Johan Ferrier

Johan Henri Eliza Ferrier (; 12 May 1910 – 4 January 2010) was a Surinamese politician who served as the first president of Suriname from 1975 to 1980. He was also the country's last governor-general before independence, serving from 1968 to 1975, before becoming the first president upon independence from the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1975 and also served as the fifth prime minister from 1955 to 1958.

He was named the twentieth century's most important politician in Suriname in 1999.

Early life Ferrier was born in 1910 in Suriname's largest city and capital, Paramaribo.

Politics

In 1946, Ferrier was one of the founding members of the National Party of Suriname. Ferrier was a member of the National Council from 1946 until 1948. When he went back to Suriname, which had by then become an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, he continued to study and to have a career in education. He also spent time as Suriname's head of education. Dési Bouterse's 1980 coup d'état prompted Ferrier to resign within six months.

Prime Minister Henk Chin A Sen succeeded Ferrier as president. Ferrier was made a Grand Cordon in the Honorary Order of the Yellow Star by Chin A Sen on 3 September 1980. His wife was also made a Grand Officer in the Honorary Order of the Palm.

Later life

Ferrier then accompanied his relatives to live in the Netherlands. He lived with them in Oegstgeest. In 1986, Het Grote Anansi Boek, a picture book was released with illustrations by Noni Lichtveld. The original release was monochrome. In 2010, it was re-released in colour.

Death Ferrier died from heart failure while sleeping at home in Oegstgeest at the age of 99. His body was found in the early morning hours of 4 January 2010.

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands paid tribute. Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said Ferrier was "an authoritative and wise statesman".

Johan Ferrier Fund

On 12 May 2010, the day Ferrier would have celebrated his 100th birthday, the Johan Ferrier Fund was officially launched. The fund strives to follow in his footsteps in supporting Surinamese projects with educational and cultural goals. The Johan Ferrier Fund is an initiative of his daughter Joan Ferrier, who first presented the fund in the presence of her father in September 2009.