Surinamese President Jennifer Simons has declared that King Willem-Alexander’s state visit to Suriname has inaugurated a transformative phase in bilateral relations between the two nations. Speaking at a press conference in Commewijne, Simons emphasized that future ties must be founded upon principles of equality, mutual respect, and psychological independence rather than historical dependencies.
The three-day royal visit, which concluded recently, demonstrated Suriname’s confident trajectory in shaping its national future while signaling the Netherlands’ recognition that it must adopt a fundamentally new approach toward its former colony. President Simons articulated that while the 1975 independence granted constitutional sovereignty, the nation must now pursue ‘psychological independence’—liberating itself from patronage mentality, dependency thinking, and historical sensitivities that have long strained bilateral relations.
‘Suriname stands on its own feet, with its distinct identity and unique challenges. The Netherlands must respect this reality, while Suriname must project this self-assurance confidently,’ Simons stated during the address.
The president characterized the state visit as both a symbolic and practical reboot, describing how both nations ‘unpacked a new package’ that establishes framework for a mature relationship moving forward. ‘We progress as two friends with a shared history, but with a future where we support each other as equal partners,’ she explained, noting that both countries must learn to operate within this redefined dynamic.
While welcoming cooperation in education, culture, economic development, river management, and infrastructure, Simons clarified that such collaboration must exclusively occur through modalities that strengthen Suriname’s autonomy. The signed cooperation documents between ministerial departments and the presence of a substantial Dutch business delegation during the visit were cited as concrete steps toward this new partnership model.
A particularly symbolic moment occurred along the Suriname River, where both nations metaphorically ‘laid the burdens of the past upon the waters,’ followed by calls for pragmatic, businesslike cooperation without guilt or inferiority complexes from either side.
Looking ahead, Suriname plans to continue discussions with the Netherlands in coming months regarding visa procedure reforms and humane treatment of applicants, educational exchanges at vocational and university levels, cultural collaboration and heritage preservation, economic development opportunities, and improved flight connectivity with reasonable pricing.