Ronald Venetiaan

Ronald Venetiaan
Venetiaan in 2003
6th President of Suriname
In office
12 August 2000 – 12 August 2010
Vice PresidentJules Ajodhia (2000–2005)
Ram Sardjoe (2005–2010)
Preceded byJules Wijdenbosch
Succeeded byDési Bouterse
In office
16 September 1991 – 15 September 1996
Vice PresidentJules Ajodhia
Preceded byJohan Kraag
Succeeded byJules Wijdenbosch
Personal details
BornRonald Runaldo Venetiaan
(1936-06-18)18 June 1936
Paramaribo, Suriname
Died5 November 2025(2025-11-05) (aged 89)
Paramaribo, Suriname
PartyNational Party
Spouse
​
(m. 1966)​
Children4

Ronald Runaldo Venetiaan (18 June 1936 – 5 November 2025) was a Surinamese politician who served as President of Suriname between 1991 and 1996, and between 2000 and 2010.

Early life and career

Venetiaan was born in Paramaribo on 18 June 1936.[1] He left Suriname in 1955 and moved to the Netherlands to study mathematics and physics at the University of Leiden,[2] graduating in 1964 and obtaining a doctorandus. Venetiaan returned to Suriname shortly afterwards[3] and became a mathematics and physics teacher.[2]

In 1973, Venetiaan served as Minister of Education for the National Party of Suriname (NPS) in the government of Henck Arron,[4] until Arron's overthrow by the 1980 Surinamese coup d'état led by Dési Bouterse.[5][4] He then decided to work as a professor at the Anton de Kom University.[2]

In 1987, he returned to politics as the Chairman of the NPS,[3] and served again as the Minister of Education.[2] Venetiaan launched his first presidency bid in 1991, winning and serving until 1996,[6][2][3] after which he lost in the elections to Jules Wijdenbosch. He was a candidate again in the 2000 election, when he regained his former position on the New Front banner.[2] Venetiaan won an absolute majority of 37 from 51 votes in Parliament,[7] and won his third term in 2005, completing the term until 2010.[8] Venetiaan resigned as the Chair of the NPS and handed over the leadership to Gregory Rusland in 2012; he subsequently retired from politics in 2013,[4] saying that "he thought that it was time that the younger generation take over".[2]

Personal life and death

Venetiaan was a mathematician,[9] and an author. His first poetry book was written under the pseudonym Vene in the work Mamio (1962) and he used the pseudonym Krumanty in other writings.[10] Although most of his works were never published, they were performed in theatre plays,[11] and he collaborated on President Chan Santokhi's We gaan Suriname redden (We are going to save Suriname) book of 2020.[5][12]

Venetiaan was married to Liesbeth Vanenburg, and had three daughters and one son.[5][6] He died in Paramaribo on 5 November 2025, at the age of 89.[13][14] President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons lamented his death and said that Venetiaan was "a statesman" and "great son of the nation", praising his commitment to democracy.[5] Former President Santokhi expressed his condolences, adding that Venetiaan was "a statesman" whose death "leaves a great void."[5]

Honours

References

  1. ^ Roger East; Richard J. Thomas (3 June 2014). Profiles of People in Power: The World's Government Leaders. Taylor & Francis. p. 513. ISBN 978-1-317-63939-8.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Ronald Venetiaan: 'Ik treed terug om politieke redenen'". Dagblad Suriname (in Dutch). 16 October 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "NPS: Nationale Partij Suriname". Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  4. ^ a b c "Ex-president Venetiaan viert 80e verjaardag". Parbode (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e Clark, Joanne (6 November 2025). "Former Suriname President Ronald Venetiaan dies at 89". Caribbean National Weekly. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Kabinet van de President - Historie". www.gov.sr. Archived from the original on 19 March 2015.
  7. ^ "Suriname geschiedenis". Landenweb (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  8. ^ "Verkiezingen in Suriname 2005". Suriname.nu (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Curriculum Vitae Runaldo R. Venetiaan". Cabinet of the President of the Republic of Suriname (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2 November 2006. Retrieved 2 November 2006.
  10. ^ Michiel van Kempen (2002). "Een geschiedenis van de Surinaamse literatuur. Deel 4". Digital Library for Dutch Literature (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  11. ^ Shrinivási (1970). "Wortoe d'e tan abra". Digital Library for Dutch Literature (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  12. ^ "Het Boek CHAN". chanhetboek.org (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  13. ^ Surinaamse oud-president Ronald Venetiaan op 89-jarige leeftijd overleden (in Dutch)
  14. ^ "Three-time Former Suriname Leader Venetiaan Dead At 89: Family". Barron's. AFP. 5 November 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  15. ^ McLeod, Sheri-kae (24 November 2020). "Former Suriname President Receives Country's Highest Award".
  16. ^ a b "Surinaamse oud-president Ronald Venetiaan op 89-jarige leeftijd overleden". NU.nl (in Dutch). 5 November 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  17. ^ "En honor de la visita del excelentísimo señor Runaldo Ronald Venetiaan, Presidente" (PDF). oas.org (in Spanish). OAS. 24 September 2004. p. 3. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  18. ^ Boutayeb, Yassin (6 November 2025). "Surinaamse oud-president Ronald Venetiaan op 89-jarige leeftijd overleden". De Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 November 2025.
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