Ronald Venetiaan

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.<ref name="EastThomas2014">Template:Cite book</ref> He left Suriname in 1955 and moved to the Netherlands to study mathematics and physics at the University of Leiden,<ref name="db"/> graduating in 1964 and obtaining a doctorandus. Venetiaan returned to Suriname shortly afterwards<ref name="nos">Template:Cite news</ref> and became a mathematics and physics teacher.<ref name="db"/>

In 1973, Venetiaan served as Minister of Education for the National Party of Suriname (NPS) in the government of Henck Arron,<ref name="parbode">Template:Cite web</ref> until Arron's overthrow by the 1980 Surinamese coup d'état led by Dési Bouterse.<ref name="CNWs">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="parbode"/> He then decided to work as a professor at the Anton de Kom University.<ref name="db"/>

In 1987, he returned to politics as the Chairman of the NPS,<ref name="nos"/> and served again as the Minister of Education.<ref name="db"/> Venetiaan launched his first presidency bid in 1991, winning and serving until 1996,<ref name="kabinet">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="db"/><ref name="nos"/> 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.<ref name="db">Template:Cite news</ref> Venetiaan won an absolute majority of 37 from 51 votes in Parliament,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and won his third term in 2005, completing the term until 2010.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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,<ref name="parbode"/> saying that "he thought that it was time that the younger generation take over".<ref name="db"/>

Personal life and death

Venetiaan was a mathematician,<ref name="venet1">Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Although most of his works were never published, they were performed in theatre plays,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and he collaborated on President Chan Santokhi's We gaan Suriname redden (We are going to save Suriname) book of 2020.<ref name="CNWs"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Venetiaan was married to Liesbeth Vanenburg, and had three daughters and one son.<ref name="CNWs"/><ref name="kabinet"/> He died in Paramaribo on 5 November 2025, at the age of 89.<ref>Surinaamse oud-president Ronald Venetiaan op 89-jarige leeftijd overleden Template:In lang</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref name="CNWs"/> Former President Santokhi expressed his condolences, adding that Venetiaan was "a statesman" whose death "leaves a great void."<ref name="CNWs"/>

Honours

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  • Grand Cordon of the Honorary Order of the Yellow Star – 2020<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Grand Cordon of the Honorary Order of the Palm – 1991<ref name=dutch1/>
  • Commander of the Honorary Order of the Yellow Star – 1978<ref name=dutch1>Template:Cite news</ref>

• Template:Flag:
  • Collar of the Order of the Southern Cross – 1995<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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  • Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau – 1978<ref name="death1">Template:Cite news</ref>

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  • Collar of the Order of the Liberator – 1993<ref name="venet1"/>

External links

• Poetry of Venetiaan at Digital Library for Dutch Literature (in Dutch and Sranan Tongo)