About VSH The VSH-United Group comprises of a holding company and nine subsidiaries, eight of which are operating in Suriname, and one in Miami Florida, USA. The Group is forty-seven years old. Its major activities include shipping, trading, and manufacturing. Other activities include real estate development and management and investments in other local companies. The main office of the VSH-United Group is located adjacent to the harbor in Paramaribo. Visit our website regularly and keep updated with news and specials from our group.
During the second half of the year 1958 discussions took place between L.E. Th Tjin A Djie and James J. Healy regarding the establishment of an import and export company. At a later stage A.W. Brakke and A. Hedges Abrahams joined the discussions. Since many of the participants were already shareholders in Rudy's Delicatessen N.V., it was decided to use this corporation to achieve the intended goal. The articles of incorporation were revised and the name changed to N.V. Verenigde Surinaamse Handelmij./United Suriname Trading Company. Under the inspiring leadership of James J. Healy the new company set off to secure a prominent position in the Suriname market in trading, shipping, real estate, industry and investment.
Below is a brief account of events over the past 48 years.
26 March 1958 Rudy Tjin A Djie takes over operation of retail food store at Keizerstraat 31. Paramaribo, Company commences operation as Rudy's Delicatessen N.V. in formation. 22 August 1958 The Company Rudy's Delicatessen N.V. formally established 22 August 1958 by R.P.B. Tjin A Djie and his brother L.E.T. Tjin A Djie a Director. A.W. Brakke, Chairman of the Board. E.G. Karsters, Secretary. 8 November 1958 Company opens second store in property acquired at Tuberoosstraat 2, Zorg en Hoop. 1 April 1959 James J. Healy joined the company as Co-manager. Agency Department for commercial and wholesale distribution of foodstuffs commences at Domineestraat 39 that also housed the well known Toeti Froeti Bar and Grill. 23 June 1959 Company name changes to N.V. Vere¬nigde Surinaamse Handelmij. -United Suriname Trading Company. Articles of Incorporation revised. 1 August 1959 The third retail store opened at Moengo. 29 April 1960 Company acquired property at Verlengde Gemenelandsweg in Paramaribo for retail store and whole-sale/warehouse operation. 5 May 1960 Company offices established at Wagenwegstraat 43. 15 January 1961 F.G. Dijs joined the Company and the Shipping Department commences. 10 January 1962 Company offices moved to Oranjeplein 8 boven. 10 February 1964 Subsidiary United Development Company established as Real Estate Company. 6,250m2 square meters of land acquired at van Hogerhuysstraat together with option to purchase an additional 6,250m2. 15 January 1966 Retail store at Verlengde Gemenelands¬weg expanded. 20 May 1967 Investment activities in other Suriname companies expanded. 23 August 1968 Property at Waterkant 6-8 acquired and company offices moved to this location. 22 April 1969 United Development Company exercised option to acquire additional land at van 't Hogerhuysstraat. 8 February 1970 Wholesale Warehouse at Verlengde Gemenelandsweg destroyed by fire. 1 September 1970 Company reorganized. The retail and wholesale food business sold to company established by R.F.B Tjin A Djie who resigned to manage the new company. 19 August 1971 A.W. Brakke retires as Chairman of the Board. Replaced by L.E.T. Tjin A Djie. O.A. Brakke joined the Board as a Director. 15 November 1973 Construction of office/warehouse complex by United Development Company commenced at van 't Hogerhuysstraat. 16 August 1974 Hazel Brandon appointed company secretary. 19 December 1974 New offices at the van 't Hogerhuysstraat occupied. 25 November 1975 Suriname Independent. 23 July 1976 Company acquired all remaining outstanding shares in United Development Company. 1 January 1977 Reorganization. 9 November 1978 In connection with the reorganization two new companies N.V. Verenigde Surinaamse Holdingmij. -/ United Suriname Holding Company and N.V. VSH-¬Scheepvaartmij. -/United Suriname Shipping Company established. The name of N.V. Verenigde Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij changes in N. V. VSH-Eigendomsmij. -/United Suriname Real Estate Company. 22 December 1978 The Company purchases all outstanding shares in SIMCO and the name is changed in N.V. VSH-Transportmij.¬-/ United Suriname Transport Company to carry out stevedoring and trucking activities. 1 January 1979 Reorganization completed. 1980 Purchase of all outstanding shares in N.V. Staalfabriek Suriname. 1 September 1980 The Trading Company commences with the sale of office machines. 15 May 1982 Opening of the steel fabricating plant N.V. VSH-Staalmij.-/United Suriname Steel Company. 1 August 1982 Completion of restoration of the historical building at Kromme Elleboogstraat. 15 April 1983 Temporary shutdown of the steel fabricating plant and valuation of the shares of the Company at Sf. 1.00 due to continuity problems. 31 December 1985 James J. Healy retires and is elected to the board of supervisory directors. 31 December 1988 Re-valuation of the N.V. VSH-Staalmij..-/ United Suriname Steel Company. 31 August 1990 Purchase of substantial shareholding in De Nationale and Hotel Torarica major companies in the insurance and hotel sectors. 30 April 1991 Merger between three large insurance companies VSH becomes the largest local shareholder in the newly formed holding company Assuria N.V. 1993 First export schipment of the Steel Company to French Guyana. 1994 The Steel Company puts into use an environmentally friendly grid blasting machine for conservation of finished product. 24 August 1994 James J. Healy reaches the retirement age for supervisory directors and steps down accordingly. 1 January 1995 Establish¬ment of VSH Marketing Company Limited to do market research and sell our products abroad. 13 May 1995 Completion of the restoration of the historical twin buildings at Waterkant 6-8. 6 June 1996 Steel Company puts in use a rolling mill for the production of Z-purlins. 22 June 1997 Steel Company launches ferryboat, which will operate in the Corantijn River between Suriname and Guyana. 28 November 1997 N.V. VSH-Beleggingsmij.-/United Suriname Investment Company established to carry out brokerage activities at the Suriname stock exchange. 15 July 1998 N.V. Uniblue Shipping established to represent a major container carrier with worldwide shipping network. 7 August 1998 The Company increases its shareholding in Consolidated Industries Corporation, a household detergent manufacturer, to 42%. 28 December 1998 James J. Healy dies at the age of seventy-four. 1999. September 2000 VSH purchases a block of shares of the Margarine, Fats & Oil Co Ltd and becomes the largest shareholder 1 October 2000 Kathleen Lieuw-Kie-Song is appointed as Margarine, Fats & Oil Co Ltd. November 2000 plans are presented to the Board of Directors to turn the Steel Company into an export-oriented organization. As part of this plan on 2 April 2001 an office of our subsidiary VSH-Marketing Company Ltd opens in Point Lisas, Trinidad. 4 May 2001 The Steel Company becomes the first group company to obtain ISO 9001:2000 certification. May 2001 we are able to increase our shareholding position in Margarine, Fats & Oil Co Ltd N.V to 55.6%. 30 August 2001 registration of our new subsidiary VSH-United (USA) L.L.C. in the State of Florida, USA. October 2001 VSH-United (USA) L.L.C. commences operations in Miami, Florida offering air- and ocean freight services in Suriname. November 2001 a Group Policy Document is compiled setting out the strategies of each company and of the group for the next five years. 31 December 2001 Margarine, Fats and Oil Company Ltd included in the consolidation figures of the group. Retirement of Ronald ten Cate, Managing Director of the Steel Company and Hazel Brandon as Company Secretary. 1 January 2002 Patrick Healy, Kathleen Lieuw-Kie-Song and Oswald N. de Vries are appointed as Assistant Managing Directors of the Holding Company and also Mrs. Dynaida Baptist is appointed as Managing Director of the Steel Company. 28 employees of the Margarine, Fats & Oil CO Ltd participate in the VSH Pension fund 24 January 2002 Trading Company certification for ISO 9001:2000. June 2002 introduction of low-end digital Canon copiers in Suriname. 1 January 2003 Wayne D’Leon is appointed as Managing Director of the Trading Company. 23 January 2003 First export shipment of Margarine, Fats & Oil Company Limited 1 June 2003 Jeanine Liong A San is appointed as Operations Manager of VSH-United (U.S.A.) 30 June 2003 Patrick Healy resigns as Managing Director of our Shipping Company, Transport Company, Real Estate Company and from VSH -United USA. 30 June 2003 Patrick Healy is appointed as Director of the Board of the Holding Company and James J. Healy Jr. is appointed as Acting Managing Director of our Shipping Company, Transport Company and Real Estate Company. 22 August 2003 VSH-United celebrates her 45th Anniversary October 2003 Margarine, Fats & Oil Co Ltd receives her HACCP certification and celebrates her 40f th Anniversary November 2003 Introduction of Golden Brand Slim Low Fat margarine in a tub January 2004 Margarine, Fats & Oil Company’s first export to Trinidad & Tobago July 2005 United Suriname Trading Company opens a retail outlet called Solutions December 2005 Kathleen Lieuw-Kie-Song appointed Deputy Managing Director of the United Suriname Holding Company January 2006 Listing of VSH Shares on the Suriname Stock Exchange January 2006 Malini Ramsundersingh is appointed Assistant Managing Director Human Resources and Legal Affairs of the United Suriname Holding Company January 2006 Richard Steenland is Named Managing Director of United Suriname Shipping Company, the United Suriname Transport Company and VSH United (USA) L.L.C April 2006 Kathleen Lieuw-Kie-Song steps down as Managing Director of the Margarine, Fats & Oil Company Ltd and Karen Wong Fong Sang is nominated as Managing Director May 2006 VSH United completes the redesign and renovation of its offices at 9-11 van 't Hogerhuysstraat June 2006 ISO 9000 certification of United Suriname Shipping Company and United Suriname Transport Company July 2006 United Suriname Steel Company installs a CNC driven saw and drill machine October 2006 United Suriname Shipping Company becomes the freight agent for Martinair.