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  • Ontslagen RvC Canawaima: wij zijn nooit gehoord en zijn onbekend met facturen

    Ontslagen RvC Canawaima: wij zijn nooit gehoord en zijn onbekend met facturen

    On April 26, new contradictions emerged surrounding the recently dismissed Supervisory Board (Raad van Commissarissen, RvC) of Canawaima Management Company, deepening uncertainty around an unfolding public controversy centered on disputed invoices and questionable personnel decisions.

    The now-dismissed board issued a vehement denial this week that it ever possessed the controversial invoices that have recently entered the public domain. Richenel Vrieze, the former chair of the RvC, confirmed that neither the full board nor Canawaima Management Company itself has ever examined the documents in question. This immediate denial has placed serious questions over the origin of the leaked invoices, which have become the core of the public scandal. Repair firm Sardha has already filed a formal police report over the documents, alleging forgery, as the company states it never actually submitted the invoices that have appeared in public.

    Alongside denying access to the invoices, Vrieze has launched sharp criticism of the process that led to his board being removed from office. He claims that the fundamental principle of due process, which requires allowing all parties to state their case before action is taken, was completely ignored in the dismissal. “Despite reaching out to the responsible minister in writing to request a hearing, we were given no opportunity to present our side of the story, and no response was ever forthcoming,” Vrieze stated in his remarks.

    The controversy has become further complicated by conflicting accounts of the membership status of RvC member Abdul Madhar. Madhar claims that he stepped down from the board effective February 10, a date that holds particular significance: it is the very same day that Vrieze’s board, which included Madhar and fellow member Edgar van Genderen, was originally appointed to its three-year term by Minister Raymond Landveld. Madhar says he offered his resignation verbally, and already holds a partial copy of the official dismissal resolution for his position.

    This document names Fandi Bogor as Madhar’s replacement on the RvC, a development that the former board says it was never informed of. Notably, Bogor has since been appointed as a member of the newly installed RvC that replaced Vrieze’s dismissed board. Vrieze counters Madhar’s claims, stating that the former board never received any formal notification of Madhar’s resignation. “Nothing was communicated to us formally. Madhar participated in all board deliberations and was kept fully informed of every decision the board took,” Vrieze explained. He added that Madhar is still officially registered as a board member with the Suriname Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a registration that was completed on March 19, when Madhar was personally present to complete the paperwork.

    Contradictions grow even deeper: Vrieze confirmed that Madhar also co-signed a formal notice of default addressed to Lesley Daniel, Canawaima’s terminal manager, a document that was never delivered because Daniel was not present at the work site at the time. This runs counter to Madhar’s claim that he had already left the board long before that document was drafted.

    Vrieze also moved to clarify his own temporary role as acting terminal manager at the South Drain facility. He confirmed that he served in this interim position between March 13 and March 29 2026 under a formal written authorization, and that the permanent terminal manager only returned to the site on April 16. He also rejected widespread accusations that he holds undisclosed family or business ties to companies that have secured contracts from Canawaima, calling the claims entirely unfounded and stating no such links exist to his knowledge.

    To date, key questions surrounding the Canawaima controversy remain unanswered. It is still unclear who leaked the disputed invoices to the public, and what formal basis was used for the decision to dismiss the full RvC. With the former board’s categorical denial of ever holding the documents and conflicting testimony over board membership and internal decisions, the fog around the scandal has only continued to thicken.

  • Alcohol Sales Banned on Polling Day Under Electoral Law

    Alcohol Sales Banned on Polling Day Under Electoral Law

    As Antigua and Barbuda prepares for its upcoming 2026 general elections, the country’s independent Electoral Commission has issued a formal public reminder of a long-standing legal restriction that will be strictly enforced on polling day: a total ban on the sale and distribution of all alcoholic beverages while voting stations are open.

    Citing clear statutory authority from Section 27 of the nation’s Representation of the People Act, which falls under Chapter 379 of the country’s legal code, the commission clarified that the prohibition covers far more than just commercial sales. The regulation extends to any offering of alcohol for purchase, as well as the free distribution of intoxicating liquor, at any licensed drinking or sales establishment located within any electoral constituency across the country for the entire duration that polls are open.

    The timeframe of the ban runs directly from the moment voting stations open in the morning to their official closing in the evening on election day. Commission officials emphasized that the restriction is not a new measure, but a longstanding rule designed to preserve public order, protect the integrity of the voting process, and prevent voter influence or disorder that could arise from alcohol consumption near polling sites.

    Authorities have also issued a clear warning to the public and business owners that violations of this electoral law are considered criminal offences. Any individual found breaching the ban will face prosecution through a summary conviction process, with penalties reaching as high as a Eastern Caribbean $3,000 fine, or up to 12 months of imprisonment, depending on the nature of the violation.

    In closing, the Electoral Commission has called on all license holders, business owners, and members of the general public to adhere fully to this regulation to guarantee that the 2026 general election proceeds smoothly, peacefully, and in full compliance with national electoral laws.

  • Vredesvooruitzichten VS-Iran slinken na afgelasting vredesgesprekken door Trump

    Vredesvooruitzichten VS-Iran slinken na afgelasting vredesgesprekken door Trump

    After two months of open conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran, hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough to end the escalating regional crisis have faded significantly in the early days of this week, as both Tehran and Washington refuse to soften their non-negotiable preconditions, bringing peace talks to a complete standstill.

    The latest breakdown in negotiations came after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi concluded a visit to Pakistan on Saturday without securing any tangible progress, prompting US President Donald Trump to scrap the planned trip of his special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to the Pakistani capital Islamabad, where negotiations were set to take place. This latest development has pushed already dim peace prospects even further into uncertainty.

    The ongoing diplomatic impasse has trapped the world’s largest economy (the United States) and one of the Middle East’s most critical oil producers (Iran) in a protracted confrontation that has already sent global energy prices surging to multi-year highs, fueled broader global inflation, and dragged down projected economic growth across every major region worldwide. Compounding this economic risk, Iran has kept the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz largely closed to commercial shipping; the strait is the primary transit route for roughly 20% of the world’s daily oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, while US sanctions have blocked almost all Iranian oil exports to global markets.

    Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who spoke by phone with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif amid the collapsed talks, reiterated Tehran’s position that it will not participate in any negotiations that are imposed on the country under threat or economic blockade. Pezeshkian emphasized that the United States must first remove what Tehran calls “operational obstacles” — including the ongoing blockade of Iranian ports — before any productive talks can begin. While Araqchi described his Pakistan visit as “very productive,” an anonymous Iranian diplomatic source based in Islamabad made clear that Iran will reject what it views as the “maximalist demands” put forward by the US side.

    For his part, Trump defended his decision to cancel his envoys’ trip during remarks in Florida, claiming the journey would carry excessive costs and that Iran’s latest proposal did not meet US requirements. On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump also claimed there is “enormous internal strife and confusion” among Iran’s ruling leadership, writing, “Nobody knows who the boss is, not even they. We hold all the cards, they have none. If they want to talk, they just need to call!”

    Regional tensions have been further inflamed by Israel, which violated a three-week-old ceasefire by ordering Israeli forces to launch new strikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, according to orders from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

    Weeks prior, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had indicated that US officials saw some incremental progress from Iran, and said Vice President JD Vance — who led an initial, unsuccessful round of negotiations in Islamabad earlier this month — remained ready to return to the Pakistani capital for further talks. The current round of open conflict between the US, Israel and Iran began with joint US-Israeli airstrikes on February 28. In the months since, Iran has retaliated with strikes targeting Israeli territory, US military bases across the Middle East, and US-allied Gulf states. While a nominal ceasefire is currently in place, the regional situation remains highly tense and extremely fragile.

  • Onderzoek naar fraude met Moni Karta: coördinator tijdelijk ontheven

    Onderzoek naar fraude met Moni Karta: coördinator tijdelijk ontheven

    A fresh case of fraud linked to the Moni Karta social assistance program has been uncovered in Suriname, triggering an official probe that has already led to the temporary suspension of a senior coordinator at the country’s Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing (Sozavo). The investigation was launched after a program beneficiary filed a formal fraud allegation, marking the latest in a string of integrity concerns surrounding the welfare initiative.

    Sherwin Valies, department director at Sozavo, confirmed the development in an interview with local outlet Starnieuws, noting that the case has been handed over to national police for criminal investigation. Due to the active probe, Valies explained that few substantive details can be released publicly at this stage. “A formal report has indeed been filed. Since the investigation is still ongoing, I cannot go into detail about the specifics of the allegation,” Valies stated.

    The temporary removal of the implicated coordinator from her post aligns with the ministry’s strengthened integrity policy implemented in 2025, which requires that all staff under formal investigation be temporarily relieved of their official duties. Valies emphasized that the ministry followed this protocol strictly once the allegation was received from the claimant. “When we got the report from the client, we immediately applied our existing policy. The coordinator in question has been relieved of her duties, and we are now awaiting the outcome of the police investigation,” he explained.

    Despite the ongoing scandal, Valies stressed that core department operations and service delivery to program beneficiaries remain uninterrupted. A replacement has already been appointed to take over the suspended coordinator’s responsibilities, including critical work related to benefit distribution planning, ensuring no disruption to support for vulnerable populations.

    In response to repeated reports of irregularities connected to the Moni Karta program and within the General Social Assistance Benefits department, Valies also announced that the ministry will launch a separate internal administrative investigation to review systemic controls and governance gaps.

    The Moni Karta program was designed to deliver targeted financial support to low-income and socially vulnerable groups across Suriname. This latest discovery of potential fraud has reignited public and policy debate over the adequacy of oversight mechanisms and the effectiveness of the program’s implementation framework.

  • Jhauw: Luchtverkeersleiding al jaren probleem, maar geen oplossing

    Jhauw: Luchtverkeersleiding al jaren probleem, maar geen oplossing

    Recurring outages of air traffic control services at Suriname’s Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport have triggered fresh, widespread disruptions to regional and international flight operations, forcing multiple commercial carriers to divert incoming and outgoing flights to alternate airports across the Caribbean and South American region. On Saturday, the Dutch flagship carrier KLM was forced to reroute one of its aircraft bound for Suriname to Piarco International Airport in Trinidad and Tobago, where the flight and its crew and passengers were required to overnight in Port of Spain due to the extended flight time incurred by the diversion. Other stranded passengers on diverted flights were forced to lay over indefinitely in neighboring Guyana as the airport remained non-operational for a large portion of the day, with no takeoffs or landings permitted during the service outage.

    Amichand Jhauw, chief executive officer of regional Suriname-based carrier Fly All Ways, has issued harsh public criticism of the ongoing crisis, labeling the air traffic control failures as a deeply rooted, structural problem that has plagued the country’s aviation sector for years. Jhauw noted that critical bottlenecks and staffing gaps in the air traffic control department have been well documented for years, but no meaningful, long-term solutions have been implemented by responsible authorities. “Problems continue to pile up because there is no structured, comprehensive approach to fixing the root causes,” Jhauw explained in an interview with local Surinamese outlet Starnieuws.

    An official Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) issued by Suriname’s aviation authorities confirms that the temporary suspension of full air traffic control services stemmed from an acute staffing shortage, which forced the airport and surrounding airspace to be downgraded to a lower safety classification that could not support regular commercial operations.

    Jhauw warned that the consequences of inaction stretch far beyond costly flight delays and stranded passengers, stressing that the persistent instability could lead international airlines to permanently re-route flights away from Suriname, a shift that would cause long-term damage to the country’s national revenue. “If carriers decide they no longer want to fly through our airspace, we lose that critical stream of income entirely, and that kind of damage is not easy to repair – it can take years to recover from,” he said.

    Beyond lost revenue, Jhauw added that repeated disruptions are causing lasting reputational harm to Suriname’s aviation sector, and could erode the country’s international safety rating, making it even harder to attract reliable air service in the future. He emphasized that the crisis is particularly alarming because Suriname is almost entirely dependent on air connectivity to link it to the rest of the world, with no overland alternative transportation links such as cross-border rail or major highway connections to neighboring countries. “Aviation is our most important gateway to the world, and we cannot even keep that critical infrastructure operating reliably,” Jhauw said.

    The Fly All Ways CEO also slammed the responsible government agencies for their complete lack of communication and accessibility during the latest outage. He reported that airline operators were unable to reach any responsible officials to coordinate operational adjustments during the crisis, even as the outage triggered immediate operational costs and financial losses for carriers. “Airlines are being forced to absorb unnecessary extra costs with no prospect of compensation from authorities,” Jhauw stressed.

  • Explosie in zuidwest-Colombia eist minstens 14 levens

    Explosie in zuidwest-Colombia eist minstens 14 levens

    On Saturday, a devastating bomb blast ripped through a stretch of the Pan-American Highway in Colombia’s southwestern Cauca region, leaving at least 14 people dead and more than 38 others injured, five of whom are minors. The attack unfolded in the El Tunel area of Cajibio municipality, leaving a scene of chaos: destroyed civilian vehicles scattered across the roadway, debris littering the pavement, and emergency responders rushing to pull casualties from the wreckage, footage from the aftermath shows. Local and national leaders have swiftly condemned the attack as a deliberate act of violence against innocent civilians.

    Cauca Governor Octavio Guzmán labeled the incident an “indiscriminate attack targeting the civilian population” and called on the national government to launch a decisive and sustained response to curb the rising violence. The bombing comes amid a sharp surge in clashes between illegal armed groups fighting to control lucrative drug trafficking routes leading to the key Pacific port of Buenaventura. Over just 48 hours before the blast, the region recorded at least 26 separate violent incidents, including drive-by shootings and a drone attack on a civilian radar installation.

    Colombian President Gustavo Petro did not mince words in blaming the attack, calling the perpetrators “terrorists, fascists, and drug traffickers.” Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez, who was attending a security meeting in nearby Palmira when the explosion occurred, pledged immediate and forceful action against those responsible. “These criminals seek to sow terror among our population, but we will respond with unwavering resolve,” Sánchez stated.

    Colombian security officials have pointed to dissident factions of the former FARC guerrilla group as the primary suspects behind the wave of attacks, specifically identifying a network led by fugitive commander known as “Ivan Mordisco” and the Jaime Martínez faction as the responsible parties. Authorities have offered a reward of more than 1 million dollars for any information that leads to the arrest or capture of these key leaders.

    Francisca Toro, governor of the neighboring Valle del Cauca department, has also called on the national government to immediately deploy additional security forces to the region and step up intelligence operations to rein in the escalating terrorist activity. The Cauca region remains a strategically critical corridor for drug traffickers moving cocaine out of Colombia to consumer markets in Central America and Europe, and the ongoing power struggle between competing armed groups has kept the area in a state of persistent crisis, with civilians increasingly caught in the crossfire.

  • President Simons roept op tot gebed en naastenliefde

    President Simons roept op tot gebed en naastenliefde

    On a Friday in late April, Suriname President Jennifer Simons delivered a keynote address to attendees at a national prayer conference held at the Anthony Nesty Sports Hall, where she emphasized that faith-driven values of prayer and neighborly love are critical to guiding the South American nation through its current period of difficulty. According to official communications from the Communication Service Suriname (CDS), Simons used the platform to urge collective reflection across the country, framing unified prayer as a foundational step to confront the interconnected challenges Suriname faces today. The head of state opened her remarks by expressing sincere gratitude to Christian organizations and bishops, who organized the gathering to dedicate the nation’s future to spiritual guidance.

    Simons stressed that the difficulties currently facing Suriname extend far beyond just economic strain, touching on societal rifts that require shared accountability from both the government and the general public. She called for humility across all sectors, acknowledging openly that mistakes have been made by people across the nation, regardless of their position or influence. Moving beyond reflection, the president called on all Surinamese citizens to deepen their commitment to supporting one another and advancing the national good, placing neighborly love at the center of any meaningful progress. Citing core religious teachings, she noted that loving one’s neighbor as oneself and placing faith above all other priorities would reshape not just Suriname, but the entire world for the better, adding that regular prayer provides the moral strength needed to live out these values in daily life.

    A key takeaway from Simons’ address was her rejection of passive faith, emphasizing that prayer must always go hand in hand with tangible, consistent action. “We must pray, but we must also work every day to build the future we want for Suriname and for ourselves,” she told the gathered faithful. The event, which drew attendees from faith communities across the country, reflects a growing push for spiritual and collective engagement as the nation works to navigate ongoing social and economic headwinds.

  • Young Man Charged with Murder

    Young Man Charged with Murder

    Nearly a week of investigative work has led Belizean law enforcement to an arrest in the killing of 19-year-old Jamir Cambranes, whose body was discovered on Boom/Hattieville Road earlier this month. On Thursday, officials charged 19-year-old Kenrick Lindbergh Robinson, a Belize City-based construction worker, with Cambranes’ murder, closing the first major phase of the case that has added to growing community anxiety over a string of recent youth killings in the area.

    The timeline of Cambranes’ disappearance began on the night of Tuesday, April 21, when he left his Euphrates Avenue residence on his bicycle to meet two unknown associates who were traveling in a silver Chevy Equinox, according to family accounts. In a move his uncle later noted was unusual for the 19-year-old, Cambranes shared his real-time location with his girlfriend before losing contact. For hours, repeated calls and text messages to Cambranes went unanswered, and when his girlfriend observed that his location had not changed for an extended period, she alerted his brother, who immediately mounted a search on his motorcycle. It was that search that led to the grim discovery of Cambranes’ body.

    Cambranes’ killing is the latest in a disturbing pattern of disappearances and deaths of young men that have shaken the Belize City community in recent weeks, leaving residents on edge and calling for greater public safety action to curb the rising violence targeting local youth.

  • Bouwbeurs 2026 start met blik op toerisme en groeiende vraag naar accommodatie

    Bouwbeurs 2026 start met blik op toerisme en groeiende vraag naar accommodatie

    Suriname’s President Jennifer Simons officially inaugurated the 13th edition of the Bouw-, Woon- & Huishoudbeurs, the country’s leading construction, housing and household trade fair, on Friday. This year’s event, hosted at the Live Entertainment Center, centers the rapidly growing tourism sector, aligning with national development priorities that have placed tourism at the core of Suriname’s economic expansion strategy.

    Against a backdrop of rising international attention to Suriname as a travel and investment destination, demand for high-quality visitor and residential accommodation has surged. Speaking at the opening ceremony, President Simons emphasized that the Suriname government identifies tourism as a key strategic pillar for long-term national development. To address the growing gap in quality housing and accommodation, the administration has finalized a national housing plan that will be submitted to the National Assembly for review in the near term, she confirmed.

    Event organizers note the trade fair has evolved far beyond its original scope to become a critical regional platform for industry innovation and cross-sector collaboration. Two major economic shifts have driven the rising demand for accommodation across Suriname: the emergence of the country’s new oil and gas sector, which has drawn a wave of foreign workers and investment, and the consistent growth of international tourism. In response to these trends, tourism industry organizations have been given a prominent, dedicated space on this year’s trade fair floor, a first in the event’s history.

    The five-day event brings together three key stakeholder groups: national and local government bodies, private sector construction and hospitality entrepreneurs, and consumers seeking new housing options. Attendees have access to comprehensive displays outlining the latest developments in construction technology, sustainable housing design, tourism accommodation infrastructure, and household innovation, creating opportunities for networking, partnership building, and market expansion across interconnected sectors.

  • Multilateral Seminars for May: People’s Republic of China

    Multilateral Seminars for May: People’s Republic of China

    A comprehensive official schedule of international seminars and training programs scheduled for May and June 2026, targeted at partner countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and developing nations across the Global South, has been publicly released. The planned activities cover a wide range of priority sectors aligned with global development goals, reflecting China’s ongoing commitment to South-South cooperation and capacity building for emerging economies.

    ### Overview of Scheduled Activities
    In total, more than 190 events are split between the two months, with 80 seminars and training courses confirmed for the first batch in May, plus an additional 119 events planned for June. Most of the activities will be hosted in Beijing, the national capital, with other host cities spread across 30+ Chinese provinces and municipalities, including Chengdu, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, and Nanjing, allowing international participants to experience different regional development landscapes across China.

    ### Key Sector Focus Areas
    The programs are designed to address the most pressing development needs of developing countries, with clear thematic clusters shaping the schedule:
    1. **Green Development and Climate Action**: A large share of events focus on low-carbon energy transition, carbon peaking and neutrality planning, renewable energy development, climate change adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and green finance. Examples include the Seminar on Implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Developing Countries — Clean Energy Topic (May 13-26, Beijing) and the Seminar on Experience Sharing of Addressing Climate Change for Developing Countries (June 18-July 1, Beijing).
    2. **Economic and Trade Cooperation**: Multiple programs center on strengthening BRI economic ties, tax cooperation, trade facilitation, industrial park construction, and financial cooperation. Key events include the opening Seminar on Strengthening Economic and Trade Cooperation Between Belt and Road Countries and the Core Area of the Silk Road Economic Belt (May 7-16, Beijing) and the Seminar on Digital and Green International Economic and Trade Cooperation (May 28-June 8, Beijing).
    3. **Public Health and Medical Technology**: A range of training programs and seminars will share China’s advances in medical care, including ultrasound and medical imaging technology, malaria prevention and treatment with artemisinin, intensive care techniques, and traditional Chinese medicine. Standout events include the 21-day Training Course on Ultrasound and Medical Imaging Technology for Developing Countries (May 12-June 1, Beijing) and the Seminar on the Application of Artemisinin in Malaria Prevention and Treatment for Developing Countries (May 20-June 2, Beijing).
    4. **Digital Transformation and Technology Innovation**: Events covering artificial intelligence capacity building, cybersecurity, 5G and navigation technology, and digital economy development have been included to support developing countries in closing the digital divide. Notable programs are the Seminar on AI Capacity Building for Women from Belt and Road Countries (May 21-June 3, Beijing) and the Seminar on Developing Artificial Intelligence for Developing Countries (June 4-17, Nanjing).
    5. **Agricultural Development**: Multiple training programs focus on improving agricultural productivity and sustainability across developing nations, covering tropical crop pest control, grain processing technology, edible mushroom cultivation, and hybrid maize technology. These include the Training Course on New Technology of Tropical Agriculture for Developing Countries (May 20-June 8, Haikou) and the Seminar on Integrated Hybrid Maize Technology under the Global Development Initiative (June 11-July 8, Changsha).
    6. **Women’s Empowerment and Youth Development**: A dedicated series of programs address inclusive development, with targeted seminars for women entrepreneurs, female officials, youth leaders, and women’s capacity building in tech and governance. Examples include the Seminar for Youth Leaders of the Belt and Road Countries (May 19-June 1, Beijing) and the Ministerial Workshop on New Media Capacity Building for Women from Belt and Road Countries (June 24-July 3, Beijing).

    All events are structured as capacity building initiatives, combining knowledge sharing, technical training, and experience exchange to support developing countries in advancing their sustainable development goals. The schedule confirms that most programs run between one and four weeks, with longer specialized training courses extending up to five weeks for technical skill development.