On a solemn Friday session of Suriname’s National Assembly, lawmakers and political leaders gathered for an extraordinary memorial sitting to honor the sudden passing of Chan Santokhi, a respected former national president and sitting member of the legislative body. Opening the tribute, current National Assembly President Jennifer Simons delivered a heartfelt address reflecting on Santokhi’s unexpected death and the legacy he left behind for the Surinamese community.
Simons opened her remarks by acknowledging the rare and shocking nature of Santokhi’s passing: it is extremely uncommon for a sitting parliamentarian to die suddenly while still active in public service. The sudden loss, she noted, has forced people across the country to confront a harsh, unavoidable truth about the nature of life and mortality.
In her reflection, Simons articulated what she described as two seemingly contradictory but equally true truths about human existence. On one hand, all human life is inherently temporary; on the other, the impact and contributions a person makes to their community can endure long after they are gone. These ideas have occupied Simons’ thoughts deeply in the days since Santokhi’s passing, she shared.
The assembly president also shared personal reflections on her long working relationship with Santokhi, whom she collaborated with across multiple stages of their political careers. She first worked with him when he served as a government minister, and more recently as a fellow colleague in the National Assembly. Simons described their working dynamic as consistently professional, rooted in a shared commitment to advancing Suriname’s national interests, with no dramatic conflicts or extreme rifts even when their political views diverged.
It was precisely that commitment to professional cooperation, Simons emphasized, that allowed the two to work together effectively within the legislative framework despite any political disagreements. She admitted that the sudden absence of someone who was an active, visible participant in national public life just days before remains difficult to process for many in the political community and across the country.
Even amid the collective grief, Simons called on the Surinamese people and the National Assembly to demonstrate resilience in the face of loss. “Condolences and mourning are right and proper at this time, but we must move forward from this moment as a society,” she stated. “We will carry his memory with us as we continue our work.”