Liberia-Peters, Maria (1942– )

Netherlands Antilles centre-right politician, prime minister 1984–85 and 1988–93. Representing the National People's Party (PNP), she became the Netherlands Antilles' first woman minister-president (prime minister) in 1984. Heading a coalition government, she faced the economic problems posed by Shell's closure of its oil refinery on Curaçao. Her second coalition, from 1988, was reformed after the 1990 general election, but she resigned in 1993 after a referendum on Curaçao supported the continuation of the island's existing status in the Antillean Federation.

The premiership between her two periods of office, 1985–1988, was held by Don Martina of the socialist New Antilles Movement (MAN).

Liberia-Peters had a university education in the Netherlands, and returned to the Netherlands Antilles in 1962 to work initially as a kindergarten teacher and school administrator. She entered the Curaçao legislature in 1976.