ANP
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NOS News•yesterday, 22:51
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President Santokhi has made pledges to the thousands of Surinamese who have taken to the streets in the past two weeks. He said in a press conference today that the issuance of certain building plots will be temporarily halted. It also needs to be considered how many government positions a person may hold.
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These measures should combat corruption and favoritism. However, the pledges are not enough for the Organic Movement activist group, which led the protests.
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Sensitive subjects
Due to Santokhi’s measure, it is no longer allowed to build on the land of the controversial Sabaku project in Paramaribo. The authorities must investigate whether the issuance of the building plots has been fair. The main point is that there has been no preferential treatment. The issuance has been stopped for six months.
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The other sensitive topic concerns people in government service who hold multiple government positions. Santokhi has called on all chairmen of supervisory and executive boards to make an inventory of the number and nature of the positions they hold.
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The president has also released 100 million Surinamese dollars (4 million euros) for the dire situation in health care. In hospitals, code black has been in effect for months: too little intensive care can be provided. The president also said that ministries should map out the problems within their departments.
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Two weeks ago the protests started in Suriname led by Organic Movement. The action group has a list of seven points that need to be addressed, such as fuel prices and education and care. Favoritism and corruption must also come to an end.
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The action group only wants to talk to the president if he tackles three of the points. That hasn’t happened now. “We will not sit down until the demands have been met,” Dave van Aerde, the leader of the action group, told NOS. “We stick to our position.”
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Today was the last day of protest in Paramaribo. Van Aerde says he will stop the demonstrations for the time being. This is due to the low turnout in recent days.
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Protesters say the country’s problems have gotten worse since Santokhi took office. Two years ago, he won the elections and promised to tackle the economic crisis, which he failed to do.
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Anger and dissatisfaction at protest in Suriname: ‘The bomb has burst’
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