(Curaçao, 1956) For years was the face of the Antillean community in the Netherlands. He came to the country in 1989 to study and wanted to return afterwards. However, he stayed because of his young family and found a new mission: taking care of the interests of Arubans and Antilleans in the Netherlands. With the Splika foundation he dedicated himself to the promotion of Papiamentu, the language that he also teaches. Subsequently he chaired MAAPP (Movimentu Antiano i Arubano pa Partisipashon Politiko), the platform for the social participation of Antilleans and Arubans in the Netherlands. When he resigned on 1 March 2009 he received the MAAPP award Mi ta yuda, a new medal which will be awarded on Severina's birthday to people who have dedicated themselves to the Antillean and Aruban communities. For some time Severina served on the town council for the Dutch Labour Party in the town of Zoetermeer and now chairs HAAB (The Hague Antillean Aruban Board).

(Curaçao, 1943) teaches Papiamentu, Spanish and Sport at the comprehensive school Banda Bou in Curaçao. Baromeo writes in Papiamentu. His second novel E Parto (1995) was awarded with the Chapi di Plata of the Fundashon Pierre Lauffer. In this historical novel he describes the birth of a new Curaçao consciousness following the revolt of May 1969. In 1990 his short novel Pal’i Bida was published.
WIN 2003

(Aruba, 1959) Lasana M. Sekou is the author of 13 books of poetry, short stories, monologues and essays. Born Harold Hermano Lake in Aruba in 1959, he grew up in Sint Maarten. Sekou studied political science and mass communication in the USA, where he changed his name to Lasana (poet) Sekou (warrior). His books, such as The Salt Reaper and Nativity, have been required reading at Caribbean and North American universities. He is the editor of National Symbols of St. Martin and The Independence Papers – Readings on a New Political Status for St. Maarten/St. Martin. He also produced Fête – The first recording of traditional St. Martin festive music. Sekou lectures on history, culture, politics and literature at schools, universities and festivals throughout the world. His poetry has appeared in journals such as The Massachusetts Review, Del Caribe, De Gids, and Boundary 2. In 1982, Sekou founded House of Nehesi Publishers in New York. In 1984, he established the small press in Sint Maarten, where he lives and continues to publish well-known and new writers www.houseofnehesipublish.com.

(Curaçao, 1950) is a poet, pharmacist and politician. His most famous work Katibu di Shon (Slave and Master) appeared in 1988 in Papiamento, but came out in 2002 in Dutch and was translated into German in 2007. In this novel De Hasseth tells the story of the slave rebellion in Curaçao of 1795 from the perspective of a master and a slave who grew up together as friends. In 1989 the writer received the Cola Debrot Prize for this book, the highest cultural award of Curaçao. De Haseth made his debut in 1969 with the volume of poetry 3 dagen vóór Eva (3 Days before Eve) followed by several other books of poetry. De Haseth belonged to the group which in 1993 founded the Partido Antia Restruktura (PAR), the party of former prime minister Miguel Pourier. From 1994–2004 he was with several interruptions minister plenipotentiary of the Netherlands Antillea. Right now he is a council advisor of the Netherlands Antilles and a member of the jury of the 2009 Libris Literature Prize.

(1955) is since March 2003 director of SAASA (Stichting Antilliaans en Arubaans Servicecentrum Amsterdam) (Foundation of Antillean and Aruban Service centre Amsterdam). She studied law, psychology and at the school of higher vocational education to be a social worker. She worked amongst others things for the department of Economic Affairs on Curaçao. She has an other side to her character. She has been carnaval queen twice; in 1981 on Curaçao and in 1984 in Rotterdam, during the Antillean summer carnaval. For many years she danced with the group Casca di Pinda , a well known dance group from Curaçao. She has participated in several fashion shows and was the first black Miss Limburg, who then participated in the Miss Holland beauty contest.

(Curaçao, 1962) is the authorized minister of the Dutch Antilles since July 2003. He studied at the Agricultural University of Wageningen and graduated in Tropical plant cultivation, Entomology, Soil fertility and Marketing. After that he returned to Curaçao and worked for various companies in the agricultural sector. There he set up several companies. From 1998 to 2001 he was minister of Trafic and Transportation for the Antilles. Following that he became a member of the Dutch Antillean States and a member of the Island council of Curaçao.
WIN2003