Franklin Edgar Essed (21 April 1919 – 22 December 1988) was a Surinamese forest scientist and politician.

[1] Essed initiated Operation Grasshopper which build airstrips in the interior to map natural resources.

[5] In 1959, Essed initiated Operation Grasshopper, a plan to build little airstrips in the interior of Suriname to map the natural resources.

An internal conflict with Jopie Pengel led to Essed resigning from the NPS, and not participating in the 1963 elections[5] Essed was appointed president of the planning agency of Suriname,[3] and in 1967 joined the Progressive National Party,[5] In 1969, he was re-elected to the Estates of Suriname,[9] and again served as Minister of Development until 1973.

[11] In 1980, Desi Bouterse committed a coup d'état[12] resulting in the cancellation of the West Suriname Plan.