During Tuesday’s plenary session of Suriname’s National Assembly (De Nationale Assemblée, DNA), two top opposition and ruling party faction leaders have issued an urgent call for the Surinamese government to upgrade public communication around the ongoing avian influenza (bird flu) outbreak and clarify the legal and scientific justifications for restrictive measures implemented against local poultry operations.
VHP faction leader Asis Gajadien and NDP faction leader Rabin Parmessar both raised pointed concerns over gaps in the government’s information dissemination strategy, with Gajadien pushing for full disclosure of the scientific research findings that have shaped current regulatory action.
Gajadien emphasized that protecting public health must remain the top priority for all government response efforts, but stressed that any restrictive measures targeting poultry businesses must be rooted in clear statutory frameworks and robust, verified scientific research. He told the assembly that multiple poultry farm operators have shared reports that recent government interventions were carried out before official laboratory test results for suspected infections were made available.
In response to these claims, Gajadien has formally requested the government to outline in detail exactly which research findings underpin the current bird flu control measures, and what specific legal authority the administration is relying on to enforce these actions. He made clear that his request for clarification is not intended to question the importance of public health protections, but rather to confirm that all government decision-making has followed a fair, rigorous due process.
For his part, Parmessar focused his remarks on widespread anxiety and uncertainty that has already spread among the general public. He noted that large segments of the population lack even basic, accessible information about bird flu: including where the virus has been detected in Suriname, and what risks it may pose to consumers who buy and eat chicken products. Parmessar is calling on the government to deliver clear, plain-language explanations of what the current outbreak means for ordinary shoppers, and outline what simple precautionary steps consumers can take to protect themselves.
The NDP leader also addressed emerging reports that government authorities have ordered culling of chicken flocks at affected poultry farms. He has asked for full details on how the culling process is being carried out, and what standardized protocols are being followed to ensure it is conducted humanely and effectively. Parmessar concluded that broad, easy-to-understand public outreach is an urgent necessity to eliminate unnecessary uncertainty both among consumers and the small business owners that operate Suriname’s poultry sector.