[1] It was originally founded as the Bush Negro Unity Party (Dutch: Bosnegers Eenheid Partij) to represent the Maroon community in interior areas of the country[2] and was renamed in 1987.

[3] It turned its focus away from the promotion of a specific ethnicity's interests, although it still enjoys popularity among the Maroon community.

[1] At the 2005 legislative election, the party was part of the "A-Combination",[1] an alliance that won 7.5% of the popular vote and five out of 51 seats in the National Assembly.

In April 2012, BEP refused to support the Amnesty Law which would grant the suspects in the December Murders, including Dési Bouterse, immunity.

[7] Caprino Alendy who had been the chairperson since 1987 stepped down to be replaced by Celsius Waterberg [nl].