The newly installed Supervisory Council (Raad van Toezicht) of Suriname’s Fish Inspection Institute (Viskeuringsinstituut, VKI) has publicly outlined a series of serious governance and financial shortcomings that preceded the departure of former director Juliette Colli-Wongsoredjo, triggering an independent external investigation into the state-run agency. The revelations, made public on April 24, 2026, follow weeks of internal scrutiny of the institute’s operations, after the new council took office in late January 2026. The council notes that all document and information requests issued over the preceding months were strictly aligned with its legal regulatory mandate, and the review uncovered multiple layers of dysfunction within the agency. Among the most serious issues identified are a total lack of transparency in financial management, and the absence of formally approved annual financial statements covering every year from 2021 to the present. Additional problems flagged include irregularities in the institute’s internal control systems, consistent non-compliance with required governance standards, and evidence pointing to potential conflicts of interest involving senior leadership. The council also confirmed that Colli-Wongsoredjo repeatedly failed to implement binding decisions issued by the supervisory body. Most notably, the council reported that Colli-Wongsoredjo returned large sums of money to VKI’s bank account, but has failed to provide a sufficient explanation for these transactions despite multiple formal requests. The investigation also uncovered long-term structural dysfunction at the agency: the previous Supervisory Council failed to operate in accordance with the institute’s statutory requirements for multiple years, creating a vacuum of oversight that allowed the issues to persist. Addressing claims about unapproved public disclosures, the council confirmed that its secretary has never shared information outside formal, procedurally compliant meetings with the president, in line with all governing rules. All findings collected to date have been documented in formal reports, which have served as the basis for launching an independent probe led by the Quick Scan Team and an external accounting firm. Ahead of the conclusion of the investigation, the council placed Colli-Wongsoredjo on paid mandatory administrative leave on April 23, 2026. The council emphasizes that this move was a temporary precautionary measure, designed solely to protect the continuity and institutional integrity of VKI’s operations, and to ensure the investigation can proceed without obstruction. Following the placement on leave, Colli-Wongsoredjo chose to resign from her position as director, a decision the council characterizes as a personal choice. The council reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to advancing transparency, strong governance, and protection of the interests of VKI and Suriname’s entire fishing sector. The current Supervisory Council, installed on January 26, 2026, is led by chair Emanuel Enjoem, with members Udo Karg, Mark Lall, Ajey Ramkisor, Farida Mentowidjojo, Sanduela Belong, and Rashly Resida (who serves as secretary). Local outlet Starnieuws confirms that only five of the seven council members attended the key meeting held at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries. The decision to place Colli-Wongsoredjo on mandatory leave was passed by three members: Enjoem, Resida, and Ramkisor, while the two other attending members, Karg and Lall, publicly dissented from the ruling.
Raad van Toezicht VKI wijst op ernstige tekortkomingen bij vertrek directeur
