Suriname tackles its drug problem 💊

Happy Monday.

Last week’s attention in Suriname’s news cycle was commanded by the passing of laws concerning anti-money laundering and terrorist financing and struggling to pass laws about gambing and casinos. Furthermore, government employees in Suriname continue to protest due to changes in living standards. And as a drug plane is found buried in the jungle with a prominent personality missing with connections to the political part ABOP and the Vice President’s closest friend

The Parliament struggles with laws casino as it passes anti-money laundering and terrorist financing law.

The parliament has been able to get most Assembly members of the opposition and coalition to toe the same line regarding drafting laws on Casinos, Supervision & Control of Games of Chance and the Lottery Act.

Assembly members argued that there is agreement within the National Assembly about necessary changes. The government believes that matters can be further regulated by state decree. However, this has not gone down well with several Assembly members as they believe that matters should be regulated by law and not by state decree. The National Assembly believes that there should be strict regulation and control. The money flows from games of chance must also be clearly traceable.

BEP party leader Ronny Asabina also wanted to know what the government's policy is on gambling. Stating that the finger cannot be pointed solely at the sector. "Policies must be made".

There are currently 867 Suribet retail shops in Suriname. This number is for a population just shy of 600,000 people. That is about 1 Suribet retail shop for every 700 people. It is an open secret that the casinos and Suribet shops belong to the richest drug lords in Suriname as a means of money laundering. There is mounting suspicion that members in both the parliament and in the government are working tirelessly to ensure that these two ‘industries’ don’t get regulated.

On a similar note, Parliament passed the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act by a unanimous vote of 28 on Thursday. 

The opposition has abstained from voting out of dissatisfaction by leaving the room. Parliament has only received answers to the questions and comments that fall under the policy of the  Minister of Justice and Police, Minister Kenneth Amoksi. The Minister of Finance and Planning is also responsible for the implementation of this law, but questions related to this ministry remain unanswered. The government decided to answer the questions next week during the budget debate.

Despite the outstanding questions, Amoksi urged parliament to go along with the law given national interests that play a role in maintaining the financial system and to continue growing in a positive direction. 

“With political sense we would vote strongly against, but as a strong national and international signal for the government's treatment of parliament, we will abstain from voting,” said Bouva.

CLO protest in Suriname

From the heart of the city, the people summoned by the Centrale van Landsdienaren Organisaties (CLO) marched to the National Assembly building (Parliament). Various trade union leaders and members of the Assembly have spoken and indicated that the current situation cannot continue. There are complaints about the high exchange rate, which prevents them from living as they used to. After a short stop at the Assembly building, the group walked to the courthouse on the Grote Combéweg.

Several Assembly members, including Stephen Tsang (NDP) and Edward Belfort (ABOP), joined the procession.

Union leader Michael Sallons says that the military union led by Rodney Cairo is supported. The clerk's office staff who are in action also receive support. The Ministry of Defense has instituted summary proceedings against the military union. The case is now in court as it is explicitly illegal for the military to form a union in Suriname. Cairo notes that he is going in to listen to what the judge has to say.

They have given the president an ultimatum in the form of a list of demands to answer before the 23rd of November:

• The exchange rate must return to SRD 7.52 to 1 USD, along with the price of fuel to SRD 7.52 (1 USD)

• The IMF program must be shut down

• Cost of utilities must go down

• Affordable education and free medical facilities must be provided for all Surinamese

• Building plots must be made available to all students and homeless

• Free bus transportation must be provided to all students

• The recently fired Chief Inspectors of Police, Raoul Hellings and Sergio Gentle, must be reinstated immediately.

Drug airplane found; Bordo missing

The narcotics brigade of Suriname is currently investigating a case in which an aircraft was buried and recently excavated. Three unidentified men have been arrested in the interest of the investigation. This aircraft was excavated by authorities last month after being tipped off by information received about its whereabouts. 

It is a suspected drug plane, buried at that location for unknown reasons. Reportedly, a person in charge of the excavation work is now missing. 

A mixed unit of the Suriname Police Force, the intelligence service and the Special Forces Corps raided the home address of Joël 'Bordo' Martinus Thursday night. There is a lot of social media speculation about Bordo’s association with the discovery of a buried aircraft.

Before the weekend started, the police announced that Bordo is officially wanted.