On Tuesday, July 29, Genevievre Jordan, a member of the National Assembly representing the ABOP party, formally called on the Surinamese government to provide clarifications regarding newly tightened security and customs controls at the key Stolkertsijver checkpoint, a critical entry and transit point for travel to the eastern part of the country. Lawmaker Jordan told the plenary session that the abrupt implementation of the stricter control measures has sparked widespread anxiety and disruption among cross-border travelers and commercial bus operators who service routes to eastern Suriname.
Jordan shared that she has received multiple on-the-ground reports of detentions of travelers at the checkpoint and widespread confiscation of personal goods, most notably pre-packed food parcels and other staple food items carried by visitors. Beyond detentions and seizures, bus drivers servicing the route have been formally notified that they face imprisonment if they are found transporting any passengers without valid travel or residency documentation.
The assembly member has raised significant questions over the legality and practicality of this new policy framework, arguing that verifying passenger travel and identification documents falls outside the scope of responsibility for private bus operators. “Document checks are the explicit mandate of the national Migration Service, not private transport workers,” Jordan emphasized to government representatives during the session. She further stressed that the government cannot roll out intensive new control measures and asset seizure policies without first providing clear, widespread public guidance on the updated rules that are now in effect. Jordan called on the administration to improve its policy communication practices with the general public ahead of implementing any new regulatory changes.
Acting on behalf of residents of the Marowijne district, the region most affected by the checkpoint controls, and the bus operator community that maintains critical transit links to the area, Jordan has formally urged the government to revisit its current approach to controls at Stolkertsijver. She advocated for protecting the fundamental right of residents and travelers to move freely across the country and reach their destinations without unnecessary bureaucratic or regulatory barriers.
“When policymakers design new rules and implement new regulatory measures, they have an obligation to communicate those changes clearly and completely to the public,” Jordan stated. She also emphasized that the seizure of personal food items from travelers during these controls is completely unacceptable, calling for an immediate review of this practice.