On September 21 each year, the Progressive Reform Party (VHP) of Suriname pauses to honor the birth anniversary of its late founder and first chair, mr. Jagernath Lachmon — a towering figure whose legacy is deeply woven into the country’s modern political history. Lachmon’s name has become inseparable from Suriname’s long-standing political mission of reconciliation, tolerance, and national unity, values that guided every step of his decades-long public service career.
Throughout his time in public life, Lachmon worked tirelessly to build a Suriname where people from diverse ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds could coexist peacefully, and collaborate to build a stronger, more prosperous future for the entire nation. His vision of a unified multi-ethnic society gained formal national recognition in 2020, when the date of his birth was enshrined into Suriname’s law. Following a formal request from VHP’s national executive board, a resolution adopted on September 17, 2020 designated September 21 — Lachmon’s birth date — as the National Day of Reconciliation and Unity. The resolution explicitly emphasizes that reconciliation and national connection are core, foundational pillars for Suriname’s future as a multi-ethnic, multicultural democracy.
A striking and meaningful coincidence adds extra weight to this annual commemoration: September 21 also marks the International Day of Peace. The global call for peace on this date aligns perfectly with the core conviction that Lachmon championed throughout his entire life: that differences between communities do not need to be a source of division, but can instead strengthen national connection, foster mutual respect, and build collective national strength.
For the VHP and the people of Suriname, this annual commemoration is not merely a tribute to Lachmon the person, but a celebration of his enduring ideological legacy and his permanent call for reconciliation, unity, and mutual respect across all communities. Today, his life’s work and vision remain a timeless source of inspiration for current Surinamese society and for generations of Surinamese yet to come.