Johan Ferrier
Encyclopedia
Johan Henri Eliza Ferrier (May 12, 1910 – January 4, 2010) was a Surinamese
politician who served as the 1st President of Suriname
from November 25, 1975, until August 13, 1980. He was that country's last governor before independence, from 1968 to 1975, and first president after it gained independence from the Netherlands
. He was deposed in a military coup on 13 August 1980.
He was named the twentieth century's most important politician in Suriname
in 1999.
. A teacher by trade outside political life he assisted in the establishment of the country's National Party in 1946, at a time when it was a colony of the Dutch.
and its first Chief Scout
. At age 16 he was a teacher in the district Saramacca and founded his first Scout Group
. This group still exists and now bears the name "De Johan Ferrier groep, de groep 2 Oranje Dassers".
in the Netherlands to learn education theory
. When he went back to Suriname he continued to study and to have a career in education. He served as both prime minister and interior minister for a three-year period from 1955 until 1958. He also spent time as Suriname's head of education. From 1968 until 1975 he retained the post of governor. At this stage Suriname was made independent. Ferrier was selected as President of the country. Dési Bouterse
's 1980 coup d'état
prompted Ferrier to resign within six months.
. His daughter Kathleen (named after the singer Kathleen Ferrier
) is a member of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands for the Christian Democratic Appeal
. In 2005, Ferrier's memoirs Last Governor, First President: The Century of Johan Ferrier, Surinamese were published. The Dutch Queen gave him a knighthood. An obituary in national morning daily De Volkskrant
said he had claimed: "Even in the darkest days, I kept my optimism".
Queen Beatrix
of the Netherlands paid tribute. Prime Minister
Jan Peter Balkenende
said Ferrier was "an authoritative and wise statesman". Politician and diplomat Jan Pronk
paid tribute to his work at uniting divisions.
Ferrier was buried on January 11, 2010, in the Dutch town of Oegstgeest
, where he had been living since 1980.
Suriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
politician who served as the 1st President of Suriname
President of Suriname
The President of the Republic of Suriname is, in accordance with the Constitution of 1987, the head of state, head of government, and commander-in-chief of Suriname....
from November 25, 1975, until August 13, 1980. He was that country's last governor before independence, from 1968 to 1975, and first president after it gained independence from the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. He was deposed in a military coup on 13 August 1980.
He was named the twentieth century's most important politician in Suriname
Suriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
in 1999.
Early life
Ferrier was born in 1910 at Suriname's largest city and its capital, ParamariboParamaribo
Paramaribo is the capital and largest city of Suriname, located on banks of the Suriname River in the Paramaribo District. Paramaribo has a population of roughly 250,000 people, more than half of Suriname's population...
. A teacher by trade outside political life he assisted in the establishment of the country's National Party in 1946, at a time when it was a colony of the Dutch.
Scouting
Ferrier was co-founder of the Boy Scouts van SurinameBoy Scouts van Suriname
Boy Scouts van Suriname is the national Scouting organization of Suriname. Scouting in Suriname officially started in 1924 and became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1968. The coeducational association has 2,601 members .-History:On September 12, 1910, the "Korps...
and its first Chief Scout
Chief Scout
The Chief Scout is the uniformed head of a Scouting organisation:*For the Chief Scout of the World see: Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell*For the head of The Scout Association see: Chief Scout...
. At age 16 he was a teacher in the district Saramacca and founded his first Scout Group
Scout Group
The Scout Group is the local organisation for Scouting in most countries where it is active. It combines together the different sections into a single body. Scout Groups can consist of any number of sections in the different Age Groups in Scouting and Guiding...
. This group still exists and now bears the name "De Johan Ferrier groep, de groep 2 Oranje Dassers".
Politics
Ferrier was a member of the National Council until 1948. He then went to AmsterdamAmsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
in the Netherlands to learn education theory
Education theory
Educational theory can refer to either speculative educational thought in general or to a theory of education as something that guides, explains, or describes educational practice....
. When he went back to Suriname he continued to study and to have a career in education. He served as both prime minister and interior minister for a three-year period from 1955 until 1958. He also spent time as Suriname's head of education. From 1968 until 1975 he retained the post of governor. At this stage Suriname was made independent. Ferrier was selected as President of the country. Dési Bouterse
Dési Bouterse
Desiré Delano "Dési" Bouterse is the 9th and current President of Suriname.As an army officer, he was the de facto leader of Suriname through most of the 1980s, serving as Chairman of the National Military Council...
's 1980 coup d'état
1980 Surinamese coup d'état
The Surinamese coup d'état of 1980, usually referred to as the sergeants coup occurred on 25 February, when a group of sergeants of the Surinamese army took control of Suriname's government. The group declared the country to be a Socialist Republic, and stated that they would collectively run the...
prompted Ferrier to resign within six months.
After politics
Ferrier then accompanied his relations to live in the Netherlands. He lived with them in OegstgeestOegstgeest
Oegstgeest is a town and municipality in the province of South Holland in the western Netherlands. Its population was 22,576 in 2008.-Location :...
. His daughter Kathleen (named after the singer Kathleen Ferrier
Kathleen Ferrier
Kathleen Mary Ferrier CBE was an English contralto who achieved an international reputation as a stage, concert and recording artist, with a repertoire extending from folksong and popular ballads to the classical works of Bach, Brahms, Mahler and Elgar...
) is a member of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands for the Christian Democratic Appeal
Christian Democratic Appeal
The Christian Democratic Appeal is a centre-right Dutch Christian democratic political party. It suffered severe losses in the 2010 elections and fell from the first to the fourth place...
. In 2005, Ferrier's memoirs Last Governor, First President: The Century of Johan Ferrier, Surinamese were published. The Dutch Queen gave him a knighthood. An obituary in national morning daily De Volkskrant
De Volkskrant
de Volkskrant is a national daily Dutch morning newspaper, the leading centre-left broadsheet, although now in tabloid size.-History:...
said he had claimed: "Even in the darkest days, I kept my optimism".
Death
Ferrier died from heart failure while sleeping in his Dutch home at the age of 99, six months short of his 100th birthday. His body was found early morning on January 4, 2010.Queen Beatrix
Beatrix of the Netherlands
Beatrix is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands comprising the Netherlands, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and Aruba. She is the first daughter of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. She studied law at Leiden University...
of the Netherlands paid tribute. Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the Netherlands
The Prime Minister of the Netherlands is the chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Netherlands. He is the de facto head of government of the Netherlands and coordinates the policy of the government...
Jan Peter Balkenende
Jan Peter Balkenende
Jan Pieter "Jan Peter" Balkenende is a Dutch politician of the party Christian Democratic Appeal .He was the Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 22 July 2002 until 14 October 2010, having led four coalition governments, cabinets Balkenende I, II, III and IV, none of which served a full...
said Ferrier was "an authoritative and wise statesman". Politician and diplomat Jan Pronk
Jan Pronk
Johannes "Jan" Pieter Pronk is a Dutch politician and diplomat. Currently, he is a Professor of Theory and Practice of International Development at the International Institute of Social Studies in The Hague....
paid tribute to his work at uniting divisions.
Ferrier was buried on January 11, 2010, in the Dutch town of Oegstgeest
Oegstgeest
Oegstgeest is a town and municipality in the province of South Holland in the western Netherlands. Its population was 22,576 in 2008.-Location :...
, where he had been living since 1980.