Jules Sedney (28 September 192218 June 2020) was a 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,
Early years and education
Sedney was born in
Paramaribo. In 1939, Sedney was certified as a classroom assistant, and began working.
He passed the customs officer certification exam in 1942 and became a customs officer in Paramaribo.
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.
He obtained his doctorate in economic sciences in 1955 at the University of Amsterdam.
Political career
In 1958, Sedney became Minister of Finance for the NPS.
He later joined the breakaway Progressive National Party (PNP) founded by
Just Rens.
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.
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).
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.[ Suriname, US Department of State Self Study Guide, accessed 6 October 2010] 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.
In 1980, Sedney became the governor of the Central Bank of Suriname.
Later life
Sedney was the oldest
Contract bridge of Suriname.
In 1997, he published
De toekomst van ons verleden (The Future of Our Past), a political history of Suriname from 1948 onward.
This book included evaluations of Suriname's parliamentary democracy prior to the coup d'état and provided recommendations for strengthening democracy.
Successive editions were published in 2010 and 2017.
In 2016, he was awarded honorary membership by the VHP.
In 2016, the New Harbour in Paramaribo was renamed
Dr Jules Sedney – Haven van Paramaribo to recognize his involvement in its founding.
Sedney died on 18 June 2020.
Selected publications
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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.
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Jules Sedney, Ontwerp grondwet van de Pendawa Lima (Concept Constitution). (1986) Amsterdam: Pendawa Lima
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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.
Honours
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: Grand Cordon ( Grootlint), Honorary Order of the Yellow Star (November 2008)
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