Suriname's dominant politician for 40 years. A former military ruler, he won democratic elections in 2010 and 2015 through the National Development Party (NDP). He was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2023 for crimes committed under his military government, but managed to evade jail. He died of natural causes in December 2024.
His son Dino is in prison in the United States for drug-smuggling and attempted dealmaking with Hizbullah. His finance minister, Gillmore Hoefdraad, went into hiding in 2020 and was convicted in absentia to 12 years for embezzlement.
I have had my television aerials removed. It's the moral equivalent of a prostate operation.