Newly appointed Knight in the Order of Orange Nassau Julian Woodley (centre) with Deputy Government Commissioner Alida Francis (left) and Government Commissioner Marnix van Rij (right).
ST. EUSTATIUS--Former Acting Island Governor of St. Eustatius, former Member of Parliament (MP) of the Netherlands Antilles and former Island Councilmember for the Democratic Party (DP) Julian Woodley (68) was appointed Knight in the Order of Orange Nassau in the name of King Willem-Alexander by State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops on Thursday, April 23.
The ceremony took place in Vincent A. Lopes Legislative Hall through video conference. Government Commissioner Marnix van Rij and Deputy Government Commissioner Alida Francis led the proceedings in the presence of a few family members, friends and dignitaries, who were observing social-distancing rules.
“It is my honour to express the gratitude that is felt throughout the community of Statia for this leader, who is widely appreciated for his leadership in difficult times and his integrity. We will always be in debt for the service of Mr. Julian Woodley,” said Van Rij.
Woodley has been in public service both as a civil servant and a political representative. He worked at the Department of Finance since the mid-1970s. He represented the DP as an Island Councilmember from the age of 31, starting in 1983 when the DP won the election. Woodley and Neuman Pompier became commissioners, working alongside Lt. Governor George Sleeswijk.
Woodley was a commissioner from 1983 to 1988, from 1991 to 1999 and from 2007 to 2011. In October 2011, he was appointed Acting Island Governor. On serving out his term, he was asked to serve an extra six months which was extended for a period of two years. He was honourably discharged from this position when the administrative takeover by the Dutch government occurred on February 7, 2018.
Woodley is valued as a forger of coalitions and a reliable partner. He was praised for his excellence in leadership during the transition from the Netherlands Antilles into Statia’s status as a public entity of the Netherlands. Woodley had tried to keep the five islands of the Netherlands Antilles together.
After the referenda held in St. Maarten in 2002 and in Curaçao in 2005, Woodley chose not to remain an MP. Instead, he took the position of Commissioner in Statia to supervise the constitutional conversion.
His career is characterised by selfless devotion and the highest degree of integrity, it was stated. “Always walk behind the law and not in front of the law. Do not try to pass the law and do not try to walk side-by-side with the law, but walk behind the law. Let the law always guide you,” he was quoted as saying.
The actual medal, pin and certificate coming with his knighthood will be presented to Woodley at a later time. Due to the fourth Emergency Ordinance and the measure of social distancing, the presentation has been postponed until after the COVID-19 pandemic has passed.
