PARAMARIBO – Marijke Indradebie Djwalapersad reportedly died last Thursday. The well known female politician had been ill for a long time. In 1991 Djwalapersad who was on the list of the VHP became a member of parliament.
In 1996 she was part of the group of dissidents within the VHP that became known as the BVD-VHP. This group eventually exited the VHP and founded a new political party namely the Basispartij voor Vernieuwing en Democratie (BVD). Djwalapersad became the deputy chairperson of the BVD. During the elections of May 23rd 1996 the VHP which was part of the political bloc known as New Front won the elections and Djwalapersad was reelected to represent the Wanica District in parliament. Later on 5 of the 9 MPs from the VHP including Djwalapersad exited the VHP. These 5 members of the BVD helped the Wijdenbosch to achieve the majority of seats in parliament. In return for their support they got 4 ministerial posts and the vice presidency. In July 1996 Jagernath Lachmon (VHP) was reelected as chairman of parliament but after a few months he designed because he could not see eye to eye with the government of Jules Wijdenbosch (NDP). On October 10th 1996 Marijke Djwalapersad became the first ever female chairperson of Suriname's parliament after receiving 27 of the 44 votes.
