The Surinamese-Dutch presenter and politician Roy Ristie has died at the age of 68. Ristie worked for various broadcasters, including NOS, VPRO and Veronica and was a councilor for D66 in Amsterdam-Zuidoost for eight years.
Last Tuesday, the former politician was hospitalized after a corona infection. This morning, Ristie’s family confirmed his death.
Ristie committed himself to the Zuidoost district and played a prominent role in the Surinamese community in the capital. For example, he was a member of the Pa Sem Committee, which is committed to commemorating the Bijlmer disaster, writes AT5.
Slavery past
Since 1993, June 30 has been the national Day of Awareness every year. On the last day of the Keti Koti month, which is dominated by the abolition of slavery, the common history of the Netherlands, Suriname and the Antilles is commemorated on Surinameplein. Ristie was one of the initiators of this ceremony of Consciousness. He campaigned for greater awareness of the slavery past.
From 2010 to 2018, Ristie was a councilor in the district for D66, reports NH News. The Amsterdam D66 party leader Reinier van Dantzig says on Twitter that he will miss Ristie and wishes the family strength.
–
