Scandals at multiple police stations with embezzling accusations logged

Happy Monday!

This week, we focus on the President’s announcement to address the problems in Suriname’s aviation sector, and residents opposing a new gold processing plant due to health risks.

President Simons has announced that the government will allocate US$5 million to address Suriname’s aviation sector.

• President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons announced that the government will allocate US$5 million to address the most urgent problems in Suriname's aviation sector. Although full structural reforms will take time, she assures that the sector will be fully prepared before oil and gas production begins in 2028.

• The funds will be allocated as follows: US$2 million to NV Luchthavenbeheer (airport management) and US$3 million to CASAS (civil aviation authority)

• They will be used to purchase critical equipment, improve the Instrument Landing System and radar systems, and train air traffic controllers, as only 10 of the required 25 are currently available.

• Surinam Airways (SLM) is financially unable to pay overdue deductions and will not be privatized for now. The government wants to retain SLM as the national carrier and has asked Grassalco to provide financial support for another 2–3 months. In the meantime, a team of legal and aviation experts will be formed to create a recovery plan.

• All stakeholders have committed to working on improvements, and the president expects to see progress in two years. Surinamese airplane companies are currently blacklisted from flying to the EU, and so a meeting was organised to solve this.

Gold mining and processing are creating conflicts among certain residents in Paramaribo.

• Residents of Commissaris Weytinghweg and surrounding neighborhoods are strongly opposing the planned establishment of a gold purchasing and processing facility by Gold Grams N.V. in their residential area.

• The company intends to set up operations on the premises of Pan American Motors N.V., but residents are alarmed about serious health risks associated with gold processing, such as exposure to mercury fumes and toxic substances.

• They reject the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) conducted by Humus Consulting, calling it unreliable and full of falsehoods.

• Key concerns include: Lack of independent site comparison: The company allegedly pre-selected the location, and alternatives were never objectively assessed.

• Incomplete and misleading data: No clear information on emissions, air purification systems, or health safeguards is provided.

• Conflict of interest: The company and property owner share the same director, and the business address has been the same since its founding, raising suspicions of pre-arranged decisions driven by private interests.

• Lack of transparency in approvals: It's unclear which agencies approved the site, and residents say there was no consultation before the apparent endorsement by the district commissioner.

• Inconsistent business purpose: The Chamber of Commerce lists mining and trade as Gold Grams N.V.’s core business, not gold processing.

• Residents believe the entire approval process is flawed, suspecting the ESIA is a cover-up rather than a genuine risk assessment. They are now seeking legal advice and may take the case to court. They demand that the government halt the permit process immediately.

There is a major scandal at the Narcotics police brigade in Suriname.

• A major theft has occurred at the Narcotics Brigade in Suriname: hundreds of thousands of dollars in multiple currencies and jewelry have gone missing from the department's safe. Although this has been known internally since April, it has only now been made public.

• According to reports, over US$300,000 and a large quantity of jewelry are unaccounted for.

• Three police officers—an inspector and two majors—have been questioned by the Personnel Affairs Investigation Division (OPZ). These funds were seized assets from drug operations, some of which had been ordered for return by the Public Prosecutor's Office (OM).

• The OM and police PR departments confirm an investigation is underway but are withholding details due to the case's sensitivity.

• They do admit that there were irregularities in the handling of seized assets. A lack of proper recordkeeping has been identified. Internal procedures are now being revised to prevent further incidents.

• The investigation is ongoing.

Following the emergence of the scandal that has emerged, at the Munder police station in Suriname of the embezzling of SRD 3 million.

• Following the recent scandal at the Narcotics Brigade, another serious case of internal corruption has surfaced—this time at the Munder police station in Suriname. Reportedly, more than SRD 3 million (Surinamese dollars) has been embezzled.

• The case has been investigated by the Police Internal Affairs Division (Onderzoek Politionele Zaken).

• Multiple individuals have been interviewed, and evidence has been collected.

• Authorities are now waiting for the Public Prosecutor's Office (OM) to authorize the formal questioning of the suspected police officers.

• According to sources, the case involves a civil payment dispute as the victim was persuaded by police to file a complaint.

• The opposing party, upon learning of the complaint, repaid the owed amount in installments, with receipts confirming payment.

• However, the victim only received about SRD 100,000, while the remaining SRD 2.9 million appears to have been misappropriated—likely by individuals within the police.