David George Findlay Explained

David George Findlay
Birth Name:David George Albert Findlay
Birth Date:1913 3, df=yes
Birth Place:Paramaribo, Surinam
Death Place:Paramaribo, Suriname
Office1:Member of the Estates of Suriname
Term Start1:1946
Term End1:30 December 1954
Term Start2:10 May 1955
Term End2:1958
Term Start3:1963
Term End3:1969
Occupation:politician, editor, and writer
Nationality:Suriname
Party:NPS (1946-1954)
SDP (1955-1969)

David George Findlay (27 March 1913 – 6 April 1982) was a Surinamese politician, editor, and writer. He was the owner and chief editor of the newspaper De West.

Biography

Findlay was born on 27 March 1913 in Paramaribo as David George Albert Findlay. He left for the Netherlands Antilles to work for Royal Dutch Shell,[1] and later became a teacher at the MULO in Aruba.[2]

, owner of De West persuaded Findlay to return to Suriname, and become a newspaper editor.[2] Findlay returned in September 1943.[3] In 1947, Kraan retired, and Findlay bought the newspaper.[2]

Politics

Findlay was first elected to the Estates of Suriname in 1946.[1] In 1950, Lou Lichtveld had fired doctor over alleged irregularities which were later proven false.[4] Findlay demanded the resignation of Lichtveld.[5] The matter cumulated in the downfall of the government in 1951.[4]

After a schism in the National Party of Suriname (NPS), Findlay left the NPS, and founded the Surinaamse Democratische Partij (SDP). In 1955, he was re-elected as part of the Unity Front.[6] In 1958, the National Party of Suriname made a comeback,[7] and Findlay had to wait until 1963 to be re-elected. In 1969, he retired from politics.[1]

Coup d'etat

On 25 February 1980, Dési Bouterse led a coup d'état to overthrow the government of Henck Arron. During the coup, a hand grenade was thrown into the offices of De West, and the building was under fire. Fortunately the fighting only caused minor damage, but it frightened Findlay.[8] Later, the paper was forced to close.[9]

Death

Findlay died on 6 April 1982 in Paramaribo at the age of 69.[10]

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: David George Findlay. Suriname.nu. 11 March 2021. nl.
  2. Web site: Het dagblad De WEST is de oudste krant van Suriname.. Dagblad De West. 11 March 2021. nl.
  3. Book: Journalistiek leven in Curaçao . 332. Joh. Hartog. 1944. Willemstad. Paulus. nl.
  4. Web site: Hospitaalkwestie. Suriname.nu. 15 July 2018 . 11 March 2021. nl.
  5. Profeten in eigen land - twee maatschappelijke satires . Wim Rutgers . 2007. Caribisch-Nederlandse literatuur 1945-2005. nl. 11 March 2021.
  6. News: Het debacle van Pengel kort samengevat . Star Nieuws. 11 March 2021. nl.
  7. News: De NPS in kort historisch perspectief . Star Nieuws. 11 March 2021. nl.
  8. Pers onder bevel . Alwin de Rooij . 2008. OSO. Tijdschrift voor Surinaamse taalkunde, letterkunde en geschiedenis.. 11 March 2021. nl.
  9. Gary Brana-Shute . Back to the Barracks? Five Years 'Revo' in Suriname . Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs . 28 . 1 . 1986 . 93–121 . 10.2307/165737 . 165737.
  10. George Findlay, hoofdredacteur De West: "Je hebt òf totale persvrijheid òf je hebt het niet" – Parbode Sneak Peek. Parbode. 8 December 2017. 11 March 2021. nl.
  11. Web site: De geschiedenis van het bagno van Frans Guyana. bibliotheek.nl. 11 March 2021. nl.
  12. Web site: Trio en Wayana indianen in Suriname. bibliotheek.nl. 11 March 2021. nl.
  13. Web site: De ontdekking van een Akoerio vrouw met twee kinderen in het oerwoud van Zuid-Suriname. bibliotheek.nl. 11 March 2021. nl.