VHP Assembly Member Ameerani Jarbandhan has formally requested President Jennifer Simons to provide clarifications regarding Suriname’s alarming surge in consumer prices, as documented in recent statistical reports. In an official correspondence dated December 1st, the parliamentarian cited data from the General Statistics Bureau (ABS) revealing that retail prices in October 2025 were 11.9% higher compared to the same period in 2024.
The statistical breakdown reveals particularly dramatic increases in specific sectors: (para)medical services experienced an unprecedented 115.7% price surge, while goods and services collectively rose by 21.5%. Children’s clothing prices increased by 20.2%, followed closely by bread, rolls, and snacks at 19.9%. Transportation services climbed by 15.3%, with housing, maintenance, repairs, and utilities rising by 14.6%.
Jarbandhan emphasized the continuous nature of these price escalations and their direct impact on household economies and societal welfare. She notably contrasted the current figures with May 2025’s 5.6% year-over-year inflation rate, highlighting the accelerated pace of recent economic deterioration.
The assembly member posed three critical questions to the president:
1. Root Cause Analysis: Jarbandhan seeks clarification regarding the fundamental drivers behind the recent inflationary spike, specifically requesting input from the Minister of Economic Affairs, Entrepreneurship, and Technological Innovation.
2. Economic Impact Assessment: She questions whether the government acknowledges that current currency devaluation effectively constitutes ‘purchasing power theft’ that undermines citizen economic stability.
3. Policy Response: The legislator demands details about concrete measures the administration plans to implement to prevent further price increases and stabilize the economic situation.
Copies of the formal inquiry have been concurrently delivered to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Entrepreneurship, and Technological Innovation for coordinated response.