In this week’s Debrief, we cover a gruesome crime in Suriname’s Commewijne district, rising prices, and the continuing healthcare crisis in hospitals in the country.

Surinamese society shocked by gruesome crime in Commewijne.

• Late on December 27 and into the early hours of December 28, in the Commewijne district of Suriname, a man stabbed multiple victims, killing nine people.

• According to sources, the man killed several of his own children and neighbours as they tried to intervene, killing nine people and sending two to the emergency room.

• Preliminary investigation indicated that the man may have experienced a mental health crisis. Prior to the incident, he was arguing with his wife, with whom he has been separated. The argument centred on their children.

• After the incident, police located the suspect. He threatened officers and was shot in the legs before being arrested.

• A large-scale investigation is being conducted.

• On Monday morning, reports emerged that the suspect had killed himself in his detention cell.

Inflation continues to slowly tick up as inflation rates have reached 11.6% heavily impacting essentials such as housing, healthcare, and transport.

• Consumer prices rose by 0.8% in November compared with October 2025, and were 11.6% higher than a year earlier.

  Inflation continues to rise, though at a slower pace than in previous years, and price pressures remain strong for essential goods.

  Price changes vary widely by product; however, essential categories such as food, housing, healthcare, and transport are the most affected.

• Inflation remains high and continues to impact households especially heavily during the holiday period.

The President faces the healthcare crisis in Suriname’s biggest hospital, the Academic Hospital Paramaribo.

• As mentioned in the story above, healthcare has become a growing problem in Suriname. From bigger hospitals to smaller neighbourhood clinics. President Simons pledged to fix this problem and has begun by addressing financial, organizational, and capacity issues at the largest hospital in Suriname, the Academic Hospital Paramaribo.

• Structural and sustainable funding is seen as essential. The president has stated that she will focus on promoting nationwide access to healthcare.

• Hospital leadership presented a roadmap consisting of repair, recovery, and long-term sustainability phases, beginning in 2026. Key focus areas include emergency care, intensive care, neonatal care, and the prevention of hospital-acquired infections.

  In addition, hospitals are in urgent need of digitalization, as many delays and errors are caused by administrative inefficiencies.

• The president expressed appreciation for hospital staff and confirmed that concrete reforms will begin in 2026.