In a significant development for Suriname’s public transportation sector, President Jennifer Simons has brokered a comprehensive agreement with the Private Bus Owners Organization (PLO) following high-stakes negotiations at the Cabinet of the President on Wednesday. The breakthrough talks yielded concrete solutions addressing long-standing financial and operational challenges that have plagued the nation’s transport system.
The discussions, characterized by both parties as open and constructive, resulted in two major commitments: the immediate disbursement of long-overdue subsidies to bus operators and the establishment of a special commission tasked with developing sustainable, long-term improvements for the sector. PLO Chairman John Mahadewsing presented multiple solution models during the negotiations, focusing specifically on three critical pain points: the severely aging bus fleet, outdated fare structures, and chronic financial difficulties facing bus operators.
Demonstrating the administration’s commitment to swift action, President Simons personally contacted the Ministry of Finance and Planning during the meeting to initiate the subsidy payment process. This direct intervention has bolstered confidence that outstanding subsidy funds will be disbursed this week or next at the latest, according to reports from Suriname’s Communication Service.
The newly established commission will bear responsibility for crafting a detailed development plan aimed at creating a more future-proof public transportation system. This initiative seeks to balance the interests of both bus operators and passengers while addressing systemic sustainability challenges.
Notably, Mahadewsing explicitly ruled out any threat of transport strikes or disruptive actions, assuring citizens that ‘society need not worry.’ He characterized the negotiations as exceptionally positive and forward-looking, expressing cautious optimism about the implementation of the agreed measures. The chairman emphasized that the agreement establishes a foundation for incremental improvements that will benefit both the transportation sector and the broader society.