A long-running high-profile labor conflict at Suriname’s state-owned energy utility Energiebedrijven Suriname (EBS) has entered a new phase, after EBS General Director Leo Brunswijk launched an appeal against a lower court ruling that favored Marciano Hellings, chair of the EBS employees’ union. The formal notice of appeal was officially served to Hellings on Tuesday, court documents confirm. In the notification, Brunswijk states that EBS leadership rejects the cantonal court’s earlier decision, which dismissed the utility’s request to terminate Hellings’ employment contract.
Per the terms outlined in the appeal notice, Hellings will remain temporarily relieved of his work duties while retaining full access to his regular salary and all medical benefits through the duration of the appellate process. The contentious dispute between EBS executive leadership and the union chair first emerged in July of the previous year, and has since grown into one of the most widely discussed labor controversies at any state-owned enterprise in Suriname. Prior to the cantonal court’s ruling, EBS had already lost previous procedural challenges brought before the Labor Inspectorate, marking the second consecutive setback for the utility in the conflict.
When contacted for comment by local outlet Starnieuws, Hellings responded calmly to the news of the appeal, saying he had fully anticipated the move from EBS leadership. “This doesn’t keep me up at night,” the union leader told reporters. He added that it had been clear for months that EBS intended to push the case to appellate court regardless of the lower court outcome.
Hellings also echoed a observation the cantonal judge made in the initial ruling: the conflict has primarily been driven by a single individual within EBS’s executive leadership. The union chair expressed full confidence in the appellate process, saying he expects the lower court’s ruling will be upheld. “I am convinced that when this case is heard on appeal, we will get the same outcome,” he said.
In additional comments, Hellings pointed out that the prolonged legal battle has already incurred substantial public costs, including fees for attorneys, court procedures and process servers. “The lawyer gets paid again, the process server gets paid, and all of that comes at the expense of state-owned NV EBS,” he noted.