Willy Soemita
William "Willy" Soemita (born March 1, 1936) is a Surinamese parliamentarian and minister.
Willy Soemita | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Born | |
Political party | Party for National Unity and Solidarity |
His father Iding Soemita was born in West Java and came as a contract labourer to Suriname where he founded the political party Kerukunan Tulodo Pranatan Inggil (KTPI) in 1949. In August 1972, Willy succeeded his father as chairman of the Javanese Surinamese party.
Career
Soemita became head of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, then Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries in 1973. After the restoration of democracy in Suriname, Soemita returned as minister in 1988, taking the portfolio of Minister of Social Affairs and Housing.[1] This ended in 1990 because of the military coup known as the "telephone coup". From 1991 to 1996 he was again Minister.
In 2005, he coached Sonny Kertoidjojo to succeed him as chairman of the KTPI. However, in early 2007, Kertoidjojo decided not to run. The then 71-year-old Soemita was then re-elected as chairman of KTPI.