🏆 Suriname gains windfall in Special Olympics medals

and Oil & Gas summit leaves a positive impression

De Brief
June 26, 2023

Suriname gains windfall of medals from the Special Olympics in Berlin

Special Olympics Suriname concluded the World Games in Berlin with a total of 20 medals: 2 gold, 6 silver, and 12 bronze.
The Bocce doubles team of Ferdinand Wolff and Marnix Jaliens secured the second gold medal for Suriname by defeating the Great Britain team.
Jennevien Faerber and Shaquille Holland in Artistic Gymnastics won three medals. Jennevien earned silver on uneven bars and Shaquille secured silver twice in floor gymnastics and on the horizontal bar.
Bernice Kortstam claimed a bronze medal in the 100-meter sprint after initially being disqualified but later reinstated due to a reversal.
The swimming team narrowly missed out on a medal but moved up to third place and won bronze in the 4 x 50-meter freestyle relay after the disqualification of the Kazakhstan team. The table tennis team also earned a bronze medal in mixed doubles.

Meanwhile in the cycling world

Sprint2Greatness Suriname Foundation expresses satisfaction with Jaïr Tjon En Fa's performances at the Pan American Championships in San Juan, Argentina.
Jaïr won silver in the Keirin event, with Nicolas Paul from Trinidad being the only cyclist faster than him.
In the 200m Men Elite Sprint, Jaïr qualified as the fourth fastest, setting up a semi-final against Nicolas Paul, where he was ultimately defeated.
Jaïr competed for the bronze medal against Lucas Omar Vilar from Argentina and easily won in two rounds.
The board is pleased with Jaïr's overall result and he is now preparing for the upcoming World Championships in Glasgow, UK.

President pledges all support to the oil and gas industry

Suriname aims to become a top oil-producing country, as emphasized by President Chan Santokhi at the Suriname Energy, Oil & Gas Summit (SEOGS).
The event boasts 150 exhibitors, participants from 40 countries, over 200 speakers, and 560 top executives, with more than 6,000 visitors expected.
The government is committed to accommodating the oil and gas industry while transitioning away from fossil fuels, promoting investments in energy, infrastructure, and diversification into other sectors such as tourism, education, and agriculture.
Unique to the summit was "Speed dating with the president," allowing contractors in the offshore industry to engage with the president and discuss the latest developments and challenges.
The summit saw significant networking opportunities and showcased the growth of Surinamese companies in defining and offering their services, fostering local content, and supply chain integration.
As the first barrels of oil draws nearer, it is crucial for Surinamese companies to be well-prepared and continue providing quality services, as the oil and gas industry will require even more local content in the future.

In related news

By the end of this year, the commercial extraction of oil and gas in Block 58 by TotalEnergies will be determined, which could impact negotiations with the IMF and the country's program.
President Chan Santokhi met with TotalEnergies representatives to discuss the status of oil and gas developments in Block 58, emphasizing the importance of communication with the IMF and mutual understanding.
TotalEnergies is currently exploring two major oil discoveries for initial field development, with the results expected to be known by the end of the year.
A meeting between the Presidents of Suriname, Guyana, and the Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago is scheduled to discuss Suriname's gas policy, highlighting the growing importance of gas in the region and the need for a clear strategy.
The meeting also addressed the status of local content, with TotalEnergies being commended for its efforts in promoting local participation and stimulating the local economy. Transparency, effective communication, and cooperation are emphasized to maximize benefits from the oil and gas sector.