Frank Essed
{{Short description|Surinam politician and forestry academics}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Frank Essed
| image = File:Essed.JPG
| alt =
| caption =
| office = Minister of Development
| term_start = 1958
| term_end = 1963
| predecessor = position established
| successor = {{ill|Just Rens|nl}}
| term_start2 = 1969
| term_end2 = 1973
| predecessor2 = Arthur Johan May
| successor2 = {{ill|Michael Cambridge|nl}}
| birth_name = Franklin Edgar Essed
| birth_date = {{birth date|1919|4|21|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Paramaribo, Surinam
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1988|12|22|1919|4|21}}
| death_place = Paramaribo, Suriname
| nationality =
| other_names =
| occupation = politician, forest scientist
| years_active =
| known_for =
| notable_works =
| party = National Party of Suriname (–1963)
Progressive National Party (1967–)
}}
Franklin Edgar 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.{{cite web|url=http://rgb.gov.sr/home/historie/ |title=Historie|website=Surinamese Ministry of Land and Forest Management|access-date=5 February 2022|language=nl}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Frank+Essed&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:010500836:mpeg21:a0017&resultsidentifier=ddd:010500836:mpeg21:a0017&rowid=5 |title=Minister Essed 40 jaar|website=Nieuw Suriname |date=21 April 1959|access-date=5 February 2022|language=nl}} In 1949, he received the opportunity to study at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. {{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Frank+Essed+wageningen&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:011188343:mpeg21:a0033&resultsidentifier=ddd:011188343:mpeg21:a0033&rowid=9 |title=Wie is Frank Essed eigenlijk?|website=Vrije Stem |date=26 July 1972 |language=nl|access-date=5 February 2022}} He graduated in forestry in 1955,{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Frank+Essed+wageningen&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:010473169:mpeg21:a0027&resultsidentifier=ddd:010473169:mpeg21:a0027&rowid=2 |title=Cum laude geslaagd|website=Het nieuws |date=27 June 1955|access-date=5 February 2022|language=nl}} and received his doctorate in 1957.
In 1957, Essed returned to Suriname, and started to work for {{ill|Dienst 's Lands Bosbeheer|nl}}, the forestry agency of Suriname. He also became a member of the National Party of Suriname (NPS),{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Frank+Essed&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:010618079:mpeg21:a0273&resultsidentifier=ddd:010618079:mpeg21:a0273&rowid=1 |title=Dr. Frank Essed, oud-minister, beidt zijn tijd|website=Leeuwarder Courant |date=28 February 1969|access-date=5 February 2022|language=nl}} and in 1958, he was elected to the Estates of Suriname with the most votes for a single candidate.{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Frank+Essed&coll=ddd&sortfield=date&page=1&facets%5Bperiode%5D%5B%5D=2%7C20e_eeuw%7C1950-1959%7C1958%7C&identifier=ddd:010405075:mpeg21:a0008&resultsidentifier=ddd:010405075:mpeg21:a0008&rowid=6 |title=Nabeschouwingen van de Surinaamse verkiezingen |website=Amigoe di Curacao |date=3 July 1958|access-date=5 February 2022|language=nl}} He first served as Minister without Portfolio for 14 days, before being appointed to the newly formed Ministry of Development.
In 1959, Essed initiated Operation Grasshopper, a plan to build little airstrips in the interior of Suriname to map the natural resources.{{cite web|url=http://landewers.net/grasshopper.pdf|title=Operatie sprinkhaan|author=Arno Landewers|pages=2–3|language=nl|access-date=5 February 2022|website=Landewers|archive-date=8 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808125605/http://www.landewers.net/grasshopper.pdf|url-status=dead}} The same year, he commissioned Trefossa to rewrite the national anthem.{{cite web|url=https://literatuurmuseum.nl/verhalen/surinaamse-schrijvers/trefossa |title=Trefossa |website=Literatuur Museum|access-date=5 February 2022|language=nl}} 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
Essed was appointed president of the planning agency of Suriname, and in 1967 joined the Progressive National Party, In 1969, he was re-elected to the Estates of Suriname,{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Frank+Essed&facets%5Bperiode%5D%5B%5D=2%7C20e_eeuw%7C1960-1969%7C1969%7C&page=2&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:011020675:mpeg21:a0003&resultsidentifier=ddd:011020675:mpeg21:a0003&rowid=2 |title=VHP had geluk, PNP en PNR ons nieuwe Staatskollege|website=Vrije Stem |date=27 October 1969|language=nl|access-date=5 February 2022}} and again served as Minister of Development until 1973. In 1975, Essed became the Surinamese chairperson of the Netherlands-Suriname Development Committee which coordinated the development aid of the now independent Suriname.{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Frank+Essed&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:110610827:mpeg21:a1035&resultsidentifier=ddd:110610827:mpeg21:a1035&rowid=3 |title=Ing. Frank Essed bij verkeersongeluk in Suriname omgekomen|website=De Telegraaf |date=24 December 1988|access-date=5 February 2022|language=nl}} He was one of the proponents of the West Suriname Plan which aimed to develop the bauxite in the Bakhuis Mountains.{{cite news|url=https://www.digibron.nl/viewer/collectie/Digibron/id/tag:RD.nl,19990306:newsml_21c83b8a718f424f7d359287b514630f |title=Een tropische mislukking |website=Reformatorisch Dagblad |date=6 March 1999|access-date=5 February 2022|language=nl}}
In 1980, Desi Bouterse committed a coup d'état{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles/1218515.stm |title=Timeline: Suriname|website=BBC News |access-date=5 February 2022}} resulting in the cancellation of the West Suriname Plan. In April 1980, Essed was arrested.{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Frank+Essed&coll=ddd&page=1&facets%5Bperiode%5D%5B%5D=1%7C20e_eeuw%7C1980-1989%7C&identifier=ddd:010960506:mpeg21:a0154&resultsidentifier=ddd:010960506:mpeg21:a0154&rowid=10 |title=Essed in arrest |website=Het vrije volk |date=8 April 1980|access-date=5 February 2022|language=nl}} Even though he was accused corruption, he was never charged or went to trial. He was released on 21 February 1981 and placed under house arrest.{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Frank+Essed&coll=ddd&page=1&facets%5Bperiode%5D%5B%5D=1%7C20e_eeuw%7C1980-1989%7C&identifier=ddd:010640439:mpeg21:a0008&resultsidentifier=ddd:010640439:mpeg21:a0008&rowid=4 |title=Vrijlatingen in Suriname |website=Amigoe |date=23 February 1981|access-date=5 February 2022|language=nl}} In 1987, Essed announced his candidacy for President of Suriname,{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Frank+Essed&coll=ddd&page=1&facets%5Bperiode%5D%5B%5D=1%7C20e_eeuw%7C1980-1989%7C&identifier=ddd:011207675:mpeg21:a0180&resultsidentifier=ddd:011207675:mpeg21:a0180&rowid=6 |title=Frank Essed presidents-kandidaat in Suriname|website=De Telegraaf|date=4 December 1987|access-date=5 February 2022|language=nl}} however Ramsewak Shankar was elected in 1988.
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.{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Frank+Essed&coll=ddd&identifier=ABCDDD:010832950:mpeg21:a0138&resultsidentifier=ABCDDD:010832950:mpeg21:a0138&rowid=2 |title=Frank Essed na ongeval overleden|website=Het Parool |date=23 December 1988|language=nl|access-date=5 February 2022}}
Legacy
Flora Stadion was renamed Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadion in his honour.{{cite book|url=https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/hoen042spor03_01/hoen042spor03_01_0013.php |title=Onze sporthelden. Deel 3 |website=Digital Library for Dutch Literature |author=Guno Hoen |year=1999|page=49 |isbn=99914-9623-8|language=nl}} In 1995, a bust was revealed in front of the Ministry of Land and Forest Management,{{cite web|url=https://www.suriname.nu/210cult/beeldessed.html |title=Beeld: Dr. Ir. Frank Essed |website=Suriname.nu|access-date=5 February 2022|language=nl}} the current name of the Ministry of Development.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Commons category|position=left}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Essed, Frank}}
Category:People from Paramaribo
Category:Government ministers of Suriname
Category:National Party of Suriname politicians