PARAMARIBO, Suriname – September 5, 2026 – Suriname has launched an innovative public-private partnership to expand visible policing and cut emergency response times in the heart of Paramaribo, with the first of five new police assistance and control posts opening on the parking grounds of the Ramada Hotel & Casino. The partnership was developed to address two longstanding barriers to public safety expansion: a widespread lack of suitable government-owned land for new infrastructure, and no allocated budget for police facility maintenance in the 2026 national fiscal plan.
The initiative forms the core of the first official ‘safety zone’ announced earlier by President Jennifer Simons. The designated security corridor stretches from the entertainment district along Sommelsdijckstraat to the Waterkant promenade adjacent to the Central Market, with five new police outposts planned across the area to increase officer presence. Justice and Security Minister Harish Monorath explained that the core goal of the project is to make policing more visible to residents, visitors and businesses, while drastically cutting response times to emergency calls in the busy downtown district. Ultimately, officials say the new network will help build greater public confidence in urban safety across Paramaribo’s city center.
Acar Mehdi, chief executive officer of Ramada Hotel & Casino, welcomed the partnership and emphasized the private sector’s commitment to supporting public safety goals. “We are always ready to support the government, particularly the Ministry of Justice and Security,” Mehdi stated. He also noted that the Turkish government places high priority on deepening bilateral collaboration with Suriname, adding that a large official Turkish delegation is scheduled to visit Suriname this November to mark the 50th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Minister Monorath expressed gratitude for the private sector’s willingness to collaborate on the public safety project, noting that the partnership reflects the government’s commitment to centering private sector initiative in solving pressing public challenges. He addressed public speculation that the location of the first outpost grants preferential treatment to Ramada Hotel & Casino, clarifying that the unusual public-private model was born of necessity rather than favoritism. “This is not a preferential arrangement. There is no reason to question why we placed it at Ramada’s parking lot: the government simply has almost no vacant suitable land left to use,” Monorath explained.
Beyond limited land availability, the minister added, the government also faces systemic challenges maintaining existing police infrastructure. “Second, we had to figure out how we would sustain these posts long-term,” he said. “Because in our budget, at least for 2026, there is no allocation for maintenance. That’s why we already see many existing police assistance and control posts across the country in deplorable condition.”
Monorath confirmed that the remaining four outposts across the safety zone will most likely also be located on privately owned land, with preliminary target locations including Wakapasi, the Tax Office building, Paramaribo’s historic downtown district, and the Waterkant near the Central Market. Once fully completed, the network is expected to transform public safety delivery in one of Paramaribo’s busiest tourist and commercial hubs.