This is a short list of persons who's activities, in one way or the other, have some influence on Suriname's politics.
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Sital, Jeewan |
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For an explanation of the abbreviations (political parties) used klick here
Military by profession. Chairman of the NDP. One of the sixteen sergeant majors who attempted a successful coupe d'etat in 1980. During his military regime, 15 persons among whom intellectuals, union leaders and journalists were executed (1982). In the aftermath of a charge against the Risitence Army, almost all the villagers of a Marroon village called Moiwanna were massacred (1986). As a result of internal pressure and a war in the interior, Bouterse had to grant free elections in 1987. In 1990 he executed a so-called telephone coupe, and again had to grant free elections in 1991. In 1996 the NDP, in cooperation with some smaller parties, formed the Wijdenbosch-Radhakisun government. More or less in reaction to an Interpol search warrant, issued by the Dutch Government, he was appointed Advisor of State. Bouterse himself denies all accusations of drugs trafficking and money laundering made by the Dutch.
Teacher by profession and Chairman of the SPA, founded in 1987. Since 1973 Chairman of Suriname's largest Federation of Unions called C-47.He started his political career in the PNR which was the driving force behind the 1975 Independence. He represented this party in Parliament during the period 1973-1977. The PNR seized to exist after that year. He was imprisoned for a short period by the military regime being in command during (1980-1987) and is the only survivor from sixteen persons who were arrested and of whom fiftheen, were executed by the military in 1982. From 1991-1996 his party participated, with ministers and seats in Parliament in the Venetiaan-Adjodia governement. Derby himself decided to actively participate in the 1996 elections {Nieuw Front combination) and was elected Member of Parliament
First female Speaker of the National Assembly. Started her political career in the VHP. A professional teacher, she became the first woman to be chosen on the basis of preferential votes in 1987. In the 1996 elections she was again elected to represent the VHP in the Assembly. Shortly after being sworn in as Member of Parliament, she and four other VHP MPs deflected and created the opportunity for the NDP to form a government. She and the defelectors formed the BVD of which she was one of two vice chairmen. Djwalapersad is very active in cultural, religious and gender related activities. She also presents a weekly radio programme named "Auraton ki Dunya" (The world of women).
A surgeon by profession and Chairman of the DA'91 founded in 1991. Jessurun is a descendant from a family with strong roots in the NPS. Was twice chosen as Member of Parliament in the 1991 and 1996 elections.
Studied peadagogy, Chairman of the HPP a party with mainly East-Indian supporters. Is chosen twice by voters of the District of Nickerie as Member of Parliament (1991 and 1996). The HPP with its two seats in Parliament enabled the NDP to form 1996-2001 government. After one year the HPP stepped out of the Wijdenbosch-Radhakisun government, since they were of the opinion that the President, Mr. Wijdenbosch and his party, only wants to dictate others in what to do.
Studied sociology (research). Chairman of the Suriname's largest polling and research institute (IDOS). Since 1990, IDOS conducts polls on a very frequent base. The results of these political poll's which are always published as major articles in our two major Newspapers and other media have major impact on discussions, etc.
Lawyer by profession. Chairman and one of the founding fathers of the VHP (1949). The supporters of this party mainly consist of East Indians. Lachmon was strongly opposed to the independence which Suriname acquired from the Dutch in 1975. In order to prevent racial and other political riots he, based on his "fraternization policy", decided to cooperate in acquiring independence. Lachmon is also the only political figure in Suriname. Since 1949 he has always been chosen (without interruption) as Member of Parliament. In Parliament he had functions as: coalition member, opposition member and Speaker of the House. Lachmon has now been one of the major political players in the Surinamese political spectrum for almost 50 years.
Menke Jack
Studied sociology (research). Chairman of the Foundations for Scientific Information (SWI). SWI conducts political polls in election years. Menke is known for his sharp political analyses, which are published by the SWI in their magazine called "SWI FORUM". Frequently asked by editors of broadcasting stations and newspapers to comment and forcast on the Surinamese's political situations.
Studied journalism and law (aviation). Chairman of the BVD (Mungra group). Mungra became President of Suriname Airways in the early eighties, a position he held till 1990. During his term as President of a Surinam Airways a plane crashed (June 1989), killing almost 300 passengers. His relatives have always held top positions within the VHP, a party which he joined in 1987. Because of discontent with the top of the VHP who no longer wished to grant financial benefits to only Mungra and his supporters (financial power brokers), he formed a secession within the VHP and finally formed the BVD. The BVD, since they have five members in parliament all deflectors from the VHP, enabled the NDP to form a government. Mungra became Minister of Finance in the Wijdenbosch-Radhakisun government, and was fired after a year (1997). In order to topple the Wijdenbosch-Radhakisun government, he succeeded in reducing the Parliamentary support this government has to 25 seats. (The National Assembly has 51 seats). On February 24, 1998 he liquidated the BVD as a party and founded the PPP. (Progressive Peoples Party)
A civil engineer by profession who started his political career at the "Volksparij". Supported the militaries with a secession of the Volksparty called RVP, and became member of the board of the NDP, a party founded by the military. He was chosen as Member of Parliament for the NDP in 1987, but deflected four year later as result of an ideological conflict with the Chairman (Bouterse) of that party. He founded the DP in 1991, and was again chosen as Member of Parliament during the 1996 elections. Payfair is also a full-time lecturer at the University of Suriname and operates a Consultancy Bureau as well.
Studied peadagogy. Descendant of the Saramacca Marroon tribe with the Dutch nationality. Has held the post of Secretary of UNESCO-Suriname. Momentarily chairman of the Human rights Movement Moiwanna 86. Was an outspoken critic of the military rulers (1980-1987), during whose regime almost all inhabitants of a Marroon village called Moiwana were slaughtered. Rensch took the Moiwanna massacre to the International Court. The Court conficted Surinamese Government. Rensch makes public all human rights violations, attended by sharp comments. Moiwana is highly recognized and appreciated for its work by both local and international organisations.
Supposedly one of the billionairs in Suriname and one of the two Vice Chairman of the BVD (Gobhardan group). Has always operated in the background. Was treasurer of the VHP from 1987 till 1996. In cooperation with his business partner A. Mungra he left the VHP and by founding the BVD enabled the NDP to form a government. He is therefore seen as the financial architect who made the NDP-BVD government possible. He still joins the ruling government.
Studied sociology (research) and gained his Phd. at Cornell University. Chairman of the Sibibusie movement. This movement with a Christian background, critically follows all political activities in Suriname. Schalkwijk frequently publishes political analyses in the two major news papers. On a regular basis editors of several radiostations invite him to comment on political developments.
Succeeded his father in 1970 as Chairman of the KTPI which was founded in 1959, a party which is mainly based on the support of Javanese. Due to its position the KTPI as political party has up till now always been part of the governing party. Up till now Soemita has held several positions such as Minister, and lately Member of Parliament. He was imprisoned twice, once for fraude with land, and for a short period by the military dictators.
Chairman of the Pendawalima founded in 1973. He started his political carees as a member of the KTPI and was elected as Member in Parliament in 1973. He joined the opposition in 1974, since he was against Independence which had to be proclaimed in 1975, by the then governing parties amongst which the KTPI. When it became clear that nothing could stop the proclammation he organized a large scale migration of Javanese to Holland. Since he openly opposed the military coupe (1980) he was arrested in 1980. He escaped from prison and fled to Holland, where he joined the resistance movement. When he re-migrated in 1991, he spearheaded the Pendawalima in the 1991 election, gaining one seat for his party. He himself could not take part in the elections since he had the Dutch nationality, which he again exchanged for the Surinamese in 1995. In the 1996 elections his party won four seats in Parliament. In 1997 two of his MPs deflected in order to join the Wijdenbosch-Radhakisun government.
Studied Mathematics. Chairman of the NPS a party wich is mainly supported by Creoles. He held the post of Minister of Education from 1973-1980 and from 1987-1990. He was also President of the Republic of Suriname (1991-1996, the Venetiaan-Ajodhia government). During his term he had to tackle the problem with the military (he fired the Commander in Chief Lt. Col. Bouterse, and all others who were part of that junta). He implemented without donor support a Structural Adjustment Programme. The political combination New Front appointed him as its candidate for a second term as President, due to massive manipulation by opponents he was not chosen as such. He is momentarily Member of Parliament.
Studied political sciences and is momentarily President of the Republic of Suriname. He started his political career as member of the youth movement of the NPS. After a long period of absence he came back in Suriname (1984) and joined the military regime. For them he held offices such as Minister and Prime Minister. He became the first Chairman of the NDP which was Founded in 1986. When the military executed the so called "telephone coupe" in 1990, they installed him as Vice-President in the so called Kraag-Wijdenbosch governement. In the 1991 election he was chosen as Member of Parliament representing the NDP. This also happened in the 1996 elections. In that year he was also nominated and chosen as President of the Republic of Suriname.