Incoming government's inauguration to cost over SRD 20 million

Happy Monday!

This week Parliament announced that the incoming government’s inauguration is set to exceed SRD 20 million and political parties announced candidate ministers

Costs of inauguration of new government to exceed SRD 20 million

• Preparations are underway for the inauguration of President-elect Jennifer Geerlings-Simons and Vice President-elect Gregory Rusland on July 16, with over 4,000 attendees expected, including international guests.

• The National Assembly appointed a committee, led by Rabin Parmessar, to organize the event.

• Cleanup and refurbishment efforts have begun at the Anthony Nesty Sports Hall and the presidential palace, including pruning trees, fixing fences, and cleaning streets and sewers.

• Homeless individuals will be temporarily relocated, and large Surinamese flags will be displayed to decorate the area.

• A dedicated website has been launched to provide public updates on the inauguration preparations.

• The incoming administration, called the Simons-Rusland Cabinet, marks a historic collaboration between the NDP and NPS, with Simons bearing ultimate responsibility.

• The inauguration will cost at least SRD 20 million which has led to some backlash from the public, especially as prices have only increased since the election.

• Renovations to the presidential palace and Independence Square began on July 8 and are expected to be completed by July 14 under the guidance of the Inauguration Logistics Subcommittee.

Incoming government announces list of their ministerial candidates

• ABOP will hold four ministerial positions in the new cabinet: Interior (Marinus Bee), Natural Resources (David Abiamofo), Justice and Police (Harish Monorath), and Regional Development (Miquella Huur).

• The ABOP ministerial appointments will result in unelected candidates Stanley Betterson (8th) and Geneviévre Jordan (9th) entering the National Assembly due to seat vacancies.

• The NDP has nominated six ministers: Ismanto Adna (Finance), Andre Misikaba (Public Health), Sarwan Ramai (Public Works), Mike Noersaliem (Agriculture), Melvin Bouva (Foreign Affairs), and Lalini Gopal (Youth and Sports).

• PL nominated Stanley Soeropawiro for Land and Forest Management and Uraqit Ramsaran for Defense; party leader Bronto Somohardjo declined a ministerial role to focus on parliamentary oversight.

• Somohardjo emphasized his commitment to land justice, transparency, and youth empowerment from his role in the National Assembly.

• The NPS nominated Diana Pokie (Social Affairs and Housing) and Dirk Currie (Education, Science and Culture), while Patrick Brunings was later confirmed for Oil, Gas, and the Environment.

• Diana Pokie will vacate her parliamentary seat if appointed minister; it is unclear if next-in-line Jeffrey Lau, a physician, will accept due to potential impact on his patients.

• Coalition leaders from six parties (NDP, ABOP, NPS, PL, BEP, and A-20) are meeting to finalize and approve all ministerial nominations.

• All seventeen nominated ministers are undergoing background screening by the Public Prosecution Service before final approval.

Public appears disappointed in lack of equality and cautious with announced candidates

• Only three out of seventeen ministerial positions in the new cabinet will be held by women, making just 17.7% female representation.

• The NDP, ABOP, and NPS each nominated only one woman for their allocated ministerial posts.

• The low number of female ministers has sparked disappointment, especially given the historic election of Jennifer Geerlings-Simons as Suriname’s first female president.

• Public expectations for improved gender equality in government leadership were not met.