On May 2, Suriname’s Directorate of Public Green Space and Waste Management gathered to celebrate 45 years of advancing public environmental services, holding a solemn commemoration that centered gratitude for staff contributions and reaffirmed the agency’s core mission: building a cleaner, greener, and more livable nation for all Surinamese. The event also brought together leadership from national government, district authorities, and labor representatives to discuss plans for deeper collaboration and enhanced public service delivery moving forward.
Hugo Blanker, president of the ABPM workers’ union, opened remarks by noting that the directorate’s work is visible to Surinamese communities every single day. He emphasized that the agency has remained fully operational through decades of challenge solely thanks to the consistent dedication of its frontline and administrative staff. Looking ahead, Blanker stressed that all stakeholders share a collective responsibility to partner with the national ministry to drive sustained growth and improvement for the directorate.
Ruchsana Ilahibaks, District Commissioner for Central Paramaribo, congratulated the agency on reaching this major professional milestone, highlighting four and a half decades of unwavering commitment to keeping Suriname clean and well-maintained. She underscored that this critical work must continue for the benefit of future generations, and that progress depends on close, ongoing collaboration between the directorate and local communities. Ilahibaks also expressed gratitude for the directorate’s ongoing support for district initiatives, and confirmed that a new district commissariat will soon be established on the directorate’s premises to streamline local coordination.
A commemorative thanksgiving service was also held as part of the 45th anniversary celebrations. Interim Director Anwar Moenne extended formal recognition to all current and former staff who have committed their careers to keeping Suriname clean and livable over the past 45 years. Moenne reported that even during periods when routine maintenance faced severe resource pressures, the directorate has reversed declines, rebuilt operational capacity, and made its work increasingly visible and impactful across Surinamese society. He also highlighted growing community engagement with the directorate’s initiatives, noting that staff draw significant motivation from the direct support the agency receives from the national ministry.
Minister Stephen Tsang also attended the ceremony, sharing words of praise for the directorate and saying he was honored to take part in the special occasion. Tsang framed the directorate’s work as a core pillar of Suriname’s broader national development strategy, pointing out that a clean, well-maintained natural and built environment is a critical asset to grow the country’s tourism sector. He tied the agency’s mission to the national Krin Kondre clean country initiative, a program launched by the President of Suriname to advance national environmental improvement. The minister confirmed that collaboration between the national directorate and district commissioners will be intensified in coming months, allowing environmental and waste management work to be carried out more effectively across every region of the country.
Overall, the 45th anniversary commemoration centered two core themes: formal recognition of the tireless work of the directorate’s staff, and shared commitment to continuing to strengthen the agency in pursuit of its longstanding goal: maintaining a clean, green, and livable Suriname for all current and future residents.