Suriname’s former president quits parliament

Last Updated on Saturday, 26 December 2015, 21:00 by GxMedia

PARAMARIBO – In an unexpected move former president Ronald Venetiaan resigned Friday from Suriname’s parliament. In a letter to Speaker of the House, Jenny Geerlings-Simons, the former head of State announced that from October 27, 2013 he will no longer be a member of parliament.

In an interview the former leader didn’t present any specific reason why he is resigning and why now. “I just want to give younger persons the opportunity to serve in this capacity”, he said. Venetiaan’s seat in parliament will now go to his fellow party member Hesdy Pigot who was also his secretary during his presidency.  

According to former speaker of the House, Emile Wijntuin, Venetiaan during his entire political career, starting as a minister of Education in 1973 and later as president, kept his integrity. During all those years not once was his name mentioned in any corruption scandal, controversy or whatsoever”, said Wijntuin.

Ronald Runaldo Venetiaan (born June 18, 1936) served as the 6th, 8th and 9th President of Suriname. His first term as president ran from 1991 to 1996 after which he lost in the elections to Jules Wijdenbosch. In 2000 however, he regained his former position on the New Front banner, receiving an absolute majority of 37 from 51 votes in the Parliament. In 2005 Venetiaan defeated Rabin Parmessar of the NDP to secure a third term as president.

In his first term Venetiaan implemented a Structural Adjustment Programme which put the Surinamese economy which was in shambles after the 1980-1987 military dictatorship was thrown out of office through democratic elections, back on track to recovery. In 2000 again Venetiaan was elected to lead the nation after president Wijdenbosch ran the economy to the ground once again.  During his second and third term Suriname recorded record economic growth of over 5 percent and gained the status of a middle-income country. During his first tenure Suriname became a member of the Caricom in 1995. With a total of 15 years Venetiaan, a physicist and mathematician by profession, is the longest serving Head of State of Suriname.-.