Brunswijk refuses to cooperate with police investigations into Bouterse's death

and climate problems have led to coastal erosion on the North of the country cause panic as climate change threatens homes on the coast.

De Brief
January 26, 2025

VP Brunswijk gives a speech as tensions are raised between him and President Santokhi

Vice President Ronnie Brunswijk has refused to cooperate with an investigation by Suriname's judicial authorities regarding the whereabouts of deceased ex-president Desi Bouterse.
Brunswijk criticized the Public Prosecution Service for disrespecting his office and claimed institutions are being misused against politicians. He dismissed any involvement with Bouterse’s death, stating that it was determined to be a natural death and thus is irrelevant to him.
Brunswijk has increased his security, citing fears of provocation and concerns over attempts to delay elections for this coming year. He defended previous comments about a photo he received, denying any wrongdoing.
Asis Gajadien of the VHP criticized Brunswijk for statements that undermine the vice-presidential office and emphasized that no emergency exists to justify election delays. Gajadien urged Brunswijk to cooperate with authorities and avoid making public remarks that could provoke unnecessary tensions.
Brunswijk, who has remained the Vice President even though there are problems between him and the party in the head of government, the VHP, has accused the party of using measures to work against him as they feel threatened by him in the upcoming election.

Dam to be built at Weg naar Zee

President Santokhi explained that a seawall project from Weg naar Zee to Leonsberg was ready in 2010 but abandoned by the Bouterse administration, redirecting funds elsewhere.
Due to severe coastal erosion and rising sea levels, an even larger seawall is required, costing hundreds of millions of dollars compared to the original USD 60 million plan.
As an interim solution, a 4.5-kilometer provisional seawall will be built using cement-mix bags and poles, costing USD 10 million from an IDB fund. The government will involve residents in the design and function of the seawall. Santokhi reassured that the permanent seawall would still be constructed, and efforts to secure funding are ongoing.
Construction on the temporary seawall will begin as quickly as possible to mitigate the worsening situation.

Consumer prices in Suriname rose by 10.1% in January 2024 compared to December 2023, with inflation in 2023 recorded at 32.6%. Inflation has been on a downward trend since 2023, significantly lower than the peaks of 60.8% in 2020 and 60.7% in 2019.
The Surinamese Dollar depreciated by an average of 10.1% over the past year. Price data is collected in most coastal districts at 630 locations but not in interior regions, where prices are notably higher. The Consumer Price Index includes 316 items.
The government has lauded this as one of their successes going forward into the 2025 election.

Suriname's reservoir water levels are critically low, threatening power generation. Without intervention, a severe electricity shortage is expected by March, potentially requiring load shedding.
EBS plans to import mobile diesel generators to produce 30 megawatts of power, bridging a six-month gap at a cost of USD 25–45 million. Immediate action is required to secure the generators, with USD 3 million needed upfront.
The costs will not be passed to consumers, as the government is expected to fund the emergency solution while developing a permanent fix going forward.