David George Findlay
{{short description|Surinamese politician, editor, and writer}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = David George Findlay
| image = File:D.G.A. Findlay (1948).jpg
| image_size =
| caption = David George Findlay (1948)
| birth_name = David George Albert Findlay
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1913|03|27}}
| birth_place = Paramaribo, Surinam
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1982|04|06|1913|03|27}}
| death_place = Paramaribo, Suriname
| death_cause =
| office1 = Member of the Estates of Suriname
| term_start1 = 1946
| term_end1 = 30 December 1954
| term_start2 = 10 May 1955
| term_end2 = 1958
| term_start3 = 1963
| term_end3 = 1969
| occupation = politician, editor, and writer
| nationality = Suriname
| party = NPS (1946-1954)
SDP (1955-1969)
| other_names =
| notable_works =
| education =
| relatives =
| signature =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
David George Findlay (27 March 1913 – 6 April 1982) was a Surinamese politician, editor, and writer. He was the owner and chief editor of the newspaper De West.
Biography
Findlay was born on 27 March 1913 in Paramaribo as David George Albert Findlay. He left for the Netherlands Antilles to work for Royal Dutch Shell,{{cite web|url=https://www.suriname.nu/701vips/davidgeorgefindlay.html |title=David George Findlay|website=Suriname.nu|access-date=11 March 2021|language=nl}} and later became a teacher at the MULO in Aruba.{{cite web|url=https://dagbladdewest.com/us/ |title=Het dagblad De WEST is de oudste krant van Suriname.|website=Dagblad De West|access-date=11 March 2021|language=nl}}
{{ill|William Kraan|nl}}, owner of De West persuaded Findlay to return to Suriname, and become a newspaper editor. Findlay returned in September 1943.{{cite book|url=https://dbnl.nl/tekst/hart062jour01_01/hart062jour01_01_0027.php |title=Journalistiek leven in Curaçao |page=332|author=Joh. Hartog|year=1944|location=Willemstad|publisher=Paulus| language=nl}} In 1947, Kraan retired, and Findlay bought the newspaper.
Politics
Findlay was first elected to the Estates of Suriname in 1946. In 1950, Lou Lichtveld had fired doctor {{ill|Henk van Ommeren|nl|Henk van Ommeren (1896-1996)}} over alleged irregularities which were later proven false.{{cite web|url=https://suriname.nu/surinamezoeken/knowledge-base/hospitaalkwestie/|title=Hospitaalkwestie|website=Suriname.nu|date=15 July 2018 |access-date=11 March 2021|language=nl}} Findlay demanded the resignation of Lichtveld.{{cite magazine|url=https://dbnl.nl/tekst/rutg014brug01_01/rutg014brug01_01_0009.php |title=Profeten in eigen land - twee maatschappelijke satires |author=Wim Rutgers |year=2007|series=Caribisch-Nederlandse literatuur 1945-2005|language=nl|access-date=11 March 2021}} The matter cumulated in the downfall of the government in 1951.
After a schism in the National Party of Suriname (NPS), Findlay left the NPS, and founded the Surinamese Democratic Party (SDP). In 1955, he was re-elected as part of the Unity Front.{{cite news|url=https://www.starnieuws.com/index.php/welcome/index/nieuwsitem/25570 |title=Het debacle van Pengel kort samengevat |website=Star Nieuws|access-date=11 March 2021|language=nl}} In 1958, the National Party of Suriname made a comeback,{{cite news|url=https://www.starnieuws.com/index.php/welcome/index/nieuwsitem/29689 |title=De NPS in kort historisch perspectief |website=Star Nieuws|access-date=11 March 2021|language=nl}} and Findlay had to wait until 1963 to be re-elected. In 1969, he retired from politics.
Coup d'etat
On 25 February 1980, Dési Bouterse led a coup d'état to overthrow the government of Henck Arron. During the coup, a hand grenade was thrown into the offices of De West, and the building was under fire. Fortunately the fighting only caused minor damage, but it frightened Findlay.{{cite magazine|url=https://dbnl.nl/tekst/_oso001200801_01/_oso001200801_01_0026.php|author=Alwin de Rooij |title=Pers onder bevel |year=2008|series=OSO. Tijdschrift voor Surinaamse taalkunde, letterkunde en geschiedenis.|access-date=11 March 2021|language=nl}} Later, the paper was forced to close.{{cite journal | author = Gary Brana-Shute | title = Back to the Barracks? Five Years 'Revo' in Suriname | journal = Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs | volume = 28 | issue = 1 | year = 1986 | pages = 93–121 | doi = 10.2307/165737 | jstor = 165737}}
Death
Findlay died on 6 April 1982 in Paramaribo at the age of 69.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.parbode.com/george-findlay-hoofdredacteur-de-west-je-hebt-of-totale-persvrijheid-of-je-hebt-het-niet-parbode-sneak-peek/ |title=George Findlay, hoofdredacteur De West: "Je hebt òf totale persvrijheid òf je hebt het niet" – Parbode Sneak Peek|website=Parbode|date=8 December 2017|access-date=11 March 2021|language=nl}}
Bibliography
- {{cite book|title=De geschiedenis van het bagno van Frans Guyana|year=1970|location=Paramaribo|publisher=De West}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bibliotheek.nl/catalogus/titel.050593684.html/de-geschiedenis-van-het-bagno-van-frans-guyana/ |title=De geschiedenis van het bagno van Frans Guyana|website=bibliotheek.nl|access-date=11 March 2021|language=nl}}
- {{cite book|title=Trio en Wayana indianen in Suriname|year=1970|location=Paramaribo|publisher=De West}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bibliotheek.nl/catalogus/titel.092047319.html/trio-en-wayana-indianen-in-suriname/ |title=Trio en Wayana indianen in Suriname|website=bibliotheek.nl|access-date=11 March 2021|language=nl}}
- {{cite book|title=De ontdekking van een Akoerio vrouw met twee kinderen in het oerwoud van Zuid-Suriname |year=1975|location=Paramaribo|publisher=De West}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bibliotheek.nl/catalogus/titel.094114501.html/de-ontdekking-van-een-akoerio-vrouw-met-twee-kinderen-in-het-oerwoud/ |title=De ontdekking van een Akoerio vrouw met twee kinderen in het oerwoud van Zuid-Suriname|website=bibliotheek.nl|access-date=11 March 2021|language=nl}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Findlay, David George}}
Category:Members of the National Assembly (Suriname)