分类： politics

PARAMARIBO, SURINAME – June 26 – Ronny Asabina, leader of the BEP political faction in Suriname’s National Assembly, has launched a urgent call for the development of a formal national music policy, aiming to professionalize the country’s vibrant music sector and unlock its untapped social and economic potential.

Asabina laid out his multi-point plan during parliamentary budget debates, outlining concrete initiatives to expand access to music education, preserve Suriname’s unique cultural heritage, and support working artists across the country. His proposals have already earned broad cross-party support in the legislature.

One of Asabina’s core priorities is expanding the reach of the national People’s Music School, which currently operates only from a single central location. He argues that this outdated structure excludes talented young people in working-class neighborhoods, interior communities, and outlying districts. To address this gap, he is pushing for the establishment of new branch campuses in underserved areas including Combé, Domburg, and Brownsweg, ensuring that children and young people from all regions can access formal music training close to home. “We must bring opportunity for talent development directly to the people,” Asabina told the assembly.

A second key proposal calls for the creation of a dedicated chair in Surinamese music at Anton de Kom University of Suriname. Asabina emphasized that the long and diverse history of Surinamese music deserves systematic academic research, digital documentation, and long-term preservation for future generations. This institutional investment would not only protect Suriname’s cultural legacy but also strengthen the overall quality of music education across the country, he added.

To directly support working artists, Asabina has also proposed the establishment of a national music fund. The fund would provide financial support for critical career needs including studio recording, music video production, marketing, professional management, and international promotion. Complementing this fund, he called for the launch of a centralized national music platform that would bring artists, producers, venue operators, and media outlets together to collaborate on growing the domestic music industry.

Beyond supporting local creators, Asabina argued that Surinamese music should be leveraged more strategically as a tool for cultural tourism and cultural diplomacy. He called for greater promotion of Surinamese music through the country’s global embassies and at major international cultural events, raising the nation’s profile on the world stage.

Asabina stressed that music is far more than just leisure entertainment for Suriname. He framed the country’s rich musical tradition as a core pillar of national identity that unites diverse communities, supports public social well-being, and creates significant untapped economic opportunities for the nation. “Suriname has an incredibly rich musical tradition and a dynamic living cultural heritage, but the sector still does not receive the structural support it needs to thrive,” he said.

The BEP leader noted that the Surinamese music industry has survived and grown to date not because of government support, but despite a lack of government investment. He called on the national administration to develop a concrete action plan with clear timelines to implement the proposed reforms and strengthen the sector on a long-term, structural basis.

Asabina’s proposals have already garnered broad backing across the National Assembly. Speaking on behalf of the opposition NDP party, legislator Tashana Lösche confirmed her party’s support for the call to increase investment in talent development, expand music education access, and strengthen legal protections for the rights of Surinamese artists.

Speaking during parliamentary budget deliberations in Suriname, ruling VHP party lawmaker Kishan Ramsukul has issued a urgent call for the South American nation to dramatically speed up its digital transformation efforts, warning that the country cannot afford to fall further behind regional and global peers.

Ramsukul centered a key part of his address on pushing for the rapid regulatory approval of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, pushing back against a common local misconception that the service would directly compete with state-owned telecom provider Telesur. He emphasized that Starlink’s core purpose is to deliver connectivity to remote and inland regions of Suriname where traditional terrestrial telecom infrastructure has failed to deliver reliable or sufficient coverage. By filling this coverage gap, the MP argued, Starlink would unlock new economic opportunities for marginalized inland communities and help bridge the country’s digital divide. He urged the Surinamese government to finalize all necessary legislation and regulatory frameworks without delay to bring Starlink online, allowing Suriname to join the dozens of countries that already offer the service to users.

Beyond satellite internet, Ramsukul also voiced sharp criticism of the slow digital progress in Suriname’s banking sector, noting that both ordinary citizens and local business owners face daily disruptions from outdated financial infrastructure. He pointed to unnecessarily long processing times for interbank transfers and the limited availability of modern digital payment options as persistent pain points holding back economic activity. The lawmaker called for urgent upgrades to the sector, including the rollout of instant bank transfers, modern unified digital payment platforms, and streamlined electronic payment processing systems. “Digitalization is no longer a luxury for our financial sector—it is an absolute necessity, and our institutions must keep up with global developments,” Ramsukul stated.

Ramsukul also pushed for broader digitalization of Suriname’s public administration, outlining a series of practical reforms including the introduction of official digital driver’s licenses, a major expansion of online government service portals, and the simplification of bureaucratic administrative processes. He explained that expanding digital public services would not only cut red tape and save valuable time for residents and businesses, but also improve government transparency, increase operational efficiency, and create a more attractive investment climate for foreign and domestic companies.
“If Suriname wants to develop into a competitive, modern economy, we must first build a modern digital infrastructure to support that growth,” Ramsukul told the National Assembly. Digital transformation, he emphasized, is now an indispensable foundation for broad economic growth, increased foreign direct investment, and inclusive development across all regions of the country.

A diplomatic row over a displayed map at a major Surinamese energy conference has put the long-running Tigri territorial dispute back in the spotlight, with Suriname’s vice president reaffirming the country’s long-held position while committing to peaceful negotiations with neighboring Guyana.

Speaking Thursday during budget debates in Suriname’s National Assembly, Vice President Gregory Rusland addressed questions from ruling VHP party legislator Mahinder Jogi, who pressed for government clarity following cross-border criticism of the map shown at the 2026 Suriname Energy, Oil & Gas Summit (SEOGS). Guyanese parties had raised formal objections to the map’s depiction of the contested Tigri region, prompting Jogi’s request for details on what concrete actions Suriname’s administration had taken in response.

Rusland confirmed that the Surinamese government has reviewed statements from multiple Guyanese private sector organizations regarding the map presented at SEOGS 2026. He stressed that the government maintains its long-standing, unchanged position on the disputed border region. At the same time, Rusland emphasized that Suriname remains committed to building positive, constructive ties with Guyana, rooted in the principles of mutual respect, good neighborly relations and peaceful diplomatic dialogue.

The vice president pushed back against framing the energy summit as a stage for territorial tensions, noting that SEOGS functions as an international platform designed to drive investment, innovation and cross-border collaboration in the energy sector, not to advance political or territorial disputes. He acknowledged that maps including contested border areas can lead to diverging interpretations, but reiterated that such disagreements should only be resolved through official diplomatic channels, not public controversy.

“Suriname attaches great importance to expanding cooperation with Guyana across energy, trade, infrastructure and regional development. This cooperation must continue to grow in an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect,” Rusland added. His comments echo earlier statements from Foreign Minister Melvin Bouva, who had previously confirmed that Suriname’s position on Tigri is unambiguous and that the country has already taken official diplomatic action with Guyana regarding the dispute.

Opposition NDP legislator Ebu Jones, a former Surinamese ambassador to Guyana, voiced full support for the government’s response. Jones drew on his own diplomatic experience, recalling that he had personally filed a formal protest during an official meeting when an incorrect map of Suriname was presented by the other side. He noted that it is standard diplomatic practice for nations to issue protests when they disagree with a map or territorial stance, acknowledging that Guyana has a right to voice its objections.

“That Guyana protests is their right. But that does not change our position,” Jones said, reaffirming that Suriname’s territorial claim remains unaltered. “Tigri belongs to Suriname, and Tigri will remain Suriname’s.”

Despite the vice president’s explanation, Jogi said he accepted the government’s commitment to positive bilateral relations but argued that his core question about specific diplomatic steps Suriname has taken in response to the map controversy remains unanswered.

PARAMARIBO, SURINAME – June 26 – Rabin Parmessar, leader of Suriname’s National Democratic Party (NDP) and chair of the country’s Committee of Rapporteurs, has issued a formal call for the ruling administration to release full details of a controversial port development contract between state-owned N.V. Havenbeheer and international logistics firm Medserv, warning that the deal’s integrity directly impacts the South American nation’s reputation as an emerging player in the global oil and gas sector.

Parmessar made the demand during the second round of parliamentary budget debates, confirming that public knowledge is already widespread regarding the partnership between N.V. Havenbeheer and Medserv, which was established to build specialized port infrastructure tailored to support the country’s growing oil and gas industry. According to the opposition leader, the signed agreement includes strict performance clauses, most notably requiring the on-time completion of a new pier engineered to support a load capacity of 20 tons per square meter.

Parmessar has outlined a series of critical questions the government must answer for the National Assembly. Among the key points of inquiry are confirmation of the project’s mandatory December 21, 2026 completion deadline, an update on whether construction remains on schedule, and confirmation that the contract was awarded through a fully compliant public tender process. He has also called for clarity on whether required local preference policies for Surinamese companies were applied during the bidding process.

A core point of concern raised by the opposition leader is the significant financial risk the country faces if the project fails to meet the contractual deadline. Parmessar says leaked details of the contract show that steep penalty clauses are in place for delays or failure to deliver on contractual obligations. He is seeking official confirmation that penalties start at a minimum of $150,000 U.S. dollars per week for delays, with additional indirect costs of up to $50,000 U.S. dollars per 24 hours in the event Medserv is forced to divert its operations to an alternative port.

Adding to the controversy, Parmessar revealed that the Committee of Rapporteurs has received intelligence indicating Medserv has already begun partially diverting operations to a facility operated by Dordt N.V. in the Commewijne district, where an international construction firm has already started preliminary work. He is demanding the government confirm whether these reports are accurate, and whether this diversion leaves the Surinamese state exposed to massive damages claims from the contract breach.

“Who will be held accountable for this outcome, and has the government prepared for this risk?” Parmessar asked during the debate. He emphasized that the issue extends far beyond a routine infrastructure project, directly impacting the nation’s credibility as it prepares to launch full-scale commercial oil production expected to start in 2028.

“This is not a small operational file. This directly touches our credibility as a country positioning itself for large-scale oil and gas development,” Parmessar told the assembly. He added that for Suriname to attract sustained international investment to its energy sector, it must demonstrate it can deliver functional port infrastructure, run transparent procurement processes, enforce robust contractual frameworks, and maintain effective risk management.

To address these concerns, the NDP leader has formally requested that the administration grant the National Assembly full access to all project documentation, including the full signed contract, tender records, construction timelines, progress reports, and official risk assessments. He closed his address by noting that good governance requires proactive intervention before damage occurs, not just post-hoc explanations after problems arise.