Akiemboto granted controversial powers as Chief of Staff

Happy Monday!

This week we cover Akiemboto’s new powers granted to him as President Simons’ “Chief of Staff”, and recent criticism towards Minister Bouva and ex-Ambassador Khargi for their public arguments

President Simons gives Akiemboto the authority within the government as “Chief of Staff”

• President Jennifer Simons issued a decree granting Chief of Staff Sergio Akiemboto signing authority over personnel letters from the Council of Ministers.

• The decree cites Article 110 of the Constitution and Article 6 of the Decree on Statutory Regulations as justification.

• Akiemboto claims his role is similar to a Director-General of the President’s Office and that the President still oversees decisions.

• The Personnel Affairs Council (RPA) first reviews letters, and the Ministry of the Interior implements them after signature.

• The authority applies to civil servants in pay scales 1–8 of the Remuneration Decree.

• The Chief of Staff position now sits above Cabinet directors and is described by Akiemboto as the Cabinet’s general manager role.

• The new decree repeals all earlier decrees that granted signing authority to other Cabinet officials and takes effect August 1, 2025.

The public has criticized this move

• Critics argue the decree conflicts with Article 3 of the Personnel Act, which reserves such powers for the president, ministers, or designated boards—not a Chief of Staff.

• The move is seen as undermining the rule of law, raising concerns about legality, transparency, and potential misuse of authority.

• Calls have been made to rescind or correct the decree and subject it to expert legal review to protect constitutional governance and public trust.

• Lawyer Jennifer van Dijk-Silos argues the presidential decree granting Sergio Akiemboto signing authority is sloppy, legally weak, and undermines the rule of law.

• She stresses the Personnel Act excludes delegation by the president, meaning only a clear mandate is possible, yet the decree fails to specify this and even cites a repealed 2018 resolution.

• Van Dijk-Silos questions the existence of the chief of staff role, calling it an invented position that improperly grants Akiemboto minister-level salary benefits, which she sees as favoritism and potential corruption.

• She warns that creating such irregular structures erodes Suriname’s fragile rule of law and distorts promised reforms.

• She criticizes Akiemboto for publicly responding to media criticism, saying it tarnishes the cabinet and should be handled through official channels.

• Van Dijk-Silos, supported by administrative law scholar Dr. Magda Hoever, concludes the decree lacks legal foundation and insists the president must rely on expert legal and administrative staffing to achieve credible reforms.

More fallout from disastrous public discourse between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Surinamese Embassy in the Netherlands

• Members of the Surinamese diaspora in the Netherlands issued a statement declaring loss of confidence in Minister Melvin Bouva, accusing him of damaging Suriname’s international image.

• They criticized Bouva’s authoritarian tone and claimed he discredited Ambassador Rajendre Khargi and 26 diaspora representatives during a brainstorming session with Minister Brunings.

• The diaspora called on President Jennifer Simons to replace Bouva immediately to prevent further harm to Suriname’s reputation.

• VHP parliamentary leader Asiskumar Gajadien said Bouva acted incompetently and shamed the country, blaming his inexperience and lack of consultation with advisors.

• Khargi said Bouva’s actions were unprofessional, as he learned of the minister’s letter via the media, which violated proper diplomatic procedure.

• Parliament member Gajadien argued Khargi responded appropriately by resigning but noted the incident damaged the credibility of Suriname’s foreign ministry.

• Bouva, however, insisted Khargi must still report back to Suriname since his ambassadorship was terminated.

Khargi’s actions have also been criticized

• In contrast, four NDP-Surinamese organizations in the netherlands distanced themselves from Khargi, accusing him and others of enjoying undue privileges under the previous political system.

• These groups claimed Khargi and some diaspora figures misused state resources for personal and political benefit while Suriname struggled with poverty and insecurity.

• They criticized the 26 diaspora participants for remaining silent about such abuses and argued they do not represent the broader Surinamese community.

• The organizations expressed explicit support for President Simons and Minister Bouva, backing their policies as essential for restoring public trust.

• They urged the government to investigate and hold accountable diplomats, officials, and businesspeople suspected of corruption and misuse of state resources.