On Wednesday, the sixth iteration of Gran Mati, an annual civil-military community outreach operation, officially kicked off in Suriname, running through Saturday, August 29, 2026. Organized by the Suriname Ministry of Defense, the 2026 initiative is carried out in partnership with a network of local and international stakeholders, including defense and public health partners from the Netherlands and the United States. This year’s operation centers its activities on the underserved Marowijne District, delivering services directly to residents of the communities of Moengo and Albina. The formal opening ceremony was hosted at the Hubertus Waalijkschool in Moengo, marking the start of days of free support for local communities.
At the core of Gran Mati—whose name translates to “Great Friend” in the local language—is a mission to deliver sustainable, accessible support to marginalized local populations. Over the course of the operation, thousands of area residents will have access to no-cost basic healthcare services, specialized optical and dental care, and public health education, addressing gaps in routine care access that many in the rural district face. One of the operation’s opening images captures a military care provider checking a local woman’s blood pressure, illustrating the hands-on, community-centered model of the initiative.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Suriname Minister of Defense Uraiqit Ramsaran emphasized that true friendship is proven through action rather than empty words. He outlined that the strength of a national defense force extends far beyond military equipment and combat capabilities, rooted instead in the deep, trusting connection between the armed forces and the communities they serve. This commitment to community connection, he noted, is the founding principle of the annual Gran Mati operation.
“Gran Mati means ‘great friend,’” Ramsaran said during his remarks. “To me, a true friend proves themselves not just by what they say, but most of all by what they are willing to do for another person. Defense exists first and foremost to protect our country, our sovereignty, and our national interests. But the strength of defense is not determined only by its equipment or military capacity. That strength also lies in the bond with society, which our army stands ready to serve every single day. That is the core idea behind this annual civil-military operation.”
Ramsaran, who previously served as Minister of Social Affairs and Housing, highlighted that the operation’s community-focused mission holds personal meaning for him. He stressed that public policy cannot remain merely a document on paper; it must deliver tangible, positive change for individual people and families. He also noted that military personnel and their own families are integral members of the communities defense forces are tasked with protecting, making it a core responsibility of the institution to step into community support roles when it has the capacity to do so.
Beyond domestic community impact, the operation also serves as a living example of what intentional international collaboration can achieve, Ramsaran added. By pooling shared knowledge, on-the-ground experience, and operational capacity from partners across borders, Gran Mati unites stakeholders around a single unifying goal: improving lives for vulnerable community members.