| Chairman of Estates of Suriname | |
|---|---|
| Voorzitter van De Staten van Suriname | |
| Seat | Paramaribo |
| Appointer | Estates of Suriname |
| Formation | 14 May 1935 |
| First holder | Karel Johannes van Erpecum |
| Final holder | Emile Wijntuin |
| Abolished | 25 November 1975 |
| Succession | Chairman of the National Assembly of Suriname |
The chairman of the Estates of Suriname (Dutch : Voorzitter van De Staten) was the presiding officer of the Estates of Suriname.
The following is a complete list of office-holders from 1935 to 1975: [1]
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Term of office | Political party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||
| 1 |  | Karel Johannes van Erpecum (1881–1963) | 14 May 1935 | 6 April 1942 | 6 years, 327 days | Independent |
| 2 |  | Julius del Prado (1886–1945) | 7 April 1942 | 8 October 1943 | 1 year, 184 days | Independent |
| 3 | | Gerrit Fikkert (1911–2008) | 25 October 1943 | 4 April 1944 | 162 days | Independent |
| (2) | | Julius del Prado (1886–1945) | 4 April 1944 | 31 March 1945 | 361 days | Independent |
| 4 |  | Frederik Lim A Po (1900–1957) | 3 April 1945 | 31 March 1947 | 1 year, 362 days | NPS |
| 5 |  | Henry Lucien de Vries (1909–1987) | 1 April 1947 | 6 January 1949 | 1 year, 280 days | |
| 6 |  | Gerard van der Schroeff (1913–2000) | 22 March 1949 | 1 April 1951 | 2 years, 10 days | NPS |
| (4) | | Frederik Lim A Po (1900–1957) | 10 May 1951 | 6 May 1953 | 1 year, 361 days | NPS |
| 7 | | Huerta Milano Celvius Bergen (1915–1994?) | 15 May 1953 | 3 January 1955 | 1 year, 233 days | NPS |
| 8 |  | Johan Adolf Pengel (1916–1970) | 26 January 1955 | 9 May 1955 | 103 days | NPS |
| 9 | | Hendrik Carel van Ommeren (1896–1996) | 14 May 1955 | 28 January 1957 | 1 year, 259 days | NPS |
| 10 | | Stuart Harry Axwijk (1920–1961) | 7 February 1957 | 9 July 1958 | 1 year, 152 days | SDP |
| 11 |  | Johan Kraag (1913–1996) | 16 July 1958 | 14 May 1963 | 4 years, 304 days | NPS |
| 12 | | Emile de la Fuente (1898–1977) | 30 May 1963 | 6 January 1964 | 221 days | NPS |
| 13 |  | Jagernath Lachmon (1916–2001) | 28 February 1964 | 11 May 1967 | 3 years, 72 days | VHP |
| 14 |  | Olton van Genderen (1913–1990) | 16 May 1967 | 1 September 1969 | 2 years, 108 days | NPS |
| 15 | | Clemens Ramkisoen Biswamitre (1897–1980) | 1 September 1969 | 18 November 1969 | 78 days | SDP |
| (13) | | Jagernath Lachmon (1916–2001) | 18 November 1969 | 15 December 1973 | 4 years, 27 days | VHP |
| (14) | | Olton van Genderen (1913–1990) | 15 December 1973 | 28 December 1973 | 13 days | NPS |
| 16 |  | Emile Wijntuin (1924–2020) | 28 December 1973 | 25 November 1975 | 1 year, 332 days | PSV |
The economy of Suriname was largely dependent upon the exports of aluminium oxide and small amounts of aluminium produced from bauxite mined in the country. However, after the departure of Alcoa, the economy depended on the exports of crude oil and gold. Suriname was ranked the 124th safest investment destination in the world in the March 2011 Euromoney Country Risk rankings.
The president of the Republic of Suriname is, in accordance with the Constitution of 1987, the head of state and head of government of Suriname, and commander-in-chief of the Suriname National Army (SNL). The president also appoints a cabinet.
The Progressive Reform Party, is a political party in Suriname. It was originally founded in January 1949 as a merger of three parties to represent the Indo-Surinamese community. The party occupies a position straddling the political centre and centre-left, advocating for a combination of social-democratic and social-liberal policies under the Third Way philosophy. During the party's history it frequently allied itself with the National Party of Suriname (NPS) that historically represented the Afro-Surinamese community.
Brotherhood and Unity in Politics is a political party in Suriname founded on 29 April 1973.
The National Assembly is the Parliament, representing the legislative branch of government in Suriname. It is a unicameral legislature. The assembly has been situated in the former park house at the Independence Square in Paramaribo, after a fire destroyed the old building of representation on 1 August 1996. A reconstruction of the old building was completed in 2022.
Paul Slamet Somohardjo is a Surinamese politician of Javanese descent. Somohardjo has been called Paul Salam Somohardjo since childhood. Somohardjo also owns a radio and television station.
Ramdien Sardjoe is a Surinamese politician and served as Vice President of Suriname from 2005 to 2010. He is a member of the Progressive Reform Party (VHP).
Jagernath Lachmon, also Jaggernath Lachmon, was a Surinamese politician. He was one of the founders of the Progressive Reform Party (VHP), an Indo-Surinamese party founded in 1947 of which he served as President until his death.
Jennifer Geerlings-Simons is a Surinamese politician. On 30 June 2010, she was elected as Chairperson of the National Assembly of Suriname with 26 out of 50 votes. Simons is the second female chairman of the Surinamese Parliament. She was re-elected on 30 June 2015. In 2024, she became the leader of the National Democratic Party.
Ronnie Brunswijk is a Surinamese politician, businessman, former rebel leader, footballer and convicted drug trafficker, who is serving as the current Vice President of Suriname.
Johan Adolf "Jopie" Pengel was a Surinamese politician, and prime minister of Suriname from 30 June 1963 to 5 March 1969 for the National Party of Suriname (NPS).
Johannes Samuel Petrus "Johan" Kraag was a Surinamese politician who served as the President of Suriname from 29 December 1990, until 16 September 1991.
Chandrikapersad "Chan" Santokhi is a Surinamese politician and former police officer who is the 9th president of Suriname, since 2020. After winning the 2020 elections, Santokhi was the sole nominee for president of Suriname. On 13 July, Santokhi was elected president by acclamation in an uncontested election. He was inaugurated on 16 July.
Emile Linus Alfred Wijntuin was a Surinamese politician who served as Chairman of the National Assembly of Suriname from 1975 until the aftermath of the 1980 Surinamese coup d'état. Wijntuin was a member of the Progressive Surinamese People's Party (PSV).
Gregory Allan Rusland is a Surinamese politician. He served as Minister for Natural Resources between 2005 and 2010. In 2012 he became leader of the National Party of Suriname. Rusland has been a member of the National Assembly since 2015.
Winston Jessurun is a Surinamese politician and plastic surgeon. He was member of the National Assembly for the Democratic Alternative '91 between 1991 and 2015 for Paramaribo District.
Henry Lucien de Vries was a Surinamese politician and entrepreneur.
Marinus Bee is a Surinamese politician, Chairman of the National Assembly of Suriname, and sports manager. As sports manager, he was chairman of the Albina Sports Foundation for ten years, and since 2014 chairman of S.V. Papatam. Bee has been elected to the National Assembly for the General Liberation and Development Party (ABOP) since 2010 for the Marowijne District.
