Suriname reflects on the decisions in her past

Happy Monday!

Former President Desi Bouterse is back in the news for the infamous December 8th, 1982 murders that took place under Suriname's military dictatorship, discussion about Rosebel Gold Mines' sale continues, and the NPS decided to stay in the ruling coalition with VHP and ABOP

Former President Bouterse is back in the news for the December 8th, 1982

Bouterse has stated that he is only politically responsible for the December Murders. His claim is that he was asleep and woke upon hearing the shots and stated that several soldiers looked like him which made people mistake him. Many of his cohorts from then had similar arguments that they were not present at the executions.

The indicted all insist they are innocent and continue to appeal the process. Bouterse immediately asked the Attorney General at the time to conduct an independent investigation. Bouterse stated that he never wanted to kill the men but wanted to declare them persona non grata and expel them from the country. He states that while he was at the Fort on the day, he was not there after 8 p.m. and so could not have committed the murders. However, there are witnesses that stated that some of the murders took place during the day. Nevertheless, Bouterse continues to state that there was no firing squad, rather he was informed by the actual perpetrator that some of the men were shot while they were on the run.

The investigation into the murders continues

The Rosebel Gold Mine sale rumbles on

According to President Santokhi, the possibility exists to secure securities but there is also an ability for the government to not grant permission for the sale of the mines. He stated the importance of the resource extraction industry in Suriname which is of strategic and economic interest creating 75% of the country’s foreign exchange generation while also providing large amounts of employment in the country. Staatsolie and a group of ministers have been charged with discussions around the sale and providing analysis and advice to the government. The government has to explore questions on investment in the mines, the continuity of production, and the employment of current employees. Furthermore, they are also going to explore the social behaviour and intentions of the buyer, Zuijin Mining, and will update the public and the parliament on their analysis.

The Healthcare sector’s crisis continues

As Suriname’s crisis in the healthcare sector continues, the government has reached out to the business community and abroad for assistance. And assistance has come in the form of the People’s Republic of China and Staatsolie (Suriname’s state oil company).

The country received USD 200,000 from China for purchasing anti-pandemic and medical supplies. Ambassador Han Jing stated that this gesture is important to continue the friendly relationship between Suriname and China. Other Caribbean states are also eligible for the donation as Ambassador Han Jing believes that it is vital to continue to support friendly nations as they recover from Covid-19’s impact on the economy and the health sector. Suriname’s Health Minister Amar Ramadhin insisted that the donation will help in the crisis and as Suriname and other developing countries continue to recover from the impact of Covid-19.

Staatsolie donated SRD 29 million to the health sector which will be used to alleviate the current emergency of the health sector. The government has requested support from the business community for the plan’s implementation with financing for temporary staff, medical equipment, and consumables taking priority. Staatsolie has stated that in their focus on social investment, they continue to donate to hospitals and health authorities in Suriname in hopes to motivate other companies to donate to the government’s National Care Recovery Plan.

The Nationale Partij of Suriname (NPS) has decided to remain within the current government coalition

The party says it will stay in the coalition and choose people to drastically change the policy of the government in the future for good social policy.

The party has stated that its goal is the maintain a good social policy to improve living conditions for those less well-off and approach the dissatisfaction in the country with current policies pursued. At a party meeting, they specified their goal to pursue a more responsible social policy in the short term and the need for the central government to take action to reverse certain policies and based on the outcome of this reversal to stay in the coalition or leave. They have also detailed a requirement for more party members to be in state companies so they can make a qualitative contribution to improving social policy, which many understand as political speak for accommodation of close party allies.

However, they have stated that they will leave the coalition at a later date if there is no change in the current position.

After showing their dissatisfaction with current policies in the party, the coalition explored opportunities for bringing the party better value, suggesting a potential ambassadorship in Switzerland and other embassy positions. They were also offered management positions and eight places on supervisory boards which the party’s chairman Gregory Rusland has rejected because they do not lead to a better policy future for the population.