💰🛢️Protests and oil

Happy Monday!

This week we cover the continuing response to the deadly violence at the Indigenous village of Pikin Saron, the teacher’s protest continues and Suriname continues its bid to become an oil leader in the region.

Indigenous tribes gathered in the capital to protest the government’s treatment of them and their land rights after the two deaths that occurred in Pikin Saron last week.

• The Native Power organization, consisting of Indigenous women and youth from various communities in Suriname, held a peaceful protest in Paramaribo to demand respect for their land rights. The protest displayed unity amongst Indigenous tribes.

• In particular, the protest is in response to recent land rights disputes that resulted in two deaths in Pikin Saron. Despite promises by the government to address the issue, progress has been slow, leading the community to take action.

• The organization requested that participants avoid interviews during the march and made agreements with the police to ensure order and safety.

• The march ended at the Paramaribo district commissioner's office, where the crowd was addressed by the commissioner. Despite obstacles, including the denial of permits and the closure of the intended location, the event drew many more participants than the expected 500 people.

• The organizers emphasized the spiritual basis of their movement and their commitment to continuing their efforts to gain recognition of their rights by the government. They also rejected political opportunism and called for non-violent action during the protest.

• The event drew international attention to the Indigenous rights issue in Suriname, and the organizers plan to follow up with letters to international organizations. Alongside international attention, Indigenous tribes have also received support from many Surinamese people around the country as they argue for the respect of land rights and attention to the treatment of Indigenous tribes.

The teacher’s unions have stated that they will continue to take action even though they will work every other day from now on.

• The teachers that have been protesting, affiliated with the Wi Sa Strey/Union for Educators/ABO/COL - have changed their action plan; stating that they will teach every other day. Their demands for an increase in SRD 5,000 purchasing power and other demands such as healthcare for the entire family have remained.

• Foreign Affairs Minister Albert Ramdin and union leader Errol Snijders have received criticism after stating that there has been terrorism during the protests.

• The organisation also reached an agreement with the Speaker of the National Assembly Marinus Bee for teachers who have to work in the interior. The agreement with Bee assured the teachers of the necessary food and supplies for a month.

• There are further agreements in place to ensure access to food and supplies in the interior. While the teachers have indicated that they will go back to work, they have stated that this does not mean that there will be no strikes in the future.

• Established unions have received criticism due to lack of action and have been accused of being on the side of the government and are even in the government.

Suriname’s oil bid continues.

• Staatsolie, Suriname’s state oil company, along with its subsidiaries, has contributed US$ 320 million to the state treasury in the 2022 fiscal year.

• The company reported a total annual turnover of US$ 840 million in 2022.

• This represents an increase of 51 percent over 2021. The increase was due to increased oil prices and increased production. The contributions account for around a third of the government’s revenues and one-tenth of Suriname’s GDP.

• Alongside this, Staatsoile carried out studies in the Suriname-Guyana basin which provide insights into the basin’s petroleum systems.

• The studies are used to attract investors to the offshore blocks of the basin and enhance existing oil operators.

• The research displayed by the company continues to garner further interest in the region’s oil exploration.