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  • Abiamofo: SWM niet klaar voor olie- en gasontwikkeling

    Abiamofo: SWM niet klaar voor olie- en gasontwikkeling

    As Suriname prepares for rapid growth driven by its expanding oil and gas sector, the country’s national water provider remains woefully underprepared to handle surging demand for safe drinking water, Natural Resources Minister David Abiamofo has told the country’s National Assembly. The minister’s comments, delivered during a parliamentary debate on public utility services, laid out the urgent infrastructure gaps that threaten to undermine the country’s upcoming economic growth and leave thousands of citizens without consistent access to a basic public need.

    Abiamofo emphasized that the growing energy sector will place unprecedented pressure on Suriname’s water supply chain. Expected economic expansion will bring new industrial activity, a growing population, increased housing construction, and higher demand for all public utilities, including water. Currently, more than a decade after the existing water infrastructure was put in place, the Greater Paramaribo region still relies on the same outdated water sources that have not kept pace with rising population and consumption. This mismatch between limited supply and growing demand has already left households across multiple regions struggling with chronic water shortages and low water pressure, while large swathes of the country still lack access to reliably safe drinking water even in 2026.

    To address these gaps, the minister outlined that major investments are required across every part of the supply chain: developing new water sources, upgrading pumping infrastructure, building new production stations, expanding the existing distribution network, and cutting the high volume of non-revenue water lost through leaky pipes and outdated systems. Critically, Abiamofo confirmed that the Surinaamsche Waterleiding Maatschappij (SWM), the country’s national water utility, does not have the financial capacity to fund these critical upgrades independently.

    The parliamentary debate also brought forward longstanding consumer concerns about SWM’s customer service and billing practices. Multiple assembly members from different political parties highlighted widespread confusion over water tariffs, billing calculations, and consumer billing processes. Opposition member Rabin Parmessar noted that consumers currently have no clear way to forecast how much they will be charged for their water usage, and called for the same level of tariff transparency that was previously implemented for the country’s electricity sector.

    Abiamofo acknowledged these concerns, agreeing that public communication from the state-owned utility needs significant improvement. He confirmed that he shared the parliament’s concerns over customer service issues, and pledged to hold discussions with SWM leadership to improve clarity and accessibility of information for consumers around billing, service procedures and general customer support.

    Lawmakers also raised questions about unmetered household connections, pointing out that consumers without individual water meters cannot be charged based on their actual consumption. Abiamofo pushed back on claims that these households avoid paying for water entirely, explaining that utility staff calculate a fair average bill based on multiple factors including household size and regional consumption data for comparable properties.

    In closing, the minister stressed that the push to upgrade Suriname’s water infrastructure extends far beyond preparing for oil and gas development. At its core, the reform effort is rooted in a basic policy goal: ensuring every citizen of Suriname has access to consistent, safe drinking water, a standard that has not yet been achieved for communities across the country.

  • Smith is ‘a politician in police uniform’ – Gonsalves

    Smith is ‘a politician in police uniform’ – Gonsalves

    A heated political controversy over police service appointments has erupted in the country, with Opposition Leader Ralph Gonsalves launching sharp criticism of the ruling New Democratic Party’s elevation of a partisan ally to a senior acting leadership role in the national police force. Gonsalves is pushing to escalate the dispute to regional and international bodies, arguing the appointment sets a dangerous precedent that undermines the integrity of national law enforcement.

    The controversy stems from a recent round of senior leadership appointments announced earlier this week, which saw Trevor “Buju” Bailey named acting Commissioner of Police, Junior Simmons tapped for acting Deputy Commissioner, and Brenton Smith promoted to Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police. This is not the first time Gonsalves has objected to Smith’s pending promotion: he first raised red flags in May, when National Security Minister St. Clair Leacock first announced the career officer was in line for advancement. At that time, Gonsalves argued that other more qualified long-serving officers were overlooked for the role.

    Smith’s path back to the police force is steeped in political history. In 2021, when Gonsalves’ Unity Labour Party (ULP) held power, Smith was fired from the service after refusing to comply with the government’s mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy for all frontline public workers, which included police officers, educators and medical staff. Following his dismissal, Smith moved directly into partisan politics, winning election as General Secretary of the then-opposition New Democratic Party (NDP). When the NDP secured victory in the November 2025 general election, Smith was quickly reinstated to the police force just months before his surprise senior promotion.

    In comments made during his weekly radio program on Wednesday, two days after the new appointments were formalized, Gonsalves argued the promotion is a clear case of politically motivated advancement that cuts across decades of institutional hierarchy. “If you want to demonstrate that you take the professionalism of the police force seriously, how can you elevate a figure like Smith?” Gonsalves asked. Five years ago, Smith held only the rank of station sergeant. After leaving the force in 2021, he did not work his way back through the institutional ranks; instead, he skipped the entire role of assistant superintendent to jump directly to Assistant Commissioner, a senior command position. Gonsalves stressed that Smith’s rapid advancement is solely the result of his political loyalty to the ruling NDP, not his professional experience or qualifications.

    For Gonsalves, this appointment is not just an internal personnel dispute – it poses tangible risks to international security cooperation. He warned that regional security bodies within CARICOM and global law enforcement partners will face major complications working with a police leadership that includes politically aligned unvetted figures. “The DEA, the FBI, British intelligence services, French security agencies – they are all going to face serious difficulties working with loose-tongued politicians who don’t understand what information can be disclosed, who now hold senior police uniforms,” Gonsalves said.

    To address what he called the “dangerous politicization” of the national police service, Gonsalves confirmed he plans to send formal letters raising the issue to both the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Commonwealth, the two major regional and international bodies the country is affiliated with.

    Gonsalves was careful to draw a clear distinction between Smith and the two other newly appointed senior police leaders. He acknowledged that Bailey is a skilled and professional police officer, and noted that he has no personal animosity toward Smith. In his role as Opposition Leader and a former National Security Minister, Gonsalves pledged he is willing to work collaboratively with Bailey and Simmons on all matters of public safety. The key difference, he argued, is that neither Bailey nor Simmons are partisan political figures embedded in the force’s leadership. “They are not politicians in police uniform, but Smith is,” Gonsalves said. “It is the equivalent of placing a partisan politician directly in judicial robes – it compromises the entire neutrality and integrity of the institution.”

    Subordinates serving under Smith already see him first as a politician, not a professional commander, Gonsalves added, a perception that will erode trust and discipline within the rank and file of the police service.

  • Netball Association launches game changers programme

    Netball Association launches game changers programme

    On a recent Saturday at the Fancy Hardcourt sports facility, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Netball Association (SVGNA) officially kicked off its ambitious new Game Changers Netball Grassroots Development Programme — a multi-year initiative designed to grow the sport from the ground up across the island nation.

    The opening event drew a diverse cross-section of local sports stakeholders, including young aspiring athletes between the ages of 4 and 14, both male and female, alongside sport administrators, community leaders, and local residents. For the young participants, the first session served as an accessible introduction to the core fundamentals of netball, with an early focus on building foundational movement skills and fostering collaborative teamwork from the very start of the programme.

    Alongside training for young athletes, the launch included a dedicated educational workshop for sports administrators on up-to-date official netball rules. The session was led by Moeth Gaymes, who holds dual roles as Chair of the SVGNA Umpires and Technical Officials Committee and is an internationally recognized award-winning netball umpire, bringing expert-level knowledge to the training.

    A core pillar of the entire Game Changers programme is its emphasis on safeguarding and safe sport principles. Organizers have integrated targeted training modules that reinforce the shared responsibility of all stakeholders to cultivate athletic spaces that are safe, respectful, and supportive for young athletes and every person involved in the sport. This focus aligns with growing global efforts to prioritize child protection and athlete well-being in grassroots sports development.

    Several high-profile local sports and political figures attended the launch to mark the occasion. Attendees included Shevern John, Parliamentary Representative for North Windward; Shimano Bailey, who serves as both Vice President of the SVG Olympic Committee (SVGOC) and Chair of the SVGOC Safeguarding/Safe Sport Commission; Keith Joseph, General Secretary of the SVGOC; and multiple members of the SVGNA Executive Committee.

    The ground-breaking initiative has been made possible through funding and strategic support from the Commonwealth Games Committee, with coordination and local facilitation handled by the SVG Olympic Committee. The programme will run through December 2026, holding scheduled Saturday sessions between 9:30 a.m. and 12:00 noon across two host venues: the Fancy Hardcourt and the Chilli Hardcourt in Georgetown.

    The rotating venue schedule splits programming across the two sites: Fancy Hardcourt will host sessions from August 15 to September 12, and again from December 5 to 19, while Chilli Hardcourt will run sessions from September 19 to October 10, and from October 31 to November 28 each cycle.

    Beyond just building on-court skills for young players, the Game Changers programme takes a holistic approach to netball development, targeting growth across all segments of the local sport ecosystem: athletes, new coaches, aspiring umpires, and local administrators. Alongside skill-building, the initiative promotes core life values including teamwork, personal discipline, leadership, and a deeper understanding of the sport’s structure and ethos.

    In a statement following the launch, SVGNA representatives confirmed that the association will continue expanding grassroots netball development work through partnerships with local community groups. The long-term goal of the programme is to create broader accessible opportunities for young people across St. Vincent and the Grenadines to participate in netball, while strengthening the institutional capacity of administrators and stakeholders to grow the sport sustainably across the country for years to come.

  • Amerikaanse staatsschuld stijgt voor het eerst boven $40 biljoen door oplopende leningen

    Amerikaanse staatsschuld stijgt voor het eerst boven $40 biljoen door oplopende leningen

    For the first time in recorded history, the total national debt of the United States has crossed the $40 trillion threshold, according to official data released by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The milestone comes earlier than projected by nonpartisan government analysts, with the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) having previously forecast that total debt would hit $39.4 trillion by the end of the 2026 fiscal year.

    As of Tuesday, the total outstanding federal debt stood at $40.05 trillion. Analysts attribute the accelerated pace of debt accumulation to multiple long-standing structural drivers, including mandatory permanent spending commitments to major social programs such as Social Security and Medicare, alongside rapidly climbing interest costs on existing borrowings.

    The $40 trillion crossing arrives at a moment of already heightened economic unease, with ongoing concerns over persistent inflation, rising government outlays tied to global conflicts including the ongoing war in the Middle East, and shifting bond market dynamics. These pressures have already pushed yields on long-term U.S. Treasury bonds to their highest levels since 2007, forcing the federal government to refinance its existing debt at far higher borrowing costs than it has faced since the 2008 global financial crisis.

    In a move to calm jittery bond markets, the Treasury Department intervened this Wednesday to stabilize trading, which resulted in a modest pullback in Treasury yields. Even with this short-term intervention, fiscal policy experts have repeatedly warned that the U.S. has been on an unsustainable fiscal trajectory for years when it comes to annual federal budget deficits.

    Current annual deficits now equal roughly 6% to 7% of the country’s total gross domestic product (GDP), a marked jump from the 3% to 4% range that already triggered anxiety among financial market observers in previous years. The combination of soaring interest payments and demographic pressure from an aging U.S. population is projected to widen deficits further and amplify long-term financial risks for the world’s largest economy.

    While there is no predefined debt threshold that automatically triggers a full-blown fiscal crisis, the breach of the $40 trillion symbolic marker is widely viewed as a clear warning sign for both investors and federal policymakers. Analysts emphasize that the failure of Congress and successive presidential administrations to implement structural fiscal reforms has only increased uncertainty around the country’s growing debt burden. If left unaddressed, the growing debt load could push borrowing costs higher for American consumers and private businesses, creating a significant headwind for overall economic growth.

    U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has previously set a policy target of reducing the annual deficit to 3% of GDP, but analysts widely acknowledge that hitting this goal remains an enormous challenge amid current domestic and global economic conditions.

  • Column: Sterkere SML?

    Column: Sterkere SML?

    As the Suriname Major League (SML) prepares to kick off its fourth season, participating clubs across the country have entered a critical pre-season transfer window, scrambling to reinforce their squads ahead of the new campaign. This annual rush for new talent is a long-established ritual in Suriname’s top football flight, as league rules do not allow mid-season player acquisitions, leaving the pre-season window as the only opportunity for clubs to reshape their rosters. For decades, Surinamese top-flight clubs have relied on this transfer period to strengthen their sides, with historical recruitment focusing mostly on promoting standout young prospects from domestic youth academies to the first team, or poaching established talents from direct league rivals to gain a competitive edge over competing sides.

    Over the past several seasons, however, a noticeable new trend has emerged in SML recruitment: an increasing number of clubs are turning to foreign player signings to complement domestic talent, with the goal of building a strong enough squad to not only claim the SML title, but also perform well in regional continental competitions when they qualify. For the upcoming 2026-2027 season, multiple clubs have upped the ante, committing significant resources to boost their competitiveness. Some have locked in deals for promising young domestic prospects, while also bringing in several experienced players from neighboring countries in the Caribbean and South American region. What is more, this transfer window has already seen multiple players and a full first-team head coach recruited from continental Africa to raise the overall technical and competitive level of the league.

    This growing openness to bringing in foreign talent is a development that deserves broad praise. For years, Surinamese football stakeholders have acknowledged the country’s abundant natural football talent, yet national and club sides have consistently fallen short of expectations at regional competitions. It is widely hoped that the new foreign arrivals and the imported head coach will be given the necessary support, time and autonomy to prove their value and help lift SML standards.

    The large financial investments several clubs have made in new signings have pushed fan and public expectations to historic highs for the upcoming season. Local players are encouraged not to be discouraged by the influx of new foreign talent, but instead to seize the opportunity to collaborate with their new teammates, gel as a cohesive unit and compete as one unified team. There is widespread optimism that the transfer strategy pursued by these ambitious clubs will deliver the intended results, and that the upfront investments will eventually pay off both on and off the pitch.

    Even as the recruitment of foreign talent is widely celebrated, industry observers stress that club leadership must recognize that further structural professionalization is a non-negotiable requirement to build sustained, long-term success. To compete consistently at a high level, clubs need to establish formal legal foundations and operate along modern, business-aligned governance models that make them attractive to professional football stakeholders. The end goal for Surinamese football should be a full transformation of club structures, moving from informal single-owner operations to formally registered organizations with multiple shareholders, where key governance decisions are made by a general meeting of shareholders.

    This formal structured governance model provides legal certainty for all stakeholders, and makes clubs far more attractive for professionals from across football-related disciplines to join. It also guarantees long-term organizational continuity, even if the founding owner steps back or is unable to continue leading the club for any reason. A formal structured organization also allows for better oversight of all club operations, enabling leadership to make timely adjustments when challenges arise. The recent push to recruit foreign players and coaches is a promising first step toward strengthening the SML, but far more systemic change is required to build a structurally stronger and more sustainable league for the future.

  • Wijnerman: Belastingregels voor productiesector worden opnieuw bekeken

    Wijnerman: Belastingregels voor productiesector worden opnieuw bekeken

    A lively policy debate in Suriname’s National Assembly has put fiscal regulations for domestic production under the spotlight, with Finance and Planning Minister Adelien Wijnerman confirming that the government is conducting a comprehensive review of existing tax rules impacting local manufacturing and industry. The review covers import duty frameworks for raw materials and intermediate goods, as well as key segments of the country’s value-added tax (VAT) system, responding to cross-party calls to create more breathing room for local entrepreneurs and prevent fiscal policies from stifling production and economic diversification.

    The discussion was triggered by parliamentary questions about the import treatment of semi-finished goods. Minister Wijnerman explained that Suriname’s 1997 Raw Materials Decree originally granted full import duty exemptions for raw and auxiliary materials used in domestic production processes. A 2021 amendment narrowed the official definition of eligible raw and auxiliary materials, resulting in semi-finished goods losing their automatic exemption status. This change has created widespread practical ambiguity, Wijnerman acknowledged, because a single product can be classified as a semi-finished input in one production process and a finished end product in another.

    At present, applications for duty exemptions related to semi-finished goods are being processed under existing regulatory frameworks. In parallel, the Suriname Tax Authority is working alongside business associations and other key stakeholders to re-evaluate the entire Raw Materials Decree, with the goal of developing concrete proposals for potential regulatory adjustments.

    Parliamentarians across parties have pushed for regulatory changes that create more space for domestic production, particularly as Suriname seeks to grow its non-oil economic base alongside its expanding oil and gas sector. Mahinder Jogi, a National Assembly member from the ruling VHP party, argued that current rules disproportionately benefit large foreign firms, which receive significant tax incentives, while local enterprises face steep import duties and other operational costs. He also called for a review of VAT rates on inputs used in agricultural production.

    VHP faction leader Asis Gajadien echoed Jogi’s concerns, noting that while cracking down on misuse of tax exemptions is a necessary priority, overbroad measures often end up harming legitimate, law-abiding production companies. Gajadien emphasized that policymakers should take a sector-by-sector approach to identify which imported intermediate inputs are truly critical to supporting domestic manufacturing.

    Other parliamentarians joined the call for broader pro-production reforms, including proposals to eliminate or cut import duties and VAT on agricultural machinery and other core production inputs, as well as improve local businesses’ access to affordable capital. Lawmakers broadly agreed that Suriname cannot make meaningful progress toward economic diversification if fiscal policy increases the cost of essential production inputs for domestic manufacturers, making local production uncompetitive.

    The debate later shifted to Suriname’s controversial export retention regulation, which requires exporters to repatriate 35% of their export earnings. Gajadien questioned the legal basis of the policy, warning that unilaterally imposed government measures can inflict lasting damage on private businesses and the broader national economy.

    In contrast, NDP faction leader Rabin Parmessar highlighted the inherent tension between government financial support for local sectors and the outflow of export earnings abroad. “Money earned with support from the Surinamese economy should ultimately flow back to that economy in some form,” he argued, though he added that any such measure requires a clear statutory foundation and must be developed in consultation with affected industries.

    Minister Wijnerman pushed back against claims that the retention policy lacks legal grounding, explaining that the Foreign Exchange Commission issued a general order for the measure under the framework of the 1947 Foreign Exchange Regulation Act. She added that adjustments to the policy have already been discussed with the Central Bank of Suriname and relevant industry stakeholders.

    Wijnerman also confirmed that the current reform trajectory extends beyond the Raw Materials Decree: the country’s entire VAT system is also part of the ongoing government review. The minister committed to bringing all proposals put forward by National Assembly members to her team of policy experts to assess what regulatory changes are feasible.

    Responding to criticism that multinational corporations receive more generous tax benefits than smaller domestic Surinamese firms, Wijnerman noted that the incentives for large companies stem from legally approved bilateral agreements. Any changes to these arrangements would require a careful review of the existing legal framework, she said, adding that the government’s core policy objective remains stimulating domestic production, which includes reviewing tax benefits to level the playing field.

    Parmessar cautioned against reopening already finalized agreements with foreign investors, warning that altering existing commitments could erode confidence among potential future investors and damage Suriname’s reputation as a stable investment destination.

    In response, Jogi clarified that his call for reform does not seek to revoke existing benefits for multinationals. Instead, he argued, domestic Surinamese firms should be given access to comparable competitive incentives to produce and invest. “Local enterprises are the backbone of our economy,” Jogi said, “and policy must explicitly prioritize their needs moving forward.”

  • PM Denies Acting Alone on BTL-Speednet Deal Rejection

    PM Denies Acting Alone on BTL-Speednet Deal Rejection

    On August 19, 2026, Belize Prime Minister John Briceño found himself at the center of two overlapping political controversies tied to the country’s telecommunications sector, pushing back against accusations of unilateral decision-making and rejecting growing trade union demands for leadership changes at state-linked telecom provider Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL).

    The first dispute centers on the scrapped planned acquisition of rival telecom operator Speednet by BTL. Recent public speculation has claimed that Briceño personally blocked the deal without consulting his full Cabinet, moving before ministers could hold a formal vote on the proposal. During a press question-and-answer session with reporters, Briceño denied these claims outright, stating that the decision to abandon the acquisition at its current stage was a collective call made by Cabinet. While he emphasized that all internal Cabinet discussions are protected by confidentiality rules and declined to share detailed deliberations, he confirmed that he did not make the final choice independently. Briceño also framed the cancellation as the most prudent policy move for Belize at this time.

    Briceño also addressed the aggressive public statement released by Speednet following the deal’s rejection, which many political observers have interpreted as a veiled threat to the government and market stability. The Prime Minister pushed back against this reading, noting that Speednet’s statement acknowledged public calls for increased competition in Belize’s telecom sector and committed the company to competing openly in the market. He argued the response was not a threat, but simply a signal that Speednet would position itself to take advantage of the open competition Belizean consumers have demanded.

    When questioned about existing regulatory measures overseen by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), Briceño clarified long-standing regulatory rules governing the sector. He explained that the existing Statutory Instrument (SI) only caps BTL’s ability to raise prices, a rule aligned with public demands to keep telecom costs affordable for consumers, and does not restrict any operator from lowering prices to compete. He also noted that the current regulatory framework aligned with a prior court ruling that mandated open competition in Belize’s telecom market, a decision that came after the opposition challenged an exclusive contract awarded to Speednet.

    The second controversy pits the Briceño administration against Belize’s major trade unions, which have issued a set of demands including the immediate resignation of BTL Chairman Markhelm Lizarraga, alongside a 90-day deadline for the government to meet their requests, which also include changes to PUC leadership and enacting long-pending legislation. Unions have claimed that Lizarraga and the BTL board acted against the public interest in pursuing the Speednet acquisition.

    Briceño defended Lizarraga and the full BTL board, arguing that they have committed no wrongdoing. He pointed out that the board had not actually approved the acquisition, only voted to conduct additional due diligence to assess the feasibility of a purchase, and that no final decision to move forward with the deal had ever been made. Rejecting the union’s consensus that the chairman violated public trust, Briceño said he simply does not agree with their assessment.

    When asked whether the government would comply with the full slate of union demands, Briceño said only that the administration would review the requests. Pressed on whether the government would consider adding union representation to BTL’s board to create a tripartite governance structure, the Prime Minister said he had not yet made a decision on the proposal and declined further comment. When asked if BTL would withdraw its pending regulatory application before the PUC, Briceño said he had no information on the matter before ending the press session.

    As the 90-day deadline set by unions ticks down, political uncertainty remains high in Belize. Questions linger over whether the Briceño administration will ultimately concede to union pressure or maintain its current position, and whether unions will move forward with mass mobilization and public protests if their demands are not met. Local political observers continue to monitor developments closely as the situation evolves.

  • Deal Dead, But BTL Could Still Pay the Price

    Deal Dead, But BTL Could Still Pay the Price

    Nearly two years from now, the proposed merger between telecommunications providers BTL and Speednet has been called off entirely, but the fallout from the failed acquisition could still leave BTL facing significant market challenges, according to former Public Utilities Commission (PUC) chairman John Avery.

    Avery, who opposed the planned acquisition from its inception, calling it legally invalid, argues that a lingering regulatory measure imposed amid the merger review has put the incumbent telecommunications provider in a precarious competitive position. The regulatory order, known as a statutory instrument (SI), freezes all of BTL’s existing rates for a three-year period, leaving the company unable to adjust its pricing even as competitors move to capture market share.

    PUC has long classified BTL as a dominant market provider, a designation that remains in place even after the collapse of the Speednet deal. Under that status, the company already faces heightened regulatory scrutiny of all pricing decisions, but the three-year rate freeze adds an extra layer of constraint that runs counter to existing telecommunications law, Avery says.

    “The law is clear that dominant providers retain the ability to adjust their rates to match changing market conditions, but this SI overrides that provision by locking prices in place for three years,” Avery explained in an interview transcript from an evening television news broadcast. “If rival licensed providers choose to cut their prices to attract new customers, BTL cannot respond in kind. That leaves the company completely unable to defend its existing customer base if competitors decide to exploit this vulnerability.”

    Beyond the inability to match competitor pricing, the rate freeze also slows BTL’s ability to respond to broader market shifts. Any new service package, pricing plan or updated offering the company wants to roll out must first go through a full PUC approval process, delaying the company’s ability to adapt to changing consumer demand and industry trends.

    Avery says the regulatory measure was never justified, even when the acquisition was still under consideration. The designation of BTL as a dominant provider and subsequent rate freeze was only implemented to ease public fears that the merged company would act as a monopoly and engage in predatory price gouging, he argues. Now that the merger has been canceled, the unnecessary rate restriction violates existing telecommunications legislation and should be withdrawn immediately.

    Avery is calling on BTL to lobby PUC leadership to repeal the SI, replacing the rigid three-year freeze with a standard, formula-based rate review framework that aligns with existing law and supports healthy market competition. “Regulators should not be setting static prices in this market,” he noted. “The law makes clear that market forces should drive pricing, with appropriate oversight for dominant providers – not arbitrary freezes that distort competition.”

  • Parmessar vraagt harde cijfers over illegaal verblijf en toelatingsbeleid

    Parmessar vraagt harde cijfers over illegaal verblijf en toelatingsbeleid

    Rabin Parmessar, parliamentary faction leader of Suriname’s National Democratic Party (NDP), has put forward a series of demands to the Surinamese government targeting gaps in the country’s immigration and labor enforcement regime. Speaking during a Tuesday plenary session of the National Assembly, Parmessar called for full three-year statistical data on unauthorized foreign residency and pushed for a new mandatory health insurance requirement for all foreign visitors staying in the nation.

    Parmessar opened his address by arguing that current enforcement of Suriname’s entry and residency policies falls far short of what is needed to protect public interests. He claimed that thousands of foreign nationals are currently residing in Suriname without valid residence or work permits, and called on the administration to provide clear public clarification on the country’s formal entry policy, including how authorities track incoming travelers, their stated purpose of visit, and the duration of their stay.

    The NDP leader emphasized that the policy framework must strike a reasonable balance: while legitimate tourists should be able to enter Suriname without unnecessary bureaucratic barriers, the country cannot afford to maintain a fully hands-off, laissez-faire approach to immigration regulation. To build a clear picture of the scale of unauthorized residency, Parmessar is requesting granular data from the Surinamese Immigration Service covering foreign entry flows and residency patterns over the past three years, including specific counts of visitors who have overstayed their permitted residency periods.

    Parmessar tied his call for stricter oversight to growing public concerns around public safety and neighborhood disruption linked to unregistered residents. He specifically cited increases in petty theft, unregulated prostitution, and traffic safety risks caused by unregistered foreign nationals operating electric bicycles, particularly in the northern district of the capital Paramaribo. Notably, however, the faction leader did not present empirical data to quantify the connection between unauthorized residency and these social issues during his address to the assembly.

    One of Parmessar’s concrete policy proposals is a mandate requiring all foreign nationals entering Suriname to hold valid health insurance for the full duration of their stay. He argued that this requirement is necessary to prevent the Surinamese public from being forced to cover uncompensated medical costs incurred by foreign visitors during their time in the country. “If we do not put this requirement in place, we as a country will end up footing the bill for their medical care,” he explained.

    Beyond residency regulation, Parmessar is also demanding answers on how authorities enforce work permit rules, noting that many unregistered foreign residents are also employed in Suriname without holding both valid residence and work authorization. He has asked not only for aggregated data on unauthorized work, but also for a concrete government plan to strengthen enforcement actions against violations of immigration and labor rules.

    “What exactly is the Immigration Service doing to address this issue?” Parmessar asked, arguing that authorities need to improve end-to-end tracking of arrivals, departures, and individuals who remain in the country long-term without formal status. He concluded by stressing that the government can no longer allow the situation of widespread unauthorized residency to continue unaddressed, repeating his calls for enhanced border controls, full transparency around the true scale of unauthorized residency, and targeted policy interventions to reduce violations of the country’s residency and labor regulations.

  • PM Briceño Pressed to Block Mira and Marin’s Return to Cabinet

    PM Briceño Pressed to Block Mira and Marin’s Return to Cabinet

    As of August 19, 2026, political pressure is mounting in Belize against Prime Minister John Briceño, with the country’s Public Service Union (PSU) demanding a firm public pledge that two former ministers, Oscar Mira and Florencio Marin Jr., will never be reappointed to the Cabinet.

    Dean Flowers, president of the PSU, launched a scathing rebuke of elected officials who he claims break their oaths of office with impunity, arguing that Briceño now faces a critical test to demonstrate that accountability begins at the highest levels of his own administration. Under Belizean law, all 26 elected members of the House of Representatives are legally bound to swear an oath to faithfully uphold and defend the nation’s constitution and laws, and to commit to transparent governance that holds actors who betray the public trust accountable.

    Flowers questioned the sincerity of these widespread pledges, arguing that many elected officials disregard their oaths without remorse, treating the voting public as gullible. He pressed Briceño to issue an immediate public confirmation that Mira and Marin Jr., who he said have already betrayed the public interest, will be permanently barred from returning to any Cabinet position.

    Beyond the Cabinet reappointment fight, the PSU has also launched a direct challenge to Belize’s Auditor General Maria Rodriguez over the ongoing issue of destroyed public documents. Rodriguez has publicly alleged that sitting public officers have systematically shredded important official records and even blocked her team from accessing office spaces to conduct audits. Under Section 13(4) of Belize’s Finance and Audit Reform Act (FARA), the Auditor General is granted explicit legal authority to file formal complaints against offending officers with relevant oversight bodies.

    Flowers is now demanding clear answers from Rodriguez about what concrete action she has taken to hold bad actors accountable. Specifically, he has asked how many formal complaints she has submitted to the Public Service Commission to pursue disciplinary action — up to and including termination — for officers involved in destroying records, as well as how many criminal referrals she has sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions to pursue charges under the Criminal Code and other relevant legislation. Flowers criticized Rodriguez for focusing on media statements rather than exercising the legal powers granted to her office, noting that she has recently highlighted her communications with a human rights activist who now serves as attorney general.

    When reached for comment, Rodriguez told reporters that she has filed formal complaints multiple times in the past, but those submissions have resulted in no meaningful disciplinary or legal action against the involved officers.

    This report is a transcribed version of an evening television news broadcast, with Kriol-language remarks standardized to written spelling for clarity.