On May 7, Suriname President Jennifer Simons led a government delegation on an official working visit to the Upper Suriname region, where she held high-level talks with traditional leader Granman Albert Aboikoni centered on advancing inclusive growth for the Saamaka community. The discussions, hosted in the local settlement of Asidonhopo, focused on strengthening collaborative governance between the national government and indigenous traditional authorities, while addressing pressing challenges faced by local residents and unlocking new opportunities for sustainable regional development.
A key milestone of Simons’ visit was the official inauguration of new solar energy projects in the Goejaba and Langu areas. These installations have now brought 24-hour continuous electricity access to large swathes of Upper Suriname, closing a long-standing energy gap that held back local progress. During her address at the opening, President Simons underscored that reliable energy infrastructure is a foundational pillar for unlocking socioeconomic development across Suriname’s inland regions, creating the conditions for new businesses, improved services, and higher quality of life for local residents.
Beyond energy expansion, the visit delivered tangible progress for education and agricultural development in the Langu region. According to official updates from the Communication Service of Suriname, new school furniture was donated to the O.S. Makanti school, and a national school feeding program was officially launched to support student nutrition and attendance. To further boost local livelihoods, the country’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries has scheduled specialized training sessions for local community members focused on commercial chicken farming, equipping residents with new skills to generate income and strengthen local food security.
The meeting between President Simons and Granman Albert Aboikoni marked a continued push by the Suriname government to center partnership with traditional indigenous leadership in inland development planning, ensuring that regional growth aligns with the needs and priorities of local communities.