Emile Wijntuin

Biography Wijntuin was born in the Coronie District on 22 September 1924 in a family of farmers. At age 12, he was sent to Paramaribo for high school education. In 1943, he became an assistant teacher and received his teaching degree in 1947. During this period, he befriended father Jozef Weidmann and became interested in politics.

In August 1926, Weidmann was one of the founders of PSV, a Christian democratic party. Wijntuin became chairman of PSV in 1971. In 1982, he left Suriname, and lived in diaspora in the Netherlands. He tried to gather support from the European and South American Christian democrats but found himself increasingly isolated. Wijntuin returned after the restoration of democracy in 1991 but refrained from politics, and started to focus on writing books.

Other activities In 1962, the Father Weidmann Foundation, was established. The foundation operates a home for stray children, and was chaired by Wijntuin until his death.

In 1994, he published his autobiography Reflekties uit een politiek verleden. about Louis Doedel, a union leader who was involuntary committed in psychiatric hospital on 28 May 1937 by Governor Kielstra. Doedel was forgotten and presumed dead. It wasn't until 1980, that he was released.

Honours Grand Cordon Honorary Order of the Yellow Star Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau (April 1967) Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion (November 1975) Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (October 2020)