Suriname will formally conclude its national day of mourning on Friday evening with an ecumenical memorial service at the Cathedral Basilica, honoring the victims of the devastating Commewijne tragedy that claimed nine lives, including five children. The service, organized as a collective response to the nation’s deepest grief, will center on prayer, hymns, and moments of silence.
Bishop Karel Choennie of Paramaribo explained to Starnieuws that the interfaith approach was chosen to provide spiritual solace to a society grappling with unprecedented violence. “When a community faces a tragedy of this magnitude, people need rituals to process grief and sorrow,” stated Choennie. “This is especially true when an entire nation is in shock and words fail us.
The service will feature participation from religious leaders representing the Christian Committee of Churches (CCK) and the Interreligious Council in Suriname (IRIS). Together with attendees, they will pray for the eternal rest of the deceased, comfort for the bereaved families, and healing for the broader society.
Bishop Choennie emphasized that the Commewijne violence must be recognized as a national disaster. “This is something that has never occurred before in Suriname,” he noted. “It has left profound scars on our society and even gained international news coverage reaching as far as Australia. Precisely for this reason, it is crucial for us to come together as a nation.”
The memorial will follow a solemn and restrained format, incorporating prayer and hymns similar to traditional Surinamese rituals like dede oso or aiti dey. “These forms are deeply embedded in our culture,” the bishop emphasized, “and help people collectively bear and conclude their grief.”
The Cabinet of the President has committed to providing transportation services, deploying buses to enable family members and community residents to attend the service. This initiative aims to enhance accessibility to the gathering and create space for collective mourning.
The ecumenical service, scheduled from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM, officially concludes the national day of mourning, offering hope that this shared moment of reflection will contribute to healing, solidarity, and mutual care within Surinamese society.