🏛️ Trouble at the Surinamese Embassy as ambassador resigns

Happy Monday!

This week we cover the Surinamese ambassador in the Netherlands resigning in protest, the firing and immediate un-firing of the acting SLM director, and accusations of embezzlement at LVV

Khargi resigns after conflict with Bouva

• Ambassador Rajendre Khargi was recalled to Paramaribo and dismissed immediately from his post as Suriname’s ambassador in The Hague.

• Foreign Minister Melvin Bouva accused him of unauthorized use of photos of former President Chan Santokhi during award presentations instead of the current President Jennifer Simons, calling it a breach of protocol.

• Khargi was also accused of organizing diaspora activities with a government member without prior consultation or approval from the ministry.

• The government stated these actions violated diplomatic hierarchy, undermined its authority, and breached professionalism and integrity standards.

• Khargi responded by resigning immediately, saying he no longer saw a basis for cooperation under Bouva’s ministry.

• In his resignation letter, he rejected the accusations, calling them factually inaccurate, incoherent, and misrepresentative of reality.

• He argued that no official photo of President Simons had been provided to the embassy until weeks after her inauguration, making use of older portraits standard practice.

• Khargi also defended his actions by noting that ambassadors regularly present decorations granted by previous presidents, as he himself had done since taking office in 2021.
  

SLM commemorated 63rd anniversary in uncertain times

• Acting SLM Director Steven Gonesh was suspended on August 27 by the Supervisory Board due to reported management irregularities.

• The suspension was initially set for two months, with Deputy Director of Financial Affairs Santosh Baidjoe appointed as acting director.

• Gonesh was barred from speaking to the media or posting on social media about his suspension and was ordered to leave the premises within 30 minutes of receiving the letter.

• The Supervisory Board is composed of Ganesh Laighsingh (chair), Ruben Ravenberg, Freddy Palata, Henry Klas, and Nitesh Ramdin.

• The suspension was quickly lifted after aviation regulator CASAS warned that flights could not operate without Gonesh in his role as accountable manager.

• President Jennifer Simons ordered an emergency meeting to prevent disruption of scheduled, paid flights, and Gonesh’s suspension was temporarily revoked.

• A new candidate for accountable manager has already been nominated to CASAS, which indicated the approval could be completed within 24 hours.

• The government has criticized the Supervisory Board and announced it will soon replace its members, with a recruitment process for a new chairman already underway.

• Gonesh, who is also a pilot and deputy director of operations, accused the Supervisory Board of incompetence and resentment.

• During SLM’s 63rd anniversary commemoration, Gonesh urged staff to stay dedicated despite tensions, while employees received small tokens of appreciation amid uncertainty over the airline’s future.
  

Minister Noersalim suspends LVV director Kalloe; Complaint against embezzlement

• Minister Mike Noersalim suspended Agriculture Director Jitendra Kalloe for actions that caused the State over SRD 11 million in financial losses.

• An LVV Quick Scan Team investigation revealed Kalloe also chaired the Agricultural Cooperative Caribbean Food Growers UA while serving as LVV director, creating a conflict of interest.

• Kalloe allocated more than SRD 3 million in subsidies to his cooperative, the only organization besides individual farmers to receive such support.

• His cooperative leased land from Staatsolie but failed to pay rent, leading to a debt of over SRD 8 million, which Staatsolie warned might be offset against its payments to the State.

• Minister Noersalim ordered Kalloe to hand over financial records and cooperative documents within 24 hours and announced a criminal investigation request.

• Nearly 50 pieces of heavy equipment worth SRD 18 million purchased in 2023 are missing from LVV, including tractors, excavators, and slope mowers.

• Investigations showed the equipment was delivered to the wrong location and later collected by unknown parties; only one low-loader has been recovered so far.

• The missing machinery and boats are under police anti-corruption investigation, with suspects identified, while some recovered equipment is now being used in agricultural projects in Nickerie.