After a year-long preparation and transition process, Aristo Kelly has formally taken over the role of Acting Director of the Housing Directorate at Suriname’s Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing (Sozavo), effective June 15. The official appointment was formalized in a public circular issued by Minister Diana Pokie, marking the completion of a recruitment and onboarding process launched more than 12 months prior.
The Sozavo ministry is structured around two core directorates: one focused on social affairs, and the other dedicated to housing policy and implementation. Before Kelly’s appointment was finalized, Sherwin Valies, the serving Director of Social Affairs, held the acting position for the housing directorate in accordance with the ministry’s existing organizational rules. Following the publication of Minister Pokie’s circular, Valies formally transferred all acting responsibilities to Kelly this month.
Kelly confirmed that he had already been carrying out the directorate’s leadership duties on a de facto basis for an extended period. Dating back to July 18, 2025, he joined the Housing Directorate as a senior policy advisor, working closely with Deputy Minister Danielle van Windt to build familiarity with the role and prepare for full leadership. “Over the past year, I have served as a policy advisor within the Housing Directorate, and I have already performed the director’s role in practice. Working alongside Deputy Minister Danielle van Windt, I have gained a comprehensive understanding of government administrative processes. Now that my appointment is formally complete, I can officially take on this responsibility,” Kelly stated in remarks following the announcement.
Bringing more than a decade of private sector experience to the government role, Kelly holds a Master’s degree in International Business from Maastricht University in the Netherlands. Prior to his government appointment, he also worked as a lecturer in business administration and a graduation supervisor at the FHR School of Business. For his tenure leading the housing directorate, Kelly has laid out a clear agenda centered on upgrading the department’s operations and expanding access to housing for Surinamese people. “My core goal is to make it easier for people across Suriname to plan for home ownership as part of their long-term lives,” he said.
According to Kelly, the directorate has already achieved one key milestone in advancing its modernization: the full rollout of digital services. Surinamese residents can now apply for housing subsidies and register for housing allocation through a new online portal, without needing to visit a government office in person.
Looking ahead, Kelly has outlined five key priorities for his acting term. First, he will drive further professionalization of the entire directorate to streamline operations and improve service delivery. Second, he plans to implement a more effective, targeted strategy to address the country’s persistent housing shortage. Third, he will work to place the revolving fund managed by the Suriname Housing Foundation on a stable, financially sustainable footing. Fourth, he will strengthen the institutional capacity of the Housing Foundation to allow it to resume independent large-scale housing construction projects. Finally, he will prioritize greater transparency and public communication between the directorate and the Surinamese people it serves.
“I am confident that these steps will ensure every person in Suriname has the opportunity to plan and build their own home,” Kelly said. Under his leadership, he added, the Housing Directorate will evolve into a modern, professionally managed public institution that can better meet the growing demand for affordable housing across the country.