{{Short description|Surinam politician and forestry academics}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Frank Essed | image = File:Essed.JPG | alt = | caption = | office = Minister of Development | term_start = 1958 | term_end = 1963 | predecessor = ''position established'' | successor = {{ill|Just Rens|nl}} | term_start2 = 1969 | term_end2 = 1973 | predecessor2 = Arthur Johan May | successor2 = {{ill|Michael Cambridge|nl}} | birth_name = Franklin Edgar Essed | birth_date = {{birth date|1919|4|21|df=yes}} | birth_place = Paramaribo, Surinam | death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1988|12|22|1919|4|21}} | death_place = Paramaribo, Suriname | other_names = | occupation = politician, forest scientist | years_active = | known_for = | notable_works = | party = National Party of Suriname (–1963)<br> Progressive National Party (1967–) }}
'''Franklin Edgar Essed''' (21 April 1919 – 22 December 1988) was a Surinamese forest scientist and politician. He served as Minister of Development from 1958 until 1963, and 1969 until 1973.<ref name="minister">{{cite web|url=http://rgb.gov.sr/home/historie/ |title=Historie|website=Surinamese Ministry of Land and Forest Management|access-date=5 February 2022|language=nl}}</ref> Essed initiated Operation Grasshopper which build airstrips in the interior to map natural resources.
==Biography== Essed was born on 21 April 1919 in Paramaribo. He went to high school, and started to work as a geodist.<ref name="40jaar">{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Frank+Essed&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:010500836:mpeg21:a0017&resultsidentifier=ddd:010500836:mpeg21:a0017&rowid=5 |title=Minister Essed 40 jaar|website=Nieuw Suriname |date=21 April 1959|access-date=5 February 2022|language=nl}}</ref> In 1949, he received the opportunity to study at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. <ref name="wie_is">{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Frank+Essed+wageningen&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:011188343:mpeg21:a0033&resultsidentifier=ddd:011188343:mpeg21:a0033&rowid=9 |title=Wie is Frank Essed eigenlijk?|website=Vrije Stem |date=26 July 1972 |language=nl|access-date=5 February 2022}}</ref> He graduated in forestry in 1955,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Frank+Essed+wageningen&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:010473169:mpeg21:a0027&resultsidentifier=ddd:010473169:mpeg21:a0027&rowid=2 |title=Cum laude geslaagd|website=Het nieuws |date=27 June 1955|access-date=5 February 2022|language=nl}}</ref> and received his doctorate in 1957.<ref name="wie_is"/>
In 1957, Essed returned to Suriname, and started to work for {{ill|Dienst 's Lands Bosbeheer|nl}}, the forestry agency of Suriname.<ref name="wie_is"/> He also became a member of the National Party of Suriname (NPS),<ref name="lc">{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Frank+Essed&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:010618079:mpeg21:a0273&resultsidentifier=ddd:010618079:mpeg21:a0273&rowid=1 |title=Dr. Frank Essed, oud-minister, beidt zijn tijd|website=Leeuwarder Courant |date=28 February 1969|access-date=5 February 2022|language=nl}}</ref> and in 1958, he was elected to the Estates of Suriname with the most votes for a single candidate.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Frank+Essed&coll=ddd&sortfield=date&page=1&facets%5Bperiode%5D%5B%5D=2%7C20e_eeuw%7C1950-1959%7C1958%7C&identifier=ddd:010405075:mpeg21:a0008&resultsidentifier=ddd:010405075:mpeg21:a0008&rowid=6 |title=Nabeschouwingen van de Surinaamse verkiezingen |website=Amigoe di Curacao |date=3 July 1958|access-date=5 February 2022|language=nl}}</ref> He first served as Minister without Portfolio for 14 days, before being appointed to the newly formed Ministry of Development.<ref name="lc"/>
In 1959, Essed initiated Operation Grasshopper, a plan to build little airstrips in the interior of Suriname to map the natural resources.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://landewers.net/grasshopper.pdf|title=Operatie sprinkhaan|author=Arno Landewers|pages=2–3|language=nl|access-date=5 February 2022|website=Landewers|archive-date=8 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808125605/http://www.landewers.net/grasshopper.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The same year, he commissioned Trefossa to rewrite the national anthem.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://literatuurmuseum.nl/verhalen/surinaamse-schrijvers/trefossa |title=Trefossa |website=Literatuur Museum|access-date=5 February 2022|language=nl}}</ref> He also initiated changing the electoral system from a district system into a mixed system. An internal conflict with Jopie Pengel led to Essed resigning from the NPS, and not participating in the 1963 elections<ref name="lc"/>
Essed was appointed president of the planning agency of Suriname,<ref name="wie_is"/> and in 1967 joined the Progressive National Party,<ref name="lc"/> In 1969, he was re-elected to the Estates of Suriname,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Frank+Essed&facets%5Bperiode%5D%5B%5D=2%7C20e_eeuw%7C1960-1969%7C1969%7C&page=2&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:011020675:mpeg21:a0003&resultsidentifier=ddd:011020675:mpeg21:a0003&rowid=2 |title=VHP had geluk, PNP en PNR ons nieuwe Staatskollege|website=Vrije Stem |date=27 October 1969|language=nl|access-date=5 February 2022}}</ref> and again served as Minister of Development until 1973.<ref name="minister"/> In 1975, Essed became the Surinamese chairperson of the Netherlands-Suriname Development Committee which coordinated the development aid of the now independent Suriname.<ref name="telegraaf">{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Frank+Essed&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:110610827:mpeg21:a1035&resultsidentifier=ddd:110610827:mpeg21:a1035&rowid=3 |title=Ing. Frank Essed bij verkeersongeluk in Suriname omgekomen|website=De Telegraaf |date=24 December 1988|access-date=5 February 2022|language=nl}}</ref> He was one of the proponents of the West Suriname Plan which aimed to develop the bauxite in the Bakhuis Mountains.<ref name="west">{{cite news|url=https://www.digibron.nl/viewer/collectie/Digibron/id/tag:RD.nl,19990306:newsml_21c83b8a718f424f7d359287b514630f |title=Een tropische mislukking |website=Reformatorisch Dagblad |date=6 March 1999|access-date=5 February 2022|language=nl}}</ref>
In 1980, Desi Bouterse committed a coup d'état<ref name="bbc">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles/1218515.stm |title=Timeline: Suriname|website=BBC News |access-date=5 February 2022}}</ref> resulting in the cancellation of the West Suriname Plan.<ref name="west"/> In April 1980, Essed was arrested.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Frank+Essed&coll=ddd&page=1&facets%5Bperiode%5D%5B%5D=1%7C20e_eeuw%7C1980-1989%7C&identifier=ddd:010960506:mpeg21:a0154&resultsidentifier=ddd:010960506:mpeg21:a0154&rowid=10 |title=Essed in arrest |website=Het vrije volk |date=8 April 1980|access-date=5 February 2022|language=nl}}</ref> Even though he was accused corruption, he was never charged or went to trial.<ref name="parool"/><ref name="housearrest"/> He was released on 21 February 1981 and placed under house arrest.<ref name="housearrest">{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Frank+Essed&coll=ddd&page=1&facets%5Bperiode%5D%5B%5D=1%7C20e_eeuw%7C1980-1989%7C&identifier=ddd:010640439:mpeg21:a0008&resultsidentifier=ddd:010640439:mpeg21:a0008&rowid=4 |title=Vrijlatingen in Suriname |website=Amigoe |date=23 February 1981|access-date=5 February 2022|language=nl}}</ref> In 1987, Essed announced his candidacy for President of Suriname,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Frank+Essed&coll=ddd&page=1&facets%5Bperiode%5D%5B%5D=1%7C20e_eeuw%7C1980-1989%7C&identifier=ddd:011207675:mpeg21:a0180&resultsidentifier=ddd:011207675:mpeg21:a0180&rowid=6 |title=Frank Essed presidents-kandidaat in Suriname|website=De Telegraaf|date=4 December 1987|access-date=5 February 2022|language=nl}}</ref> however Ramsewak Shankar was elected in 1988.<ref name="bbc"/>
On 22 December 1988, Essed attended a Christmas party organised by Henck Arron. He left the party, and was hit by a car while crossing the street. Essed died on the way to the hospital, at the age of 69.<ref name="parool">{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Frank+Essed&coll=ddd&identifier=ABCDDD:010832950:mpeg21:a0138&resultsidentifier=ABCDDD:010832950:mpeg21:a0138&rowid=2 |title=Frank Essed na ongeval overleden|website=Het Parool |date=23 December 1988|language=nl|access-date=5 February 2022}}</ref><ref name="telegraaf"/>
==Legacy== Flora Stadion was renamed Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadion in his honour.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/hoen042spor03_01/hoen042spor03_01_0013.php |title=Onze sporthelden. Deel 3 |website=Digital Library for Dutch Literature |author=Guno Hoen |year=1999|page=49 |isbn=99914-9623-8|language=nl}}</ref> In 1995, a bust was revealed in front of the Ministry of Land and Forest Management,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.suriname.nu/210cult/beeldessed.html |title=Beeld: Dr. Ir. Frank Essed |website=Suriname.nu|access-date=5 February 2022|language=nl}}</ref> the current name of the Ministry of Development.<ref name="minister"/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Essed, Frank}} Category:1919 births Category:1988 deaths Category:People from Paramaribo Category:Forestry academics Category:Government ministers of Suriname Category:National Party of Suriname politicians Category:Wageningen University & Research alumni Category:Geodesists Category:Road incident deaths in Suriname