Frank Essed

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Frank Essed
Minister of Development
In office
1958–1963
Preceded byposition established
Succeeded byJust Rens [nl]
In office
1969–1973
Preceded byArthur Johan May
Succeeded byMichael Cambridge [nl]
Personal details
Born
Franklin Edgar Essed

(1919-04-21)21 April 1919
Paramaribo, Surinam
Died22 December 1988(1988-12-22) (aged 69)
Paramaribo, Suriname
Political partyNational Party of Suriname (–1963)
Progressive National Party (1967–)
Occupationpolitician, forest scientist

Franklin Edgar Essed (21 April 1919 – 22 December 1988) was a Surinamese forest scientist and politician. He served as Minister of Development from 1958 until 1963, and 1969 until 1973.[1] Essed initiated Operation Grasshopper which build airstrips in the interior to map natural resources.

Biography[edit]

Essed was born on 21 April 1919 in Paramaribo. He went to high school, and started to work as a geodist.[2] In 1949, he received the opportunity to study at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. [3] He graduated in forestry in 1955,[4] and received his doctorate in 1957.[3]

In 1957, Essed returned to Suriname, and started to work for Dienst 's Lands Bosbeheer [nl], the forestry agency of Suriname.[3] He also became a member of the National Party of Suriname (NPS),[5] and in 1958, he was elected to the Estates of Suriname with the most votes for a single candidate.[6] He first served as Minister without Portfolio for 14 days, before being appointed to the newly formed Ministry of Development.[5]

In 1959, Essed initiated Operation Grasshopper, a plan to build little airstrips in the interior of Suriname to map the natural resources.[7] The same year, he commissioned Trefossa to rewrite the national anthem.[8] He also initiated changing the electoral system from a district system into a mixed system. An internal conflict with Jopie Pengel led to Essed resigning from the NPS, and not participating in the 1963 elections[5]

Essed was appointed president of the planning agency of Suriname,[3] and in 1967 joined the Progressive National Party,[5] In 1969, he was re-elected to the Estates of Suriname,[9] and again served as Minister of Development until 1973.[1] In 1975, Essed became the Surinamese chairperson of the Netherlands-Suriname Development Committee which coordinated the development aid of the now independent Suriname.[10] He was one of the proponents of the West Suriname Plan which aimed to develop the bauxite in the Bakhuis Mountains.[11]

In 1980, Desi Bouterse committed a coup d'état[12] resulting in the cancellation of the West Suriname Plan.[11] In April 1980, Essed was arrested.[13] Even though he was accused corruption, he was never charged or went to trial.[14][15] He was released on 21 February 1981 and placed under house arrest.[15] In 1987, Essed announced his candidacy for President of Suriname,[16] however Ramsewak Shankar was elected in 1988.[12]

On 22 December 1988, Essed attended a Christmas party organised by Henck Arron. He left the party, and was hit by a car while crossing the street. Essed died on the way to the hospital, at the age of 69.[14][10]

Legacy[edit]

Flora Stadion was renamed Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadion in his honour.[17] In 1995, a bust was revealed in front of the Ministry of Land and Forest Management,[18] the current name of the Ministry of Development.[1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Historie". Surinamese Ministry of Land and Forest Management (in Dutch). Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  2. ^ "Minister Essed 40 jaar". Nieuw Suriname (in Dutch). 21 April 1959. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d "Wie is Frank Essed eigenlijk?". Vrije Stem (in Dutch). 26 July 1972. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  4. ^ "Cum laude geslaagd". Het nieuws (in Dutch). 27 June 1955. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d "Dr. Frank Essed, oud-minister, beidt zijn tijd". Leeuwarder Courant (in Dutch). 28 February 1969. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  6. ^ "Nabeschouwingen van de Surinaamse verkiezingen". Amigoe di Curacao (in Dutch). 3 July 1958. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  7. ^ Arno Landewers. "Operatie sprinkhaan" (PDF). Landewers (in Dutch). pp. 2–3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 August 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  8. ^ "Trefossa". Literatuur Museum (in Dutch). Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  9. ^ "VHP had geluk, PNP en PNR ons nieuwe Staatskollege". Vrije Stem (in Dutch). 27 October 1969. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  10. ^ a b "Ing. Frank Essed bij verkeersongeluk in Suriname omgekomen". De Telegraaf (in Dutch). 24 December 1988. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Een tropische mislukking". Reformatorisch Dagblad (in Dutch). 6 March 1999. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Timeline: Suriname". BBC News. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  13. ^ "Essed in arrest". Het vrije volk (in Dutch). 8 April 1980. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  14. ^ a b "Frank Essed na ongeval overleden". Het Parool (in Dutch). 23 December 1988. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Vrijlatingen in Suriname". Amigoe (in Dutch). 23 February 1981. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  16. ^ "Frank Essed presidents-kandidaat in Suriname". De Telegraaf (in Dutch). 4 December 1987. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  17. ^ Guno Hoen (1999). Onze sporthelden. Deel 3 (in Dutch). p. 49. ISBN 99914-9623-8. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  18. ^ "Beeld: Dr. Ir. Frank Essed". Suriname.nu (in Dutch). Retrieved 5 February 2022.
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