On 20 October, Suriname’s Minister of Transport, Communication and Tourism Raymond Landveld formally notified Wendy Jap-A-Joe that her term as Director of the Telecommunications Authority Suriname (TAS) has reached its legal end date. In an official notice dated the same day, Landveld ordered Jap-A-Joe to immediately hand over all administrative responsibilities entrusted to her during her tenure. The TAS Board of Commissioners has been tasked with ensuring uninterrupted operations and leadership of the regulatory body through the transition period.
The notification, bearing reference number MIN-SEC 1582-26, references the presidential resolution that appointed Jap-A-Joe to the role in October 2021. Per the terms of that appointment, her five-year term concluded on 20 October 2026. Minister Landveld emphasized that upholding strong governance and uninterrupted service delivery from TAS remain top priorities, and has directed the Board of Commissioners to immediately put arrangements in place for the authority’s interim leadership in full compliance with existing legal frameworks.
Landveld cited Article 4.2 of the Telecommunications Facilities Act, which mandates an immediate handover of administrative duties to prevent any disruption to TAS operations. The minister’s statement expresses confidence that Jap-A-Joe will cooperate fully and act with professional integrity to guarantee the continuity of core activities throughout the leadership transition.
Copies of the official notification have been circulated to President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, Vice President Gregory Rusland, and the full TAS Board of Commissioners for their awareness. Earlier the same day, the Board of Commissioners had already released a public statement confirming that Jap-A-Joe no longer holds authorization to represent TAS as Director, sign official documents on the authority’s behalf, or approve payments and work contracts effective 20 October. The board confirmed that her five-year statutory appointment expired by operation of law on the scheduled date.
Landveld’s formal notification marks the official confirmation from the responsible government ministry that a handover of leadership duties is required. As of this update, no official announcement has been made regarding the identity of Jap-A-Joe’s permanent successor.