Etienne holds a Masters Degree in Fiscal (1985) and Penal law (1987) from the Royal University of Groningen, The Netherlands.

He started his career in 1985, during which he was tax inspector in The Netherlands and in Curacao until 1993. After that he held several political positions as Minister of Finance, Commissioner of Finance, Member of Parliament, Member of the Island Council and Prime Minister of the Netherlands Antilles.

As from 2006, he is senior advisor for the ENNIA-group, advisor to and negotiator on behalf of the Government of the Netherlands Antilles regarding constitutional reform and lector at the chair for Good Governance at the University of the Netherlands Antilles.