The Senate paid special tribute to Wiels at the start of Tuesday's plenary session, in the presence of Curaçao's Minister Plenipotentiary in The Hague Roderick "Roy" Pieters. A minute of silence was observed. President of the First Chamber Fred de Graaf and Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk addressed the solemn gathering.

 

"Every murder is unacceptable. This murder of a fellow people's representative moves us deeply, here in the Senate, as well as in the community in The Netherlands and the Caribbean part of the Kingdom," said De Graaf, who together with President of the Second Chamber Anouchka van Miltenburg sent a letter to President of Curaçao's Parliament Mike Franco on Monday to express their sympathy.

 

De Graaf remembered receiving Wiels at the opening's ceremony of the Inter-Parliamentary Consultation of the Kingdom in the Senate on March 5. "We got to know Mr. Wiels as a dedicated and passionate politician with clear opinions and a deep commitment for his country," he said.

 

Minister Plasterk praised Wiels for his move to take the "crucial choice" to install a business cabinet and to improve the relations with The Netherlands. "It was a deed of courage. Curaçao has lost an exceptional impressive leader. That is a blow for those who were close to him, and also for Curaçao and for the Kingdom. It is not only important for Curaçao but also for the Kingdom that his political legacy is continued," he said.

 

Plasterk, who was clearly moved by Wiels' murder, described Wiels as a "charismatic leader" who worked hard and went into the poor districts almost every day, who led a "Spartan lifestyle" and who gave his country "a direction after turbulent years." He said Wiels was hard on himself, hard on others and hard on youngsters whom he wanted to make something of themselves.

 

The Minister repeated his earlier offer to assist the Curaçao Government with the investigation to catch the persons who committed "this cowardly deed." During the TV talk show 'Pauw en Witteman' on Monday he said that he would attend Wiels' funeral if he received an invitation to be there.