On April 23, Lesley Valentijn, the paramount chief of the Matuari people, has formally notified the Surinamese government of rampant, unregulated illegal activity across the Matawai region, with the most severe violations occurring in the community’s protected forest reserve and along the upper banks of the Boven-Saramacca River.
In an official correspondence addressed to Harish Monorath, Suriname’s Minister of Justice and Police, the traditional governing authority reported that it has received consistent, multiple reports of unauthorized incursions over recent months. Outside actors are entering the restricted community territory without the explicit consent of the Matawai people to engage in poaching, unlicensed hunting, and illegal fishing, activities that directly threaten the region’s ecological balance and the community’s livelihoods.
Valentijn emphasized that the steady wave of incursions has created a growing climate of insecurity for local residents. Beyond the wildlife violations, the traditional authority also documented dozens of unauthorized vehicles and speedboats entering the region, all carrying out activities that have been described as “discreditable and unlawful.” The Matawai community is now calling on national law enforcement and government bodies to launch an urgent intervention to halt these activities and restore safety and order to their traditional lands.
In addition to requesting state action, the traditional Matawai governing authority has announced it will implement its own localized measures to curb unauthorized access. A key planned step is the installation of a barrier gate along the main access road to block unapproved entry into the protected area. According to Valentijn, any individual who still enters the territory without formal permission will be held fully accountable for any consequences that arise from their unauthorized presence.
The traditional leadership stressed that it, alongside the broader Matawai community, will not hesitate to penalize violators in accordance with established customary law that governs the region. Copies of the official letter have also been forwarded to Suriname’s Minister of Defense, the Minister of Regional Development, and the district commissioner of Boven-Saramacca to ensure all relevant governing bodies are aware of the escalating situation.