Gregory Rusland

Rusland was born on 9 November 1959 in Paramaribo.{{cite web|author= |url=https://sites.google.com/site/2010nps/home/cv-voorzitter |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011111109/https://sites.google.com/site/2010nps/home/cv-voorzitter |title=Curriculum Vitae Gregory Allan. Rusland |publisher=National Party of Suriname |date= |archive-date=11 October 2016}} He studied agricultural production at the Anton de Kom University of Suriname and received a bachelor's degree in 1982. He continued his studies in the same field at the University of Florida and obtained an MSc in 1984.{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.dbsuriname.com/archief/nat/2005/sept05/02-09-05/Nat_Minister%20Gregory%20Rusland%20beter%20leren%20kennen.as |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927003631/http://www.dbsuriname.com/archief/nat/2005/sept05/02-09-05/Nat_Minister%20Gregory%20Rusland%20beter%20leren%20kennen.asp |title=Minister Gregory Rusland beter leren kennen |language=Dutch |publisher=Dagblad Suriname |date=2 September 2005 |archive-date=27 September 2007}} Rusland obtained a further PhD at the same institute in 1987. He held several teaching positions at the Anton de Kom University of Suriname between 1987 and 2005. Between 1987 and 2000 Rusland also helped found several institutes at the university. He also went into business and amongst other ventures served as president-commissioner of a shrimp company.{{cite web|author=Naomi Hoever |url=http://dwtonline.com/laatste-nieuws/2019/12/14/kwaadsprekerij-over-woning-rusland-in-florida/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215154156/http://dwtonline.com/laatste-nieuws/2019/12/14/kwaadsprekerij-over-woning-rusland-in-florida/ |title=Kwaadsprekerij over woning Rusland in Florida |language=Dutch |publisher=dwtonline.com |date=14 December 2019 |archive-date=15 December 2019}}

Rusland served as Minister for Natural Resources between 2005 and 2010.{{cite book|author1=Ivo Evers|author2=Pieter Van Maele|title=Bouterse aan de macht|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9Rh1AAAAQBAJ&pg=PT151|date=4 October 2012|publisher=Bezige Bij b.v., Uitgeverij De|isbn=978-90-234-7334-3|page=151}}{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.waterkant.net/suriname/2012/06/17/gregory-rusland-leider-nationale-partij-suriname/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811144001/https://www.waterkant.net/suriname/2012/06/17/gregory-rusland-leider-nationale-partij-suriname/ |title=Gregory Rusland leider Nationale Partij Suriname |language=Dutch |publisher=Waterkant |date=17 June 2012 |archive-date=11 August 2017}} In this period he received criticism for the low taxation rate that Canadian mining company Iamgold had to pay. After the 2010 Surinamese general election Rusland was candidate for the Vice Presidency on behalf of the New Front for Democracy and Development next to presidential candidate Chan Santokhi.{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.parool.nl/nieuws/santokhi-uitdager-bouterse-in-suriname~bc6dd169/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622042055/https://www.parool.nl/nieuws/santokhi-uitdager-bouterse-in-suriname~bc6dd169/ |title=Santokhi uitdager Bouterse in Suriname |language=Dutch |publisher=Het Parool |date=16 July 2010 |archivedate=22 June 2020}}

Since June 2012 Rusland is leader of the National Party of Suriname, taking over leadership from Ronald Venetiaan.{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.starnieuws.com/index.php/welcome/index/video/354/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811143656/https://www.starnieuws.com/index.php/welcome/index/video/354/ |title=Gregory Rusland, nieuwe voorzitter NPS |language=Dutch |publisher=StarNieuws |date= |archive-date=11 August 2017}} He won the internal party election against Ivan Fernald, with Rusland winning seven out of eleven districts.

In the 2015 Surinamese general election, Rusland was elected to the National Assembly for the electoral district of Paramaribo.{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.dna.sr/het-politiek-college/leden/gregory-rusland/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228013347/http://www.dna.sr/het-politiek-college/leden/gregory-rusland/ |title=Hr. Dr. Gregory A. Rusland |language=Dutch |publisher=National Assembly of Suriname |date= |archive-date=28 February 2020}} After the elections the National Assembly had to elect the President and Vice President of Suriname. Rusland once again served as candidate for vice president next to Chan Santokhi.

In March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Suriname, Rusland expressed support for the government measures taken to suppress the pandemic. However, he was critical of the evening curfew, stating that it reminded him of the military government of the 1980s.{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.srherald.com/suriname/2020/03/28/gregory-rusland-het-woord-avondklok-brengt-ons-terug-naar-de-jaren-tachtig/ |title=Gregory Rusland: "Het woord avondklok brengt ons terug naar de jaren tachtig" |language=Dutch |publisher=Suriname Herald |date=28 March 2020 |access-date=6 June 2020}} On 23 April 2020, after the public prosecutor had indicated that it wanted to prosecute Finance Minister Gillmore Hoefdraad for mismanagement at the Central Bank of Suriname, Rusland stated that Hoedraad should immediately offer his position to the President.{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.ed.nl/buitenland/om-suriname-wil-vervolging-minister-van-financien~a3f8d686/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606122000/https://www.ed.nl/buitenland/om-suriname-wil-vervolging-minister-van-financien~a3f8d686/|title=OM Suriname wil vervolging minister van Financiën |language=Dutch |publisher=Eindhovens Dagblad |date=24 April 2020 |archive-date=6 June 2020}}{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.starnieuws.com/index.php/welcome/index/nieuwsitem/58263 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501075839/https://www.starnieuws.com/index.php/welcome/index/nieuwsitem/58263 |title=Rusland: Minister Hoefdraad moet onmiddellijk bedanken |language=Dutch |publisher=StarNieuws |date=23 April 2020 |archive-date=1 May 2020}}

On 30 May 2020, five days after the 2020 Surinamese general election was held, and with the official results still pending, Rusland and the leaders of the Progressive Reform Party, General Liberation and Development Party and Pertjajah Luhur signed an agreement to form a coalition government.{{cite web|author=Nina Jurna |url=https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2020/05/30/surinaamse-oppositie-sluit-al-coalitieakkoord-voor-nieuwe-regering-a4001360 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606120729/https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2020/05/30/surinaamse-oppositie-sluit-al-coalitieakkoord-voor-nieuwe-regering-a4001360 |title=Surinaamse oppositie sluit al akkoord voor nieuwe regering |language=Dutch |publisher=NRC Handelsblad |date=31 May 2020 |archive-date=6 June 2020}}

Rusland was once again elected to the National Assembly for Paramaribo District in the 2020 elections.{{cite news|url=https://www.starnieuws.com/index.php/welcome/index/nieuwsitem/59199|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200619142542/https://www.starnieuws.com/index.php/welcome/index/nieuwsitem/59199|title=16 vrouwen gekozen in DNA; 18 oud-leden keren terug|website=Star Nieuws|date=18 June 2020|archive-date=19 June 2020|language=nl}} On 1 July 2020, Rusland tested COVID-19 positive. He had been tested, because Paul Somohardjo with whom he had lengthy meetings about the new government tested positive.{{cite news|url=https://www.starnieuws.com/index.php/welcome/index/nieuwsitem/59431 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703082700/https://www.starnieuws.com/index.php/welcome/index/nieuwsitem/59431|title=Brunswijk ook positief; DNA-vergadering uitgesteld |website=Star Nieuws|language=nl|date=1 July 2020|archivedate=3 July 2020}} Rusland's wife was infected as well even though she had stayed at home for the last three weeks.{{cite news|url=https://www.starnieuws.com/index.php/welcome/index/nieuwsitem/59428|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703082713/https://www.starnieuws.com/index.php/welcome/index/nieuwsitem/59428|title=NPS-voorzitter en echtgenote thuis in isolatie |website=Star Nieuws|date=1 July 2020|archivedate=3 July 2020|language=nl}}

In December 2020 he was re-elected as leader of the National Party of Suriname for a third time.{{cite web|url=https://www.srherald.com/suriname/2020/12/13/gregory-rusland-herkozen-als-voorzitter-nps/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305133835/https://www.srherald.com/suriname/2020/12/13/gregory-rusland-herkozen-als-voorzitter-nps/ |title=Gregory Rusland herkozen als voorzitter NPS |language=nl |publisher=Suriname Herald |date=13 December 2020 |archive-date=5 March 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.radio10.sr/nieuws/gregory-rusland-voor-de-derde-keer-gekozen-als-voorzitter-nps/93887 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218122955/https://www.radio10.sr/nieuws/gregory-rusland-voor-de-derde-keer-gekozen-als-voorzitter-nps/93887 |title=Gregory Rusland voor de derde keer gekozen als voorzitter NPS |language=nl |publisher=Radio 10 |date= |archive-date=18 February 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.waterkant.net/suriname/2020/12/13/video-gregory-rusland-herkozen-als-voorzitter-van-de-nps/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305134257/https://www.waterkant.net/suriname/2020/12/13/video-gregory-rusland-herkozen-als-voorzitter-van-de-nps/ |title=VIDEO: Gregory Rusland herkozen als voorzitter van de NPS |language=nl |publisher=Waterkant |date=13 December 2020 |archive-date=5 March 2021}}

In February 2023, the NPS under Rusland left the Santokhi cabinet, with the NPS stating that it had been hardly involved in government during the preceding two years.{{cite web|url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2463968-groene-partij-nps-stapt-per-direct-uit-surinaamse-coalitie |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529191910/https://nos.nl/artikel/2463968-groene-partij-nps-stapt-per-direct-uit-surinaamse-coalitie |title=Groene partij NPS stapt per direct uit Surinaamse coalitie |language=nl |publisher=Nederlandse Omroep Stichting |date=15 February 2023 |archive-date=29 May 2023}}

Rusland is married and has two children. His father Harold Rusland was a union leader and served as Minister of Education and his brother {{Interlanguage link multi|Andy Rusland|nl}} served as Minister of Finance.{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.waterkant.net/suriname/2014/01/01/surinames-minister-van-financien-andy-rusland/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606105745/https://www.waterkant.net/suriname/2014/01/01/surinames-minister-van-financien-andy-rusland/ |title=Suriname’s minister van Financiën: Andy Rusland |language=Dutch |publisher=Waterkant.net |date=1 January 2014 |archive-date=6 June 2020}} Rusland has stated he is oriented towards the United States and has a special link with Florida.

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Category:1959 births

Category:20th-century Surinamese businesspeople

Category:21st-century Surinamese businesspeople

Category:Living people

Category:Anton de Kom University of Suriname alumni

Category:Government ministers of Suriname

Category:Members of the National Assembly (Suriname)

Category:National Party of Suriname politicians

Category:Politicians from Paramaribo

Category:University of Florida alumni

• [https://gregrusland.com/ Official website]