marcel Gumbs, William Marlin, and later Leona Marlin-Romeo. His roles intersected with ministries responsible for finance, public housing, and social affairs, engaging with stakeholders including the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Council of State (Netherlands), and international organizations like the Caribbean Development Bank.
Boasman was appointed Acting Prime Minister during a period of political transition following debates over cabinet confidence tied to the aftermath of Hurricane Irma (2017) and negotiations with the Netherlands on aid conditions. His brief premiership followed the tenure of William Marlin and preceded the cabinet of Leona Marlin-Romeo. As head of the ad interim cabinet, he navigated relations with the European Union through the Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, coordinated with the United Nations Development Programme and the Inter-American Development Bank, and participated in deliberations with leaders from Aruba, Curaçao, and the broader Caribbean Community.
During his time in office and in ministerial posts, Boasman focused on post-disaster recovery, fiscal management, and public administration reform. He engaged with reconstruction efforts tied to Hurricane Irma (2017), coordinating with the Netherlands on aid conditionality, interacting with financial oversight bodies such as the International Monetary Fund, and seeking support from multilateral lenders including the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. Initiatives under his stewardship addressed housing reconstruction, infrastructure rehabilitation involving ports and airports like Princess Juliana International Airport, and social assistance programs coordinated with agencies such as the Caribbean Public Health Agency and the World Health Organization. He also took part in constitutional and governance discussions involving the Kingdom Palace institutions and legal frameworks influenced by the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
After leaving the acting premiership, Boasman continued to be active in public service and advisory roles, contributing to discussions on disaster resilience, fiscal oversight, and intergovernmental relations among Dutch Caribbean entities. His tenure remains linked to the turbulent post-Irma recovery period and to broader debates about autonomy and assistance within the Kingdom of the Netherlands that involve actors such as Mark Rutte and representatives of the Dutch House of Representatives. Historians and analysts referencing governance in Sint Maarten connect his service to institutional responses involving the Central Government of the Netherlands, regional coordination through the Caribbean Community, and reconstruction financing from bodies like the European Investment Bank.
Category:Sint Maarten politicians Category:1953 births Category:Living people