Jules Sedney

Jules Sedney
Sedney in 1973
Prime Minister of Suriname
In office
20 November 1969 – 24 December 1973
MonarchQueen Juliana
GovernorJohan Ferrier
Preceded byArthur Johan May
Succeeded byHenck Arron
Minister of Finance
In office
25 June 1958 – 30 June 1963
MonarchQueen Juliana
Prime MinisterSeverinus Desiré Emanuels
Preceded byWillem Smit
Succeeded byJohan Adolf Pengel
3rd Governor of the Central Bank of Suriname
In office
December 1980 – January 1983
Preceded byVictor Max de Miranda
Succeeded byHenk Goedschalk
Personal details
Born(1922-09-28)28 September 1922
Paramaribo, Colony of Suriname
Died18 June 2020(2020-06-18) (aged 97)
Paramaribo, Suriname
Political partyProgressive National Party (PNP)

Jules Sedney (28 September 1922 – 18 June 2020) was a Surinamese politician, and Prime Minister of Suriname from 20 November 1969 to 24 December 1973. In 1980, he became governor of the Central Bank of Suriname,[1] but had to flee the country in 1983[2] after a dispute with Dési Bouterse.[3] Sedney returned to Suriname in 1989.[4]

Early years and education[edit]

Sedney was born in Paramaribo. In 1939, Sedney was certified as a classroom assistant, and began working.[5] He passed the customs officer certification exam in 1942 and became a customs officer in Paramaribo.[5] In 1948, Sedney left for Amsterdam to study economics at the University of Amsterdam. During his studies, he joined the organisation Wie Eegie Sanie (Our Own Things), founded by Eddy Bruma to promote Sranan Tongo and Surinamese culture.[6] He obtained his doctorate in economic sciences in 1955 at the University of Amsterdam.[4]

Political career[edit]

In 1958, Sedney became Minister of Finance for the NPS.[3] He later joined the breakaway Progressive National Party (PNP) founded by Just Rens.[3] In the 1969 Surinamese general election, Sedney's party bloc took third place. They then formed a government with the first-place VHP bloc led by Jagernath Lachmon.[7] In 1961, Sedney argued for the creation of a scientific institute in Suriname, which later developed into the University of Suriname (currently known as the Anton de Kom University).[8]

From 1969 to 1973, Sedney served as Prime Minister of Suriname. He led a multi-ethnic government that he believed to have the checks and balances necessary to grow the Surinamese economy.[9] In 1969, Sedney embarked on the first steps towards the independence of Suriname: he proposed a Koninkrijkscommissie (Kingdom Commission) which would set the path towards independence. The commission came into effect on 5 January 1972.[10] However, Sedney later became a vocal critic of the same commission, arguing that the Dutch PvdA was acting in undue haste. From Sedney's perspective, independence should have been planned more carefully over a longer time period.[11] He also raised concerns about ethnic tensions.[12]

In 1980, Sedney became the governor of the Central Bank of Suriname.[1] In 1983, he was fired after a dispute with Desi Bouterse[3] about a suspicious loan.[2] In January 1983, he went into exile in the Netherlands.[2] Sedney's citizenship was revoked on 21 July 1983 after he testified in a Dutch court against Henk Herrenberg, the Surinamese ambassador to the Netherlands.[13] He was allowed to return to Suriname in 1989.[4]

Later life[edit]

Sedney was the oldest bridge player of Suriname.[3] In 1997, he published De toekomst van ons verleden (The Future of Our Past), a political history of Suriname from 1948 onward.[4] This book included evaluations of Suriname's parliamentary democracy prior to the coup d'état and provided recommendations for strengthening democracy.[14] Successive editions were published in 2010 and 2017.[15] In 2016, he was awarded honorary membership by the VHP.[8] In 2016, the New Harbour in Paramaribo was renamed Dr Jules Sedney – Haven van Paramaribo to recognize his involvement in its founding.[16]

Sedney died on 18 June 2020.[17] He had been hospitalized just prior to his death.[3]

Selected publications[edit]

  • Jules Sedney, Het werkgelegenheidsaspect van het Surinaamse Tienjaren Plan (The Employment Aspect of the Surinamese Ten-Year Plan). (1955) Amsterdam: S. J. P. Bakker. Doctoral Dissertation.[18]
  • Jules Sedney, Ontwerp grondwet van de Pendawa Lima (Concept Constitution). (1986) Amsterdam: S.V.R-Pendawa Lima[19]
  • Jules Sedney, De Toekomst van Ons Verleden: Democratie, Etniciteit en Politieke Machtsvorming in Suriname (The Future of Our Past: Democracy, Ethnicity and Political Power in Suriname). (1997, 1st ed.) Paramaribo: VACO Publishers.[9]

Honours[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Directory – Centrale Bank van Suriname". 27 March 2015. Archived from the original on 27 March 2015.
  2. ^ a b c "Z2i2k Herrenberg in Colombia stinkt". Reformatorisch Dagblad via Digibron (in Dutch). 13 July 1983. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Oud-premier Jules Sedney overleden". De Ware Tijd (in Dutch). 18 June 2020. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d "Oud-premier Jules Sedney ingeslapen". Star Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Aangeboden Doctor Jules Sedney jarig: 95 Jaar oud". GFC Nieuws (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 21 June 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  6. ^ Jules Sedney (1952). "It stribjen fan 'Wie Eegie Sanie'". De Tsjerne via Digital Library for Dutch Literature (in Western Frisian). Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  7. ^ Gonesh, Evert G. (2015). Jagernath Lachmon: Verbroederingspolitiek in Suriname (in Dutch). Utrecht: LM Publishers. ISBN 978-94-6022-411-9.
  8. ^ a b c Chan Santokhi. "In Memoriam Dr. Jules Sedney". Star Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  9. ^ a b Suriname, US Department of State Self Study Guide, accessed 6 October 2010
  10. ^ "De held van de onafhankelijkheid". Suriname Herald (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  11. ^ "Suriname was niet voorbereid op onafhankelijkheid". de Telegraaf via Nickerie.net (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  12. ^ "SURINAM DELAYING HER INDEPENDENCE". The New York Times. 3 November 1972.
  13. ^ "Surinamers nationaliteit ontnomen". Reformatorisch Dagblad via Digibron (in Dutch). 22 July 1983. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  14. ^ "OSO. Tijdschrift voor Surinaamse taalkunde, letterkunde en geschiedenis. Jaargang 17". Digital Library for Dutch Literature (in Dutch). 1998. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  15. ^ "Oud-premier Jules Sedney heengegaan". Suriname Herald (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  16. ^ "NIEUWE HAVEN HEET VOORTAAN DR.JULES SEDNEY-HAVEN VAN PARAMARIBO". United News (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  17. ^ Suriname (19 June 2020). "Voormalig premier van Suriname Jules Sedney overleden". Waterkant (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  18. ^ J. F. K. (1956–1957), "Review", De West-Indische Gids (in Dutch), 37: 55–58, JSTOR 41835644
  19. ^ "Ontwerp grondwet van de Pendawa Lima : perspectief voor een democratisch-sociale samenleving / Jules Sedney". Royal Library of the Netherlands (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  20. ^ Leeuwin, Wilfred (21 June 2020). "Jules Sedney heeft zich onsterfelijk gemaakt". De Ware Tijd (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Finance
1958–1963 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Prime Minister of Suriname
1969–1973 		Succeeded by
Government offices
Preceded by Governor of the Central Bank of Suriname
1980–1983 		Succeeded by
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