⚖️💰President Santokhi discusses Desi Bouterse's clamoring for a pardon for December 8 murders

Happy New Year from DeBrief!

This week, we cover former President Desi Bouterse’s conviction and discussion around receiving a pardon and Suriname’s overall economic and social standing going into 2024.

Former President Bouterse and the discussion of receiving a pardon by the current government.

• Suriname continues to be rocked by the verdict on December 20th, 2023, which saw former President Bouterse convicted of murder.

• Desi Bouterse recently went on a news program in Suriname where he discussed talks between the government and his party over a concluding situation.

• Desi Bouterse, the former president and current chairman of the NDP (National Democratic Party) discussed releasing a pardon and a ‘soft landing‘ which would end the issue.

• The president emphasized that executing the verdict in the December 8 case is the responsibility of the Public Prosecutor of Suriname and not that of the President.

• The government has stated that they will not engage in negotiations regarding the court ruling.

• The President clarified that the government has no primary role in executing the verdict and has not been informed about pardon requests.

• The government urged patience from the public, emphasizing adherence to the rule of law and the importance of maintaining peace, order, and societal security in handling the matter.

President Santokhi discusses the priorities of the government moving forward.

• President Chan Santokhi and his team outlined priorities for the remaining 17 months of his term in areas such as land policy, public health, safety, education, infrastructure, and social programs.

• Reforms in land policy, including increased transparency, increased information, and structures for land inspection are planned.

• Ongoing programs for food and national housing have commenced, with funding secured for road infrastructure from the International Development Bank and the Saudi Fund.

• Security sector reforms, addressing integrity issues, are emphasized. While public health initiatives focus on providing affordable medicines and improving distribution.

• In education, the government aims for universal access to education, additional classrooms, and a shift to market-oriented education. Efforts to retain healthcare specialists and negotiate sustainable salaries are underway.

• The overall plan by the government aims to enhance governance, public services, and citizen well-being.

Inflation and the economy moving forward.

• In comparison to November of 2022, in November 2023, consumer prices increased by around 38.7% on average as prices increased by 38.7% from October 2023.

• The year-on-year inflation was 54.6% in 2022 and in both 2020 and 2021, inflation was over 60%. However, the last six months of 2023 saw a clear downward trend in inflation giving Surinamese policymakers hope for the future.

• When statistics for 2023 come in, it is expected that yearly inflation will be below 40%.

• When it comes to oil, Suriname’s national state oil company recorded revenue increases regardless of the drop in oil prices during the year.

• The prediction for oil revenue in the country remains strong with the discovery of offshore oil developments as well as long-term oil extraction.