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Ronald Venetiaan

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Ronald Venetiaan
Venetiaan in 2003
Venetiaan in 2003
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, Suriname
Died 5 November 2025 (aged 89)
Paramaribo, Suriname
Party National Party
Spouse Liesbeth Vanenburg
(m. 1966)
Children 4

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] 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][13] He died in Paramaribo on 5 November 2025, at the age of 89.[14][15] 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

  • Suriname:
    • Grand Cordon of the Honorary Order of the Yellow Star – 2020[16]
    • Grand Cordon of the Honorary Order of the Palm – 1991[17]
    • Commander of the Honorary Order of the Yellow Star – 1978[17]
  • Brazil:
    • Collar of the Order of the Southern Cross – 1995[18]
  • Netherlands:
    • Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau – 1978[19]
  • Venezuela:
    • Collar of the Order of the Liberator – 1993[9]

References

  1. Back to citation 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. Back to citation occurrence 2.0 Back to citation occurrence 2.1 Back to citation occurrence 2.2 Back to citation occurrence 2.3 Back to citation occurrence 2.4 Back to citation occurrence 2.5 "Ronald Venetiaan: 'Ik treed terug om politieke redenen'". Dagblad Suriname (in Dutch). 16 October 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  3. Back to citation occurrence 3.0 Back to citation occurrence 3.1 "NPS: Nationale Partij Suriname". Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  4. Back to citation occurrence 4.0 Back to citation occurrence 4.1 Back to citation occurrence 4.2 "Ex-president Venetiaan viert 80e verjaardag". Parbode (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  5. Back to citation occurrence 5.0 Back to citation occurrence 5.1 Back to citation occurrence 5.2 Back to citation occurrence 5.3 Back to citation occurrence 5.4 Clark, Joanne (6 November 2025). "Former Suriname President Ronald Venetiaan dies at 89". Caribbean National Weekly. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  6. Back to citation "Kabinet van de President - Historie". www.gov.sr. Archived from the original on 19 March 2015; "Ronald Venetiaan: 'Ik treed terug om politieke redenen'". Dagblad Suriname (in Dutch). 16 October 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2020; "NPS: Nationale Partij Suriname". Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  7. Back to citation "Suriname geschiedenis". Landenweb (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  8. Back to citation "Verkiezingen in Suriname 2005". Suriname.nu (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  9. Back to citation occurrence 9.0 Back to citation occurrence 9.1 "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. Back to citation Michiel van Kempen (2002). "Een geschiedenis van de Surinaamse literatuur. Deel 4". Digital Library for Dutch Literature (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  11. Back to citation Shrinivási (1970). "Wortoe d'e tan abra". Digital Library for Dutch Literature (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  12. Back to citation "Het Boek CHAN". chanhetboek.org (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  13. Back to citation "Kabinet van de President - Historie". www.gov.sr. Archived from the original on 19 March 2015.
  14. Back to citation Surinaamse oud-president Ronald Venetiaan op 89-jarige leeftijd overleden (in Dutch)
  15. Back to citation "Three-time Former Suriname Leader Venetiaan Dead At 89: Family". Barron's. AFP. 5 November 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  16. Back to citation McLeod, Sheri-kae (24 November 2020). "Former Suriname President Receives Country's Highest Award".
  17. Back to citation occurrence 17.0 Back to citation occurrence 17.1 "Surinaamse oud-president Ronald Venetiaan op 89-jarige leeftijd overleden". NU.nl (in Dutch). 5 November 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  18. Back to citation "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.
  19. Back to citation 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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