Ronald Venetiaan

Ronald Runaldo Venetiaan (born 18 June 1936)[1] served as the 6th President of Suriname.

Ronald Venetiaan
6th President of Suriname
In office 12 August 2000 – 12 August 2010
Vice President	Jules Ajodhia (2000–2005) Ram Sardjoe (2005–2010)
Preceded by	Jules Wijdenbosch
Succeeded by	Dési Bouterse
In office 16 September 1991 – 15 September 1996
Vice President	Jules Ajodhia
Preceded by	Johan Kraag
Succeeded by	Jules Wijdenbosch
Personal details
Born	Ronald Runaldo Venetiaan 18 June 1936 Paramaribo, Surinam
Political party	National Party
Spouse(s)	Liesbeth Vanenburg

Biography

Venetiaan was born in Paramaribo.[1] In 1955, Venetiaan left Suriname to study mathematics and physics at the University of Leiden.[2] In 1964, he obtained his doctorandus, and returned to Suriname[3] to become a mathematics and physics teacher.[2]

In 1973 Venetiaan was Minister of Education for the National Party of Suriname (NPS) in the government of Henck Arron.[4] He was disposed by the 1980 Surinamese coup d'état.[4] Venetiaan decided to teach at the Anton de Kom University.[2]

In 1987, Venetiaan returned to politics as the Chairman of the National Party of Suriname,[3] and as the Minister of Education.[2]

His first term as president ran from 1991 to 1996,[5][2][3] after which he lost in the elections to Jules Wijdenbosch. In 2000 however, he regained his former position on the New Front banner,[2] receiving an absolute majority of 37 from 51 votes in the Parliament.[6]

In 2005 he was re-elected to serve a third term as president and sworn in on August 12, 2005.[7] Venetiaan relinquished the Chair of the NPS to Gregory Rusland in 2012, and retired from politics in 2013.[4] Venetiaan thought that it was time that the younger generation take over.[2]

Personal life

Venetiaan is a mathematician[8] beside all political activity. His surname means Venetian (a person from Venice) in Dutch. Venetiaan published his first poetry under the pseudonym Vene in Mamio (1962). Most his work was never published but was performed in theatre plays.[9] Venetiaan had also used the pseudonym Krumanty.[10] Venetiaan is a collaborator on Chan Santokhi's We gaan Suriname redden (We are going to save Suriname) of 2020.[11]

Ronald Venetiaan is married to Liesbeth Vanenburg, and has three daughters and one son.[5]

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. "Ronald Venetiaan: 'Ik treed terug om politieke redenen'". Dagblad Suriname (in Dutch). 16 October 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
3. "NPS: Nationale Partij Suriname". Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
4. "Ex-president Venetiaan viert 80e verjaardag". Parbode (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
5. Historie kabinet
6. "Suriname geschiedenis". Landenweb (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
7. "Verkiezingen in Suriname 2005". Suriname.nu (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
8. "Curriculum Vitae Runaldo R. Venetiaan". Cabinet of the President of the Republic of Suriname (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2006-11-02. Retrieved 2006-11-02.
9. Shrinivási (1970). "Wortoe d'e tan abra". Digital Library for Dutch Literature (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
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. "Het Boek CHAN". chanhetboek.org (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 June 2020.

External links

• Poetry of Venetiaan at Digital Library for Dutch Literature (in Dutch and Sranan Tongo)