Vertrekkend VS-ambassadeur Faucher ontvangt hoogste onderscheiding

In a formal ceremony at the Presidential Palace on January 27, 2026, Surinamese President Jennifer Simons conferred the Grand Ribbon in the Honorary Order of the Palm upon departing U.S. Ambassador Robert Faucher. The prestigious award recognized Faucher’s exceptional contributions to strengthening bilateral relations between Suriname and the United States throughout his diplomatic career.

President Simons highlighted Ambassador Faucher’s unique connection to Suriname, noting that his diplomatic journey both began and concluded in the South American nation. Faucher first served as a junior diplomat from 1986 to 1988, returned as Deputy Chief of Mission from 2002 to 2004, and ultimately completed his career as ambassador—marking a remarkable full-circle professional journey.

The Surinamese leader specifically acknowledged Faucher’s instrumental role in several key achievements: the reopening of the USAID office in Suriname after a forty-year absence, fostering institutional cooperation, advancing academic exchange programs, and facilitating high-level official visits between the two nations. His work supporting economic reforms within the framework of the IMF program also received presidential recognition.

Simons further expressed appreciation for Faucher’s dedication to highlighting the shared historical ties between Suriname and the United States. This included his efforts in establishing memorial monuments, particularly the Commewijne monument honoring 35 American diplomats and military personnel who perished in the 1943 Matapica plane crash. The president also recognized Faucher’s authored work, ‘Common Past and Shared Future,’ which documents the historical connections between the two countries.

In his acceptance address, Ambassador Faucher described the honor as both a personal privilege and a symbol of the enduring friendship between nations. Reflecting on his initial posting in 1986, he admitted he never anticipated returning as ambassador. Faucher characterized his recent three-year tenure as intensive and meaningful, noting significant bilateral progress in trade, security, education, and cultural cooperation.

Despite concluding his official duties, Faucher expressed his lasting connection to Suriname and confidence that the relationship between the two countries would continue to deepen in the coming years.