Frank Essed
Minister of Development
In office
1958–1963
Preceded byposition established
Succeeded byJust Rens
In office
1969–1973
Preceded byArthur Johan May
Succeeded byMichael Cambridge
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 "Frank" 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

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, 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

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

  1. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 3 4 "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. 1 2 3 4 "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. 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. 1 2 "Ing. Frank Essed bij verkeersongeluk in Suriname omgekomen". De Telegraaf (in Dutch). 24 December 1988. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  11. 1 2 "Een tropische mislukking". Reformatorisch Dagblad (in Dutch). 6 March 1999. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  12. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "Frank Essed na ongeval overleden". Het Parool (in Dutch). 23 December 1988. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  15. 1 2 "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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