Quick Facts
Biography
Johan Adolf "Jopie" Pengel (20 January 1916 – 5 June 1970) was a Surinamese politician, and Prime Minister of Suriname from 30 June 1963 to 5 March 1969 for the National Party of Suriname (NPS).
He started as leader of the Suriname trade union workers and then in the National Party of Suriname he became one of the most influential politicians in Suriname at that time.
In 1955, the NPS, led by Pengel and the United Hindustani Party (VHP), the largest Hindu party led by Jagernath Lachmon, fashioned a coalition which successfully took power in 1958 and held it until 1967, easing to both the groups to understand each other.
Under Pengel's government, the Surinamese infrastructure was strongly developed. Roads were constructed and existing infrastructure was strongly improved. Two new hospitals were built.
In 1970, he died of sepsis at the age of 54 in Paramaribo.