A major infrastructure oversight has emerged at Tobago’s newly constructed ANR Robinson International Airport terminal, with the National Petroleum Company Ltd (NP) confirming that connecting fuel lines from the existing airport site to the new terminal will carry a price tag of $50 million. THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine recently verified the cost estimate, shedding light on a critical gap in the terminal’s construction: the new building was completed without any on-site fuelling infrastructure at all. In an interview with local media outlet Express, Augustine detailed that discussions with NP several months ago yielded the $50 million projection, adding that the national energy firm is currently debating whether it will absorb the full cost of the project. For Augustine and the Tobago House of Assembly, the project is far more than a basic construction fix: the regional body wants the new terminal to meet modern, efficient, and competitive standards that match or exceed peer airports across the Caribbean and broader global aviation network. The oversight, Augustine explained, is not an unforeseen mistake. He recalled that former THA Infrastructure Secretary Trevor James first flagged the need for integrated fuelling infrastructure back in 2022, when the ruling PNM Cabinet held a gathering in Tobago at the prime minister’s official residence. Despite the early warning, Augustine said, the THA’s input was sidelined, and construction proceeded without including this critical utility. “But of course, as usual, in 2022 the THA was ignored, our thoughts were not considered at the time and the terminal was built without that critical infrastructure there,” Augustine stated. Even with the past disregard for local input, Augustine emphasized that the THA remains committed to collaborating with Trinidad and Tobago’s central government to get the terminal fully and efficiently operational. He framed the airport as a key economic asset for Tobago, rather than just a transit hub for passengers. “Airports in of themselves are potentials for generating income; we have to see the airport as such and not just as a hub for planes to land and pick up people, but as an income-generating facility,” he said. The issue has now gained traction at the national level: Minister of Works and Infrastructure Jearlean John acknowledged the problem in a Monday interview with Express, confirming that the project will require design adjustments to address the fuelling gap. John shared that she shares concerns over the terminal’s current lack of fuelling capacity, and has scheduled a meeting with relevant officials later this week to map out a path forward. The full proposal to resolve the issue will be presented to the national Cabinet for consideration next week.
分类： politics
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Analysts call for Al-Rawi’s removal
A growing parliamentary controversy in Trinidad and Tobago has two leading political analysts publicly calling for major changes to the People’s National Movement (PNM) opposition bench in the Senate, centered on the fate of veteran Opposition Senator Faris Al-Rawi amid a formal privileges investigation.
The controversy traces back to last Friday, when Senate President Wade Mark launched a Privileges Committee probe into Al-Rawi and first-term Opposition Senator Janelle John-Bates. The investigation was triggered by a motion filed by Government Minister David Nakhid, who accused the pair of improperly assisting former Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh draft a witness statement for the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC), an act that allegedly constitutes interference with parliamentary committee work.
Currently, Al-Rawi himself sits as a member of the Privileges Committee, which is chaired by Mark and also includes Attorney General John Jeremie, Government Senator Darrell Allahar, and Independent Senator Michael Simon de la Bastide, SC. Ahead of Wednesday’s scheduled Senate sitting, local newspaper the Express has confirmed that an announcement replacing Al-Rawi on the investigating committee is expected, a standard procedural step given that the probe centers on his own conduct. If the committee ultimately finds the two senators culpable of misconduct, it will submit a formal finding to the full Senate for a vote. Under current Senate Standing Orders, any suspension handed down has no fixed term, with the length determined entirely by a plenary resolution.
Speaking to the Express, two independent political analysts have laid out stark differing but aligned calls for leadership action from PNM leader Pennelope Beckles, who has so far held off on a final decision regarding the pair’s future on the opposition bench.
Dr. Winford James, a veteran political observer, argued that Al-Rawi, a former Attorney General and Senior Counsel, should be removed permanently from the PNM’s Senate delegation, while John-Bates—whom he described as a political neophyte—should be granted leniency and spared disciplinary action. James framed the ongoing probe as a symptom of growing tit-for-tat polarization between the ruling government and the PNM opposition, which has already levied accusations of bias against House Speaker Jagdeo Singh. He emphasized that as a veteran political and legal figure, Al-Rawi should have recognized the risk his actions posed to John-Bates’ fledgling career. “He has been around a long time and he’s a senior man in the party and in the law. And he should have known better and not imperilled the political career of Ms John-Bates,” James explained. “I’m not saying that she’s guilty or she’s not guilty of some indiscretion. But I think she should be given a second chance because she represents a younger generation in the PNM.” James added that disciplinary action against John-Bates would likely backfire politically for Beckles, while noting that Al-Rawi has already had repeated opportunities in senior political roles. He also pushed back against claims that Beckles’ delay in announcing a decision is a sign of political weakness, framing it instead as a cautious, deliberate approach. Beyond the core controversy, James also highlighted what he called a persistent pattern of sidelining Tobago-based PNM politicians, pointing to the exclusion of Melanie Roberts-Radgman, who was not put forward for a Senate seat by the PNM Tobago Council.
In contrast, Dr. Maukesh Basdeo argued that retaining both Al-Rawi and John-Bates on the opposition bench is an untenable position for the PNM, pointing to documentary evidence that he says proves both are culpable. Basdeo noted that tracked changes embedded in Deyalsingh’s draft witness statement link most edits directly to Al-Rawi, a fact that was revealed during debate on the PAAC report, and that John-Bates has openly admitted her role in the process. Basdeo added that there is already a clear pattern of disruption stemming from the controversy: the Joint Select Committee (JSC) on National Security has already refused to sit with John-Bates as a member, and senior Government Minister Jearlean John publicly stated last week that government representatives will not participate in committee work alongside Al-Rawi. “This sets a clear pattern now that the operations of the committee system in Parliament will be affected by the Leader of the Opposition’s delayed response on dealing with this matter,” Basdeo warned. He echoed the procedural justification for Al-Rawi’s immediate removal from the Privileges Committee, noting that it is only natural for the senator to step aside given that the investigation concerns his own conduct.
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$350M PAYOUT AT T&TEC
A decades-long industrial dispute has reached a major milestone, as nearly $350 million in long-outstanding cost-of-living allowance (COLA) payments has been released to current and former workers of the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC), Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath has confirmed. The announcement came during a press interaction at the recent launch of a new solar power system for Angostura Holdings Ltd’s bitters bottling facility in Laventille’s Angostura House.
Padarath explained that the disbursement fulfills a commitment made by the Prime Minister several months prior to resolve backlogged COLA obligations covering the 2015 to 2025 period, noting that the process is currently moving forward as planned. He added that government officials have maintained consistent, open dialogue with the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU), the primary representative body for T&TEC’s workforce, throughout the settlement process.
“Over the last couple of months, we have paid out, I would say, close to $350 million in outstanding payments that were owed to T&TEC workers,” Padarath told reporters.
The minister framed the COLA settlement as a core component of broader government efforts to stabilize industrial relations at the state-owned utility, clear long-standing unpaid obligations, and implement structural restructuring for the organization. Ongoing negotiations are already underway to address bargaining agreements for current and future contract periods, he confirmed, adding that T&TEC’s day-to-day operations remain fully stable amid the changes.
“Morale is high in T&TEC. There are a lot of changes that are happening there, negotiations for the current period, and the outstanding ones will progress in the very near future. There is a good relationship with the OWTU, who is the majority trade union representative for T&TEC,” Padarath said. “We have seen significant improvements with respect to outstanding COLA and settlement of wages and so on. And therefore, we look towards the future.”
Contacted for verification, OWTU Second Vice-President Reesa Ramlogan-Jodha confirmed that disbursements are proceeding under a structured phased plan that includes both active T&TEC employees and former workers, including retirees. The rollout began late last year for current staff, with payments continuing through the early months of 2026, she explained.
“The payment would have been in one or two parts. Each part would have had tranches. So, in December 2025, January and February of 2026, active employees would have received what was outstanding,” Ramlogan-Jodha said.
Following the completion of payments to current staff, focus has now shifted to former employees, with disbursements scheduled for May, June, and July of 2025. By the end of July, all outstanding COLA obligations will be fully settled, she confirmed.
The COLA backlog is a decades-long industrial issue that has stretched back more than 10 years, Ramlogan-Jodha noted, explaining that the OWTU had repeatedly pushed previous T&TEC management teams to resolve the unpaid liability over the years. For much of that period, prior management administrations refused to even acknowledge that the payments were owed, a position that caused major delays in reaching any resolution.
“The then management would not even acknowledge that there was a payment outstanding to workers and former workers who would have fallen within that period. As far as they were concerned, there was nothing owed,” she said.
The turning point came following a change in government administration and a shift in T&TEC’s leadership, which brought a new, more collaborative approach to negotiations, Ramlogan-Jodha added. The new management team has been far more open to finding mutually acceptable solutions to outstanding worker issues.
While the COLA backlog is nearing resolution, it represents only one part of a broader set of outstanding industrial issues between the OWTU and T&TEC. Negotiations over wage agreements for the 2015–2017 and 2018–2020 contract periods are still active, Ramlogan-Jodha noted, adding that the union has formally requested to restart discussions and multiple negotiating sessions have already been held. Though no final deal has been reached, both sides have committed to continuing bilateral talks to find common ground.
For the 2015–2017 period, the Industrial Court previously issued a 0-0-0 wage ruling, which the OWTU appealed; the case is now back before the court. T&TEC has indicated it prefers to resolve both outstanding contract periods through direct negotiation, and if the parties can reach a voluntary agreement, the court case will be resolved accordingly, Ramlogan-Jodha said.
She emphasized that the union remains optimistic about ongoing talks, citing the marked improvement in collaborative relations with the current T&TEC administration. Progress has also been made on other outstanding collective bargaining issues, including field worker placement and overall employment conditions, with incremental advances recorded since the end of last year.
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Trump: Tijdelijke pauze voor Amerikaanse operatie in Straat van Hormuz
In a significant shift in US policy amid escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf, former President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Washington is temporarily halting its military operation to escort stranded commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. The pause, he says, is intended to create diplomatic space for finalizing a comprehensive peace agreement between the United States and Iran.
Trump made the announcement via his social media platform Truth Social, noting that the temporary suspension was agreed to “at the request of Pakistan and other nations” following what he called “major progress” in negotiations with Iranian representatives. He clarified that while the existing US blockade on Iranian ports remains fully in effect, the escort mission codenamed Project Freedom will be put on hold to allow negotiators to finalize and sign a formal agreement. As of Wednesday, Tehran has not issued an official public response to Trump’s announcement.
The announcement comes at a moment of rapidly intensifying friction across the Gulf region. In recent days, the US military confirmed it has destroyed multiple Iranian fast attack boats, cruise missiles, and drones. The United Arab Emirates also reported that its air defense systems have intercepted missile and drone attacks launched from Iran for the second consecutive day, while a commercial transiting vessel said it was struck by an unidentified projectile in the strait.
In parallel to the military escalations, Iran has rolled out new shipping regulations for vessels seeking passage through the strait. Under the new framework, ships receive updated transit rules via email from the newly established Persian Gulf Strait Authority. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also released a revised map expanding Iran’s declared maritime control area, issuing a warning that vessels must only use Iran-designated shipping corridors or face a “decisive response” if they deviate.
In Washington, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that the US has concluded its offensive military campaign against Iran, codenamed Operation Epic Fury. “We will not open fire unless we are attacked first,” Rubio stated, though he stressed that Iran will still face consequences for its attempts to assert exclusive control over the strategic waterway. “The Strait of Hormuz does not belong to Iran. They have no right to close passage, blow up ships, or lay mines,” he said, adding that allowing Iran to collect tolls for transit would set a dangerous precedent that could be replicated by other countries around the globe.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, carrying roughly one-fifth of global energy supplies. The waterway has been effectively closed to most commercial traffic since large-scale military operations between the US, Israel, and Iran began on February 28. After a ceasefire took effect in early April, the US imposed its own unilateral blockade to prevent vessels from entering or exiting Iranian ports.
The closure of the strait has already rippled through global markets, disrupting supply chains, pushing up crude oil and fertilizer prices, and stoking widespread fears of a looming global recession and expanded food insecurity.
Speaking to reporters earlier Tuesday, Trump argued that the combination of US military pressure and economic sanctions has forced Tehran to the negotiating table, despite its public rejection of talks with his administration. “Iran wants to make a deal,” Trump said. “What I don’t like is they talk to me with a lot of respect privately, then go on television and say they won’t talk to the president. They’re playing games. But let me be clear: they want a deal. Who wouldn’t? Their military capability has been destroyed, we can do whatever we want.”
Trump, who faces growing political pressure from rising consumer prices ahead of November midterm elections, dismissed Iran’s remaining military capacity as nothing more than the firing of “firecrackers.” When asked what actions from Iran would count as a ceasefire violation, he simply said, “They know what they shouldn’t do.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking from the Pentagon, added that the recent outbreaks of violence in the strait do not constitute a breach of the four-week-old ceasefire. “US forces do not need to enter Iranian territorial waters. We are not seeking a fight, but Iran cannot block innocent nations and their cargo in international waters,” Hegseth said. “The ceasefire is holding for the moment, but we are monitoring it very closely.”
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New 14-Member Cabinet Sworn In as Government Begins Fresh Term
Following a decisive landslide win in the April 30 general election that gave the ruling party 15 out of 17 parliamentary seats, Antigua and Barbuda has formally completed the formation of its new government, with 14 cabinet ministers — including Prime Minister Gaston Browne and Attorney General Sir Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin — receiving their official instruments of office during a ceremony held Tuesday.
Prime Minister Browne and Attorney General Benjamin, who completed their initial swearing-in over the weekend, formally accepted their portfolio assignments at the event hosted at the American University of Antigua. The remaining 12 ministerial appointees took the required oaths of allegiance, office, and secrecy directly before Governor General Sir Rodney Williams, bringing the full constitutional formation process to a successful close. This ceremony also marked the first official use of newly updated oaths that were approved by legislative bodies earlier this year, aligning the process with modernized governance guidelines.
Under the country’s constitutional framework, the Prime Minister holds full authority to allocate ministerial portfolios and oversee the distribution of government responsibilities. Each newly appointed ministry has been assigned broad, clearly defined oversight of critical national institutions and priority development programs. For example, the Information, Communication Technologies, Utilities and Energy portfolio will supervise the Antigua Public Utilities Authority and lead the country’s ongoing digital transformation agenda. The Ministry of Housing and Works takes charge of national infrastructure development, public housing initiatives, and road maintenance projects, while the Education, Science and Technology ministry oversees the nationwide education system, including the regional University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus.
The Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs, one of the public-facing portfolios highlighted during the formation process, will govern the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, all national public health services, national environmental management, and civil service administrative operations. The newly structured Ministry of Sports and the Creative Industries holds responsibility for national sports infrastructure, cultural programming, the annual Antigua Carnival, and growth support for the broader creative economy, a fast-growing sector for the island nation.
Two key appointments that will shape core public services and national growth drew particular focus: Michael Joseph takes the helm of the health, environment, and civil service portfolio, while Dwayne George assumes leadership of the sports and creative industries ministry. Other full cabinet appointments include E.P. Chet Greene as Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration; Charles “Max” Fernandez leading Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation and Investment; Melford Nicholas heading Information, Communication Technologies, Utilities and Energy; Maria Vanessa Browne taking responsibility for Housing and Works; Daryll Matthew leading Education, Science and Technology; Anthony Smith Jr. overseeing Agriculture, Lands and the Blue Economy; and Rawdon Turner heading Social and Urban Transformation.
To bolster operational capacity across high-priority departments, three additional Ministers of State were appointed to assist senior cabinet ministers: Randy St. Clair Baltimore will support the agriculture portfolio, Michael Freeland will back the tourism team, and Kiz Johnson will assist with social and urban transformation initiatives.
As the country finalizes its full parliamentary structure, one key position remains unfilled: a Deputy Speaker for the new parliament has not yet been appointed, though Dr. Philmore Benjamin, the newly elected Member of Parliament for St. Mary’s North, is widely expected to be nominated for the role. Upcoming parliamentary proceedings will also see all appointed Senators officially sworn in at 10 a.m. Friday at Government House, marking the final step in establishing the new legislative term.
In closing remarks at Tuesday’s cabinet ceremony, Governor General Sir Rodney Williams delivered a charge to the newly appointed ministers, urging them to carry out their public duties with unwavering integrity and collective unity. He reminded appointees that holding public office is not a privilege, but a core duty that must be discharged exclusively for the benefit of all citizens of Antigua and Barbuda.
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Health Ministry Welcomes Michael Joseph as New Minister
A new chapter of leadership is set to begin at one of the Caribbean’s most crucial government departments, as the Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs has formally announced its warm welcome to incoming Minister Michael Joseph. Joseph’s appointment is scheduled to take official effect on May 5, 2026, marking a fresh term of leadership for the sprawling public agency that oversees three core pillars of national development.
In an official public statement released by the ministry, leadership and staff extended formal congratulations to the Honorable Michael Joseph, who will step into the top role guiding the institution’s work. The statement emphasized the outsize importance of the ministerial portfolio Joseph is set to lead, noting that it touches nearly every aspect of daily life for citizens across the country.
Beyond overseeing the delivery of clinical and public health services that keep communities healthy, the ministry is tasked with driving national wellness initiatives, advancing urgent environmental sustainability action, and continually strengthening the country’s entire civil service system. These interconnected responsibilities make the role a central one in the national cabinet, touching everything from public health infrastructure to climate protection to the efficiency of government services for all residents.
The full ministry team, from frontline public servants to senior leadership, expressed collective eagerness to collaborate with Joseph as he takes on his new responsibilities. “We look forward to working under his guidance and vision to continue delivering high-quality healthcare, promoting national wellness, protecting our environment, and enhancing service delivery across the civil service,” the statement read.
To close out the official announcement, the entire ministry extended sincere well wishes for Joseph’s tenure, saying: “We wish you every success in this new chapter of service to our country.”
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Governor General Says Nation Must Move Forward Together After Election
Fresh off the conclusion of Antigua and Barbuda’s April 30 general election, the nation’s top constitutional figure has delivered a stark and unifying message to both newly elected leaders and the public: political divisions must not tear the country apart, and all sectors must work together to advance the shared national interest.
Governor General Sir Rodney Williams made his call for national healing and collective action during Tuesday’s formal swearing-in ceremony for the incoming cabinet, an event that followed a lopsided election result where the incumbent governing party claimed 15 of the 17 available parliamentary seats.
In his address to the new ministers and assembled guests, Sir Rodney emphasized that democratic competition, by its nature, produces divergent preferences among voters, but those differences should never fracture the bonds that hold the national community together. “At moments such as this, we are reminded that while elections may divide us in choice, they must never divide us as a people,” he stated. “Once the ballots are counted, we are called to come together—not as supporters of different parties, but as one nation, united in purpose and shared destiny.”
Beyond his appeal to national unity, Sir Rodney used the occasion to remind incoming cabinet members that public office is a solemn responsibility rather than a trophy for political victory. “Public office is not a prize to be claimed, but a duty to be discharged with humility, discipline, and unwavering integrity,” he argued.
He stressed that the new government owes representation to every resident of Antigua and Barbuda, not just those who cast ballots for the governing party. “You are now called upon to serve not only those who supported you, but every citizen and resident of this nation,” Sir Rodney said. “In this regard, you are ministers not of a party alone, but of Antigua and Barbuda as a whole.”
The Governor General also pushed back against the idea that ministerial oaths are empty procedural formalities, noting that the promises carry profound legal and moral weight. “The oaths which you are about to take are not mere formalities. They represent a binding commitment to the Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda, to the rule of law, and to the faithful execution of your duties,” he explained.
Effective governance, Sir Rodney added, depends on collaborative work rather than individual achievement, urging the new cabinet to prioritize collective purpose. “These are times that demand not only competence, but courage—not only vision, but collaboration,” he said. “The strength of your administration will depend not solely on individual effort, but on collective purpose and shared responsibility.”
His closing remarks turned to the wider public, reaching out both to supporters of the winning party and to voters who left the election disappointed by the outcome. Sir Rodney encouraged all residents to maintain active, constructive engagement with public life to support the nation’s long-term progress. “I therefore encourage all citizens—those who celebrate today and those who may feel disappointed—to remain engaged, to remain constructive and committed to the advancement of our nation,” he added.
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PM Browne Warns Cabinet: ‘No Room for Mediocrity’
Fresh off a decisive landslide win in the April 30 general election, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne has laid out strict expectations for his newly inaugurated Cabinet, drawing a clear line in the sand against underperformance and complacency as the administration kicks off its fourth term.
Speaking at Tuesday’s official swearing-in ceremony for the new Council of Ministers, Browne tied his administration’s overwhelming electoral mandate—securing 15 out of 17 available parliamentary seats—to a dramatically elevated standard of accountability to the voting public. The Prime Minister stressed that the unprecedented trust voters placed in his party cannot be treated as a given, and all appointed ministers must hold themselves to the highest possible standards of service.
“You have been entrusted with a tremendous responsibility by the people of this nation,” Browne told the assembled ministers. He went on to urge every Cabinet member to honor the electorate’s confidence and avoid betraying the support that carried the party to a resounding victory at the polls.
In firm, uncompromising language, Browne made clear that underperformance and mediocre work will not be tolerated in his new administration. He emphasized that his government must be defined by consistent excellence and tangible, on-the-ground delivery for citizens, repeating: “There must be no mediocrity.” All ministers, he insisted, are required to carry out their official duties at the peak of their capabilities.
Browne also pushed back against the common framing of public office as a privilege, reframing it as a solemn duty to the Antiguan and Barbudan public. He called on all Cabinet members to approach their roles with unwavering discipline, unassailable integrity, and an unrelenting focus on delivering measurable results. “You are here to serve the people of this country,” he said, warning that any failure to uphold this core mission would erode the trust voters have extended to the new administration.
Beyond individual accountability, the Prime Minister also emphasized the critical need for cross-ministerial unity. Collective collaborative effort, he noted, is the only foundation for hitting the country’s ambitious long-term development targets. “We must work together in unity,” Browne said, encouraging ongoing coordination and partnership between government departments to move forward with the administration’s top development priorities.
Framing this new fourth term as a period of transformative national progress, Browne highlighted a pipeline of current and upcoming initiatives focused on three core goals: upgrading the country’s core infrastructure, raising overall living standards for all citizens, and positioning Antigua and Barbuda for long-term, sustainable economic growth.
He also doubled down on the importance of widespread national productivity, noting that meaningful national progress will rely not just on government action, but on buy-in and effort across all sectors of Antiguan and Barbudan society. Repeating his core message—“You cannot accept mediocrity”—Browne reinforced his commitment to delivering tangible, visible outcomes that match the overwhelming mandate the party received from voters.
Browne’s opening remarks to the new Cabinet have set a clear, results-first tone for the administration’s incoming term, signaling an uncompromising zero-tolerance approach to complacency as the newly sworn-in ministers prepare to begin their official work.
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Pawiroredjo en Gajadien uiten scherpe kritiek op ingreep president bij Self Reliance
On Tuesday, two leading parliamentary faction leaders from Suriname — Jerrel Pawiroredjo of the National Party of Suriname (NPS) and Asis Gajadien of the Progressive People’s Party (VHP) — delivered pointed, urgent questions to the national government during a sitting of the National Assembly. The inquiry centers on claims of inappropriate political meddling in the operations of state-linked enterprises and the broader domestic financial sector, triggered by recent actions taken by the Surinamese president targeting the Board of Commissioners of the national insurance firm Self Reliance.
Lawmakers have characterized the president’s move as a deeply troubling development that threatens long-standing principles of good governance and transparent corporate oversight. “Shareholding carries responsibility, not unchecked absolute control,” the parliamentarians emphasized in their questioning. According to unconfirmed reporting from local outlet Starnieuws, the controversial intervention is expected to be reversed in the near term, with all formal correspondence related to the plan also withdrawn.
A leaked letter from the president to Albert Jubitana, president-commissioner of Self Reliance, reveals that acting on behalf of the Surinamese state, which holds shares in the company, the head of state pushed for an emergency general meeting of shareholders to be convened. A key item added to the proposed meeting agenda is the dismissal of multiple sitting members of the Board of Commissioners. The request specifically calls for a full review of the performance of board members, with an eye toward potentially removing several from their posts.
In the correspondence, the president cites Article 23 of Self Reliance’s corporate bylaws, which formally grants shareholders the right to request an extraordinary general meeting. The letter also demands the board turn over internal records on ongoing deliberations and disclose the legal basis for recent decisions the board has made.
Critics of the president’s action have raised serious questions about the appropriate boundaries of shareholder influence, particularly in this case: the Surinamese state does not hold a controlling majority stake in the insurer, instead owning only approximately 40 percent of outstanding shares.
Beyond the insurer itself, concerns have also been raised about potential political pressure on the Central Bank of Suriname. Observers warn that unchecked political influence could erode the central bank’s regulatory independence, creating significant unneeded risks to the overall stability of Suriname’s financial sector. In their inquiry, the parliamentary leaders have demanded the national government provide full transparency around the intervention, as well as a clear, legally sound justification for the president’s actions.
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Pesticidenschandaal: DNA hekelt falend toezicht en risico voor volksgezondheid
A major political controversy has erupted in Suriname after the European Union rejected two of the country’s key agricultural export shipments in just four days, triggering fierce criticism of the government’s failed food safety regulation from lawmakers in the National Assembly (DNA).
The rejected products, red pepper and yardlong bean, failed EU entry checks due to containing pesticide residues that exceeded the bloc’s strict safety limits. Lawmakers from across the political spectrum have warned that this failure is not just an international trade issue, but an immediate threat to domestic public health, with one senior parliamentarian saying the current broken system is actively poisoning the Surinamese population.
During Wednesday’s public parliamentary session, legislators drew a direct line between the EU rejections and deep, structural flaws in Suriname’s domestic food safety monitoring regime. NDP parliamentarian Jennifer Vreedzaam led the criticism, leveling sharp blame at Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (LVV) Minister Mike Noersalim for the government’s inaction on this long-recognized problem.
VHP lawmaker Cherryl Dijksteel emphasized that the incident confirms a fundamental breakdown in the country’s food control infrastructure. “If we cannot stop banned substances from entering the supply chain, detect residue limit breaches, or inspect products before they reach markets, we have to ask: does our current system work at all?” Dijksteel said. She pressed the government to answer a series of urgent, detailed questions about the incident, including whether the responsible exporters have been identified, whether products from the same farms are being retested for domestic sale, and how the country can improve product traceability. “You cannot run effective control if you do not know where a product comes from,” she stressed.
A core unresolved question at the heart of the debate is whether agricultural products are actually tested before they are distributed domestically or exported. If pre-market testing does occur, lawmakers say, the failure to catch the excessive pesticide residues points to major gaps in inspection quality and process. If testing does not occur at all, that indicates a complete failure to deliver the most basic level of consumer protection.
Vreedzaam and VHP colleague Dew Sharman argued that Minister Noersalim and the broader government cannot be allowed to avoid accountability for this failure. Vreedzaam called for immediate corrective action, noting that no recalls have been issued for potentially contaminated products sold domestically. “Nothing has been done. We haven’t seen any products pulled from store shelves, which means contaminated goods are still sitting there for consumers to buy. That can only mean one thing: we are poisoning our own people,” Vreedzaam said.
Dijksteel added that the crisis is entirely avoidable: the problem of unsafe pesticide residues has been recognized as a top priority for years in the strategic plan of the National Institute for Food Safety Suriname (NIVS), and global development programs including the STDF project have already mapped out clear solutions. “We know what the problems are, we already have the solutions worked out, but nothing is being implemented,” she said.
The consequences of this inaction stretch far beyond the two rejected shipments, lawmakers warned. Beyond the immediate damage to Suriname’s reputation as a reliable agricultural exporter, unregulated pesticide residues pose a long-term threat to the health of the domestic population. Dijksteel called the fact that EU inspectors, not local regulators, detected the breaches particularly alarming. “This means our system is failing at its most basic core function: protecting the consumer,” she explained.
Criticism has centered almost entirely on the LVV ministry, which holds formal responsibility for food safety oversight and enforcement. The demand for immediate government intervention has grown louder, with Dijksteel noting the issue has long outgrown the stage of being a simple technical problem. “This is a governance failure. The question is no longer whether there is a problem, it is why nothing has been done to fix it,” she said.
Suriname’s government is now facing widespread pressure to deliver concrete, immediate policy changes: strengthening pesticide use monitoring, closing gaps in food safety inspection, protecting public health, and rebuilding trust with both domestic consumers and international trade partners.