At the recent EITI Global Conference held in Brussels on October 8 and 9, Suriname’s Minister of Natural Resources David Abiamofo secured a historic election as alternate board member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) for the 2026–2029 term, marking a major milestone for the South American nation as it prepares to launch large-scale offshore oil production.
Abiamofo will serve alongside Guyana’s Minister Vickram Bharrat, who takes on the role of full regional board member, to represent all EITI-implementing countries across Latin America and the Caribbean. Crucially, the election is not a personal appointment: Abiamofo was selected to represent the entire regional bloc of EITI participating nations, and the pair will collectively advance the region’s priorities in global decision-making focused on transparency and accountability across the oil, gas, and mining sectors.
The EITI operates as a global multi-stakeholder partnership dedicated to opening up the extractive industries. To ensure fair and regional representation on its international governing board, EITI divides all implementing member countries into six regional blocs, each entitled to one full board member and one alternate. The initiative brings together national governments, private extractive companies, and civil society organizations to build public trust by disclosing complete data on natural resource revenues and how those funds are managed.
For Suriname, Abiamofo’s new position carries particularly strategic significance. The country is currently in the final stages of preparation for large-scale commercial offshore oil extraction, and the board role creates unique opportunities to share regional experiences, advocate for Caribbean and Latin American interests on the global stage, and access best practices for transparent resource governance. Abiamofo already serves as Suriname’s national EITI Champion, leading domestic implementation of the initiative’s global transparency standards.
The Brussels conference also marked a broader leadership transition for EITI. Former Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs Maria van der Hoeven was elected as the initiative’s new board chair, succeeding Helen Clark, who stepped down from the role after her term concluded. Leadership elections and board formation were held in pre-conference working sessions ahead of the main global gathering.
In additional recognition for Suriname’s EITI work, national EITI coordinator Novella Alcantra-Majana received an Honourable Mention at the EITI Chair Awards, honoring her relentless efforts to advance EITI implementation across the country. Outgoing chair Helen Clark personally presented the special recognition.
Suriname’s full delegation to the Brussels conference included Abiamofo, Alcantra-Majana, Dimitri Tjon Sie Fat (representing civil society group Projekta on the national Multi-Stakeholder Group), Michiel Raafenberg (representing Rosebel Gold Mines and the national private sector on the Multi-Stakeholder Group), and Clyde Griffith.
Looking ahead to the 2026–2029 term, Abiamofo’s election secures Suriname a seat at the table for regional representation in EITI’s global governing structure for the next three years. The new role is expected to deepen international cooperation for Suriname and strengthen national implementation of global extractive transparency commitments.