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Claude Wathey | |
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Leader of the Democratic Party Sint Maarten | |
In office 1954–1994[1] | |
Succeeded by | Sarah Wescot-Williams |
Member of the Netherlands Antilles Parliament for Windward Islands | |
In office
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Personal details | |
Born | Sint Maarten, Curaçao and Dependencies | 24 July 1926
Died | 8 or 9 January 1998 (aged 71) Philipsburg, Sint Maarten |
Political party | Democratic Party Sint Maarten |
Albert Claudius "Claude" Wathey (24 July 1926 – 8 or 9 January 1998), was a prominent politician of the Democratic Party from the island of Sint Maarten. He was knighted by the Dutch Crown for his political longevity.
Wathey championed political independence for the island in 1989, but was later convicted on charges of perjury; however, many on Sint Maarten felt the trial was nothing more than a witch hunt conducted by his rivals and adversaries in Curaçao and the Netherlands in order to break his monopoly on political power in Sint Maarten and to destroy his credibility. Despite this, he remains a popular figure, even after his death.