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  • Anne Marie Wehl krijgt leiding over IOL; Raad van Toezicht blijft transformatie begeleiden

    Anne Marie Wehl krijgt leiding over IOL; Raad van Toezicht blijft transformatie begeleiden

    After a period of institutional transformation, Suriname’s Institute for Teacher Education (IOL) has formally installed a permanent interim leader to steer its ongoing development, with the appointment of Anne Marie Wehl as acting director officially approved by Suriname’s Minister of Education, Science and Culture Dirk Currie. The approval formalizes the nomination submitted by IOL’s Supervisory Board, while the existing Supervisory Board will retain its position and continue its partnership with the institute, bringing long-awaited clarity to IOL’s leadership structure amid its transition.

    Wehl’s appointment followed a structured selection process overseen by the Supervisory Board, which formally submitted its nomination for ministerial approval on July 10. In an official response dated August 11, Minister Currie confirmed his formal consent after a full review of the selection procedure, accompanying nomination documentation, and advisory input from the ministry’s internal Quick Scan Team. The appointment was backdated to August 1 to allow Wehl sufficient time to oversee preparations for the 2026-2027 academic year, which is set to launch in the coming weeks.

    In his official correspondence, Minister Currie expressed full confidence in Wehl’s ability to drive progress for teacher education across Suriname, citing her deep institutional experience and specialized expertise accumulated over a decade of work at IOL. Wehl is not an external hire for the top role: she first joined the institute in 2016 as Geography program coordinator, and under her leadership, the IOL Geography training program became the first program at the institute to earn full accreditation from Suriname’s National Accreditation Body (NOVA), marking a key milestone for the institute’s quality improvement efforts.

    Wehl’s appointment also resolves uncertainty around the role of IOL’s existing Supervisory Board. In a written notification released last Friday, the Directorate of Higher and Scientific Education confirmed that the current board will continue its engagement with the institute, and officially recognized the critical contribution the board has made throughout the IOL’s ownership transition and the initial phase of its institutional transformation. The directorate noted that the board’s work has been instrumental to maintaining operational continuity and laying the groundwork for IOL’s future growth.

    A clear revised division of responsibilities has been established following Wehl’s appointment. As acting director, Wehl will assume full executive leadership responsibility and will directly steer IOL’s ongoing development agenda. The Supervisory Board will remain involved in an oversight capacity, with a mandate to support and guide Wehl in the execution of her duties. The Directorate of Higher and Scientific Education expects this new governance structure will strengthen the director’s executive authority while ensuring that the ongoing transformation process already underway at IOL stays on track. The directorate’s leadership also reiterated its confidence that the Supervisory Board will continue to carry out its duties with the same dedication and professional standards it has demonstrated to date.

  • Revelino Eijk wint met overmacht verkiezing Surinaamse Politiebond

    Revelino Eijk wint met overmacht verkiezing Surinaamse Politiebond

    In a decisive outcome announced shortly after midnight on August 16, Revelino Eijk’s Vernieuwingsbeweging (VNB, or Renewal Movement) has secured a third consecutive landslide victory in leadership elections for the Suriname Police Bond (SPB), winning a two-thirds majority of votes to retain control of the union for the next five years.

    Final vote tallies compiled by the election commission chaired by Rudie Steinberg confirmed 883 votes for Eijk’s Team VNB, compared to just 442 votes for the opposing Team De Haan, led by Angelo Waterberg. A clear lead for VNB emerged within minutes of vote counting beginning, with the gap holding steady around 300 votes for most of the process before expanding further as more ballots were counted, leaving no doubt of the movement’s victory long before official results were confirmed. This marks the third straight election win for VNB, while De Haan’s ticket made its second bid for union leadership.

    Notable attendees at the election included former SPB president Poetini Atompai, now a member of parliament for Suriname’s National Party (NPS), who handed the union presidency over to Eijk in 2025 after winning a seat in the National Assembly.

    Speaking after his confirmation of victory, the re-elected Eijk emphasized that his administration will continue the work of prior terms, while outlining a bold agenda of targeted changes for Suriname’s police officers in the coming five-year term. A top priority for the union will be preparing for the growing impact of Suriname’s expanding oil and gas sector, which Eijk says will place unprecedented new demands on the national police force.

    “Oil and gas development is coming to the police, and we have to be ready for it,” Eijk stated. The growth of the sector will require increased police deployment and higher standards of professional policing, he explained, noting that the union will present its policy recommendations to relevant authorities, while also pushing for appropriate compensation and benefits to match the added workload for officers.

    Eijk stressed that the union’s work extends far beyond wage negotiations, covering a broad range of issues tied directly to officers’ working conditions, health, and safety. One pressing concern the union has already developed a formal plan to address is inadequate safety at police facilities across the country, including improper storage of seized chemical substances, deteriorating conditions in many cell blocks, and a lack of emergency preparedness measures. “If a fire broke out in one of these cell blocks, there isn’t even an evacuation plan in place,” Eijk pointed out.

    Mental and physical health support for officers will also be elevated as a core priority in the new term, according to Eijk. Police personnel regularly encounter traumatic events in the line of duty, he noted, adding that many officers develop chronic health conditions at relatively young ages, and some die prematurely shortly before or after retirement. To address these gaps, the union is proposing the establishment of a dedicated expertise center to support police officers, alongside increased investment in specialized training for emerging threats the force increasingly faces, including cybercrime and other new forms of criminal activity that require advanced specialized skills.

    “These next five years are going to be very challenging for our police officers,” Eijk said, adding that the union will share all its finalized policy proposals with police leadership and competent government authorities for implementation.

    The 65-year-old Eijk, who is only a few years away from retirement, revealed that he initially considered stepping down before running for another term. However, after widespread requests from union members to continue in the role, he ultimately chose to put his name forward again. “I thought about it for a long time, and at a certain point I decided it was the right thing to do. I will give all my strength to this work,” he said.

    With its decisive landslide win, VNB now has a fresh five-year mandate to advance its policy agenda from the leadership of the Suriname Police Union, delivering on commitments to improve working conditions and support for the country’s law enforcement community.

  • Parmessar: Cryptosector reguleren, maar kleine ondernemers niet buitensluiten

    Parmessar: Cryptosector reguleren, maar kleine ondernemers niet buitensluiten

    As Suriname moves forward with drafting new legislation to regulate virtual asset service providers, a leading parliamentary committee chair has laid out a centrist framework that balances financial security, international compliance and support for local small businesses.

    Rabin Parmessar, chair of the committee of rapporteurs and a member of the NDP party, outlined his position during public debate on the Draft Act on the Supervision of Virtual Asset Service Providers on Friday. The core of his argument: the rapidly growing crypto and virtual asset sector must be placed under formal regulatory oversight to curb financial crime, but overly strict rules should not push small local entrepreneurs out of the emerging market.

    The proposed legislation establishes formal supervision for all businesses and institutions offering services linked to virtual assets, a category that includes cryptocurrencies. Covered activities range from exchanging crypto for fiat currency and operating trading platforms to holding, transferring and managing crypto investments for clients. Under the draft bill, all providers would be required to obtain an operating license from the Central Bank of Suriname (CBvS).

    Parmessar emphasized that regulation is non-negotiable for Suriname. Without proper oversight, he noted, virtual assets can be exploited for money laundering, terrorist financing and other illicit financial flows. The country is also required to update its regulatory framework to meet standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global anti-money laundering body. A weak legal framework, Parmessar warned, could harm Suriname’s international financial standing, damage correspondent banking relationships and disrupt cross-border payment flows. For these reasons, he argued, the debate is not over whether regulation is needed, but rather how to structure it fairly and effectively.

    One major criticism Parmessar leveled at the current draft is that it grants excessive discretionary power to the Central Bank, leaving many critical regulatory terms to be defined later via central bank guidelines. Key areas left undecided include capital requirements, license classification schemes, technical operational standards, fine structures, reporting obligations and operating costs. Parmessar insisted that all core rules should be enshrined in the legislation itself. While the central bank should retain flexibility to work out technical details, parliament cannot give up its oversight authority over fundamental regulatory conditions, he said.

    A second core priority for Parmessar is protecting the position of small domestic crypto businesses. He warned that small local providers should not automatically be held to the same strict requirements as large international crypto platforms. Instead, he called for a risk-based approach to regulation: larger firms that present greater systemic financial risk should face stricter requirements, while smaller operators face proportionate rules. This structure would prevent local entrepreneurs from being driven out of the market by excessive compliance costs and overly complex rules, a scenario that would leave the sector dominated exclusively by large foreign providers.

    Parmessar also pushed for a clear transitional arrangement for businesses already operating in the sector. When the new law enters into force, all existing providers will be required to apply for a license. Parmessar said rules must be put in place to clarify whether and under what conditions providers can continue operating while their license applications are processed. Without this transitional framework, businesses could lose clients, employees and critical investment while waiting for a decision from the central bank.

    Additionally, Parmessar called for strengthened legal protection for industry operators. The bill grants the central bank broad powers to issue fines, revoke licenses and halt unlicensed operations. Parmessar argued that businesses must have the right to file effective appeals against these far-reaching regulatory decisions.

    Consumer protection is another area Parmessar says needs to be strengthened in the legislation. The law should clearly outline what happens to customers’ digital assets if a crypto firm declares bankruptcy or loses its license. It also needs to establish binding legal safeguards for cybersecurity, customer asset protection and anti-market manipulation measures, he added.

    In closing, Parmessar said his parliamentary faction supports moving forward with the legislative process only if the current draft’s notable shortcomings are addressed meaningfully. He noted that the law should not be viewed solely as a tool to meet international obligations. A well-regulated digital financial sector, he argued, can open new opportunities for innovation, expanded financial services and broader economic diversification for Suriname.

    “We must not leave the sector completely unregulated, but we also must not overregulate it to death,” Parmessar summarized his approach. The final legislation, he said, must provide a robust, workable framework that protects the country’s financial system, without unnecessarily excluding Surinamese entrepreneurs and stifling innovation.

  • Police Ordered to Crack Down on Heavily Tinted Vehicles, More Stop and Searches

    Police Ordered to Crack Down on Heavily Tinted Vehicles, More Stop and Searches

    In a targeted push to curb violent crime and illegal gun activity across Antigua and Barbuda, national authorities have ordered law enforcement to ramp up crackdowns on motor vehicles with excessively dark window tinting. The new enforcement directive was announced by Prime Minister Gaston Browne during an appearance on the local Browne and Browne Show, where he outlined clear parameters for the new rule: any window tinting that blocks police from clearly viewing vehicle occupants and activity inside must be removed immediately.

    “Criminal actors are using heavily tinted vehicles to hide their illegal activities, and we have formally instructed police to force the removal of these tints,” Browne stated in his remarks. “We need unobstructed visibility into every vehicle on our roads to keep communities safe.”

    The new policy comes directly out of a recent high-level meeting of the country’s National Security Council, where top officials gathered to assess evolving crime patterns, the spread of unregistered illegal firearms across the nation, and the operational effectiveness of Antigua and Barbuda’s law enforcement institutions. Beyond the tinting mandate, the prime minister also called for a dramatic expansion of routine stop-and-search operations, issuing a recommendation that these proactive public safety checks be held at minimum twice per week across the country.

    To support law enforcement in carrying out these expanded security measures, the prime minister confirmed that the national government plans to invest in boosting the police force’s operational capabilities. This upgrade will include allocating additional patrol vehicles, surveillance drones, and other critical resources to frontline officers, giving them the tools they need to enforce new security rules effectively. At the time of his announcement, Browne declined to share further details about additional strategies developed during the National Security Council meeting, noting that sensitive operational details cannot be disclosed publicly to avoid undermining ongoing law enforcement work.

  • PM Browne Rules Out New CCJ Referendum This Term, Citing Public Concerns

    PM Browne Rules Out New CCJ Referendum This Term, Citing Public Concerns

    In a recent public address on the *Browne and Browne Show*, Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda has formally announced that no further effort will be made in his administration’s current sitting to replace the UK-based Privy Council with the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as the nation’s highest appellate court.

    While Browne has reaffirmed his long-held backing for an eventual shift to the regional judiciary, he emphasized that widespread public apprehension around the transition makes the current political moment unfit for moving forward. “There’s no way this term that we would even try to make that transition because we’re not at that level of maturity,” the prime minister stated.

    This is not the first time the country has considered the change. A previous referendum on the proposed transition was held under Browne’s government, which he openly supported. Now, however, he says he respects the public’s hesitation, noting that widespread concerns about the local judiciary’s maturity have fostered considerable unease across the country.

    Many Antigua and Barbudans, Browne explained, hold the view that the geographic distance and institutional detachment of the London-based Privy Council act as a critical safeguard against potential political or regional interference in appellate rulings. “They feel that the anonymity that they get out of the United Kingdom, the Privy Council, protects them, and I can’t fault them,” he said.

    Crucially, the prime minister stressed that his decision to pause the transition does not mean abandoning his commitment to the CCJ. “I’m not arguing against the transition, and I will continue to support that transition,” he clarified. “But I have to accept that we are probably not at the level of maturity to make that transition as yet.”

    Browne pointed to specific public grievances that have eroded confidence in the domestic and regional judiciary: notably, perceptions of overly lenient sentencing for serious crimes and widespread dissatisfaction with how high-profile criminal cases are managed. He called on judicial leaders to open constructive dialogue with both the government and the general public to address these persistent concerns around criminal justice outcomes, laying the groundwork for greater public trust that could enable a future transition.

  • Chapman Challenge to launch next month

    Chapman Challenge to launch next month

    After months of public debate and planning, the Chapman Challenge — a flagship youth development initiative spearheaded by Barbadian President Jeffrey Bostic — is set to officially kick off on September 23, according to an official announcement from the President’s Trust published Saturday.

    Designed specifically to serve Barbados’ young population between the ages of 10 and 24, the program creates clear, structured pathways for youth growth by combining three core pillars: one-on-one mentorship, hands-on community involvement, and progressive leadership training. Unlike many formal youth programs that rely on paid placements, the entire Chapman Challenge is built on voluntary, part-time service, rooted in the core principle that true leadership is not defined by title or compensation, but by the tangible impact an individual makes on their community and country.

    Organizers emphasize that the initiative is intentionally inclusive: it centers the values of integrity, service, and equal access to opportunity for all young Barbadians, no matter their background or personal circumstances.

    The program operates through a three-stage progressive framework, starting with a foundational skill-building level, moving through an intermediate development phase, and culminating in a advanced leadership track. Each stage is designed to guide participants through a growing sequence of mentorship guidance, organized service projects, and civic engagement activities to build skills incrementally.

    To recognize participant achievements, the Chapman Challenge will issue a range of national honors. These include the prestigious Presidential Awards for young people who demonstrate exceptional service and leadership, as well as a tiered badge system ranging from bronze through platinum for cumulative service hours. The annual national awards ceremony will be held every year on International Youth Day, to honor the contributions of both participating youth and the volunteer mentors who support the program.

    In closing, the official release framed the upcoming launch as more than just the start of a new program: it marks the beginning of a national movement that puts service and mentorship at the center of Barbados’ youth development strategy. “By empowering our young people, we are strengthening the future of Barbados,” the statement added.

  • PM Browne Says Parliament Will Set Minimum Penalties for “heinous” Gun and Sexual Crimes

    PM Browne Says Parliament Will Set Minimum Penalties for “heinous” Gun and Sexual Crimes

    In a push to enact harsher punishment for serial offenders, the government of Antigua and Barbuda has unveiled plans to introduce mandatory minimum prison sentences for the most serious firearm and sexual offenses, alongside adjustments to maximum sentencing thresholds for multiple crimes. Speaking during the locally broadcast Browne and Browne Show, Prime Minister Gaston Browne confirmed that the legislative package will be tabled for parliamentary debate in the near term, confirming the dual proposed changes of raised maximum sentences and new mandatory minimum penalties.

    Under the draft framework, the mandatory minimum sentences will target two high-priority crime categories: gun-related offenses and sexual violence, with particular focus on offenses committed against minors. Browne emphasized that judicial discretion will not be eliminated entirely; judges will retain the ability to issue sentences below the mandated minimum in cases with significant extenuating circumstances, but they will be required to provide a formal, public written justification for any deviation from the established minimum.

    At this stage of policy development, the exact numerical value of the minimum sentences has not been finalized, as government officials have not yet completed cross-stakeholder consultations on the proposals. Browne offered an illustrative example to contextualize the government’s direction, noting that the rape of a child could ultimately carry a 10-year mandatory minimum sentence, but stressed that this figure remains preliminary and subject to change following consultation.

    Browne clarified that the reforms are intentionally targeted, designed to crack down on repeat offenders who commit serious violent and sexual crimes, rather than penalizing first-time offenders whose offenses may be out of character and inconsistent with their life history. For years, Browne has publicly criticized what he describes as consistently lenient sentencing for gun and sexual offenses, arguing that overly short custodial sentences release persistent offenders back into communities far too quickly, while also weakening the effectiveness of national rehabilitation programs designed to reduce reoffending. In addition to the legislative changes, the Prime Minister has issued a formal call for the national judiciary to conduct a comprehensive review of existing internal sentencing guidelines, to ensure that the guidelines align with the severe public harm caused by violent and sexual offenses.

  • Lions Club Para beloont 25 bestgeslaagden voor uitstekende prestaties

    Lions Club Para beloont 25 bestgeslaagden voor uitstekende prestaties

    In a celebratory gathering that marked two milestones for community investment in education, Lions Club Para has recognized 25 high-achieving graduating students from secondary schools across the Para district for their exceptional academic performance. The recognition ceremony, held on Saturday, coincided with the 20th iteration of the organization’s annual school recognition project, and also celebrated the 66th year of service of Lions Club Para to the local community.

    All 25 honored students received certificates of recognition and vouchers to cover the cost of school supplies, designed to ease their ongoing educational expenses. Four students who earned the highest scores across their respective academic tracks were selected for special top achievement awards.

    The four standout awardees represent multiple schools across the district. Lychel Hendrison from MULO Kanaän claimed the top spot in the A-track with a score of 71 points, while his schoolmate Matania Brathwaite took first place in the B-track with 70 points. Faith Luitjes of VOJ Onverwacht earned the highest score in the C-track with 53 points, and Keith Pansa of G.A. Kortschool topped the Mechanical Engineering program with 101 points. Beyond formal recognition, the awards were created to honor the students’ consistent effort, resilience, and commitment to their studies, while the school supply vouchers are intended to encourage them to maintain their dedication through future academic pursuits.

    In addition to honoring individual students, the ceremony also recognized the highest-performing school in the district. VOJ Onverwacht took home the top school award and a 4,000 SRD grant for its institutional achievements in student success.

    The event drew a range of prominent local stakeholders, including Para District Commissioner Patrick Kensenhuis, Yvette Marengo representing the Inspectorate Division of the Ministry of Education, as well as parents, school administrators, and guidance counselors. Several speakers addressed the assembled students during the program, highlighting core values that support long-term success. Randall Pinas, President of Leo Club Kankantrie, Melvin Mackintosh, President of Lions Club Para, and Commissioner Kensenhuis all emphasized the critical importance of hard work, discipline, resilience, and setting clear, intentional goals for personal growth. They encouraged the young awardees to continue nurturing their unique talents, pursue continuous personal development, and contribute actively to the betterment of their local community.

    Now in its 20th year, the annual school recognition project was established specifically to celebrate outstanding academic achievement and motivate young people to continue pursuing formal education beyond their initial secondary schooling. This year’s ceremony also aligned with the 66th anniversary of Lions Club Para’s founding. For the 2026-2027 association year, Melvin Mackintosh will continue to lead the organization, which will carry forward its community service work in Para under the new motto: “Care, Serve, Inspire, Lead.”

  • Halo announces third year of free eye tests and glasses

    Halo announces third year of free eye tests and glasses

    A life-changing collaboration between three organizations is set to continue expanding access to critical vision care for underserved communities in Antigua and Barbuda, after partners confirmed the extension of their groundbreaking “Future Bright with the Gift of Sight Eye Care Initiative”. The program, a joint venture between the Antigua-based Halo Foundation and local healthcare provider Progressive Vision, has been made possible for three consecutive years through major funding and support from the Embassy of Switzerland in Antigua and Barbuda.

    From its launch, the initiative has centered on a core, equity-driven mission: to eliminate financial barriers that prevent vulnerable members of society from accessing the basic eye health services they need. For many low-income families, elderly residents, and children across the country, comprehensive eye exams and prescription eyewear have long been out of reach due to cost. Through the partnership, those gaps are being closed.

    To date, the program has delivered free, full eye examinations and custom prescription eyeglasses to more than 300 people, spanning children, elderly citizens, and other marginalized groups that face disproportionate barriers to healthcare. Each recipient has gained not just clearer vision, but improved access to education, work, and daily quality of life that many take for granted.

    Her Excellency Lady Williams, founder and president of the Halo Foundation, shared deep gratitude for the ongoing commitment from all partners, highlighting the Swiss Embassy’s foundational role in the initiative’s success. “We are endlessly grateful to the Embassy of Switzerland for recognizing the transformative impact of this work and choosing to invest in the health and wellbeing of the people of Antigua and Barbuda,” Williams said.

    The Halo Foundation also extended formal recognition to Progressive Vision’s lead clinician Dr. Salem Zreibi and his entire care team, whose on-the-ground professional expertise has been central to the program’s impact. Their consistent dedication to delivering patient-centered, compassionate care has ensured that every person served through the initiative receives the high-quality treatment they deserve, laying the groundwork for years of continued success as the program enters its third year of operations.

  • Firearm-Related Crimes Rise 33% in Antigua and Barbuda

    Firearm-Related Crimes Rise 33% in Antigua and Barbuda

    Against a backdrop of falling overall crime rates across Antigua and Barbuda, a troubling 33 percent annual jump in firearm-related offenses has emerged as a critical public safety threat, the nation’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne has publicly confirmed.

    Speaking during an appearance on the locally broadcast Browne and Browne Show this past Saturday, Browne laid out the stark new data: from January to the current point of 2026, the country has recorded 24 incidents involving firearms, a sharp rise from the 18 such incidents logged across the full year of 2025. That 33 percent increase marks an alarming shift for a small Caribbean nation that has historically not experienced high levels of gun-related violence.

    “We are confronting a major problem with the rapid escalation of illegal firearms in our communities,” Browne told listeners, emphasizing that the uptick in gun incidents is deeply unsettling for a country unaccustomed to this level of violent gun activity. Browne added that illegal firearms are increasingly being deployed to carry out armed robberies and fatal attacks, turning the spread of unregistered weapons into one of the most urgent public safety challenges the country currently faces.

    Even as law enforcement agencies have made progress in removing illegal guns from circulation, with 44 unregistered firearms seized from public streets over the first eight months of this year alone, Browne noted that the large volume of recovered weapons actually deepens concerns about the total number of illegal guns still unaccounted for and circulating across the twin-island nation.

    The growing gun violence crisis was recently added to the agenda of the country’s National Security Council, where top officials gathered to assess the scope of the problem. During that meeting, representatives reviewed potential sources of the illegal weapons entering the country and drafted targeted counterstrategies to block smuggling and curb the underground circulation of unregistered firearms. Browne confirmed that the council has developed concrete operational plans, but he declined to share sensitive tactical details to avoid undermining ongoing enforcement efforts.