标签： Suriname

Suriname’s Minister of Education, Science and Culture Dirk Currie is calling for sweeping increases in public investment in the education sector, pointing out that the South American-Caribbean nation already lags far behind regional peers in education spending, putting its long-term development at risk.

As outlined in the country’s 2026 draft budget, just SRD 7.48 billion — equivalent to 9.7% of total government expenditure — is earmarked for education. That figure remains well below the Caribbean regional average of roughly 15% of public spending, and puts Suriname at the lower end of investment rankings across the region. When measured as a share of gross domestic product (GDP), the gap is equally stark: Suriname allocates approximately 3% of GDP to education, compared to a regional average of 4.9%. Neighboring and peer nations including Belize, Guyana and Dominica all invest more than 5% of their total GDP in the education sector, while Belize and Dominica devote 21% of total government outlays to the sector, and Jamaica allocates nearly 19%.

To address this persistent underinvestment, Currie has proposed enshrining a mandatory spending target in national law, requiring that between 20% and 25% of annual state revenue be allocated to education, science and culture. Speaking during budget deliberations in the National Assembly, Currie emphasized that Suriname’s long-term growth will not be driven solely by projected new oil and gas revenues — it will depend above all on the quality of the nation’s human capital.

“Education is not an expense line, it is an investment in our country’s future,” Currie told parliament. The minister argues that a legal mandate is critical to insulate education funding from shifting political priorities and economic volatility, creating the long-term certainty needed to invest in infrastructure upgrades, updated learning materials, teacher training, digital transformation and overall quality improvements across the education system.

With Suriname preparing to enter a new economic era driven by expanding oil and gas production, Currie warned that the nation could squander this historic opportunity without a sufficiently skilled, educated workforce. “Natural resources alone do not make a nation prosperous. In the end, it is people that make the difference,” he said. Beyond securing stable funding, the minister hopes his proposal will spark a broad national conversation about the central role education should play in Suriname’s public financial priorities, framing sustained investment in the sector as a non-negotiable foundation for the country’s long-term development.

On a milestone Saturday marking 15 years of disability advocacy in Suriname, President Jennifer Simons made a landmark pledge: people with disabilities across the nation will no longer be sidelined from national growth, and will gain a formal voice in shaping the country’s long-term future plans.

The announcement came during a jubilee celebration for the Suriname-based disability rights organization Stichting Wan Okasi, held at Riverside Shadien, where Simons opened by offering public praise for the foundational work the group has carried out since its founding in 2011. Over 15 years, Wan Okasi has evolved from a small grassroots initiative into one of the country’s most influential advocates for the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities.

In her address, President Simons emphasized that the unique talents, relentless perseverance, and extraordinary courage of people with disabilities prove they are fully capable of making meaningful, valuable contributions to Surinamese society. “The grit and determination of people with disabilities inspire us all, and teach us a daily lesson that nothing should hold us back from pursuing our goals,” the head of state told attendees. She went on to underscore that equal access to opportunity is a core responsibility of the national government. “This is a collective responsibility for our entire society, but the government holds a formal duty to support this community and give them the same space to grow and thrive that every other citizen enjoys,” Simons said.

Most notably, the president confirmed that representatives of the disability community will be included in the special working group tasked with drafting Suriname’s national long-term development roadmap. “Our national vision is built on the promise that no one will be left behind,” she stated.

Following the president’s remarks, Aniel Koendjbiharie, chair of Wan Okasi, took the stage to reflect on the organization’s progress over 15 years, while outlining ambitious new plans for expanding disability inclusion across the country. Koendjbiharie highlighted key wins the organization has secured to date, including major contributions to the establishment of Suriname’s national human rights institute, improvements to road safety for disabled people, and expanded access to financial services for the community.

Looking ahead, the group is rolling out new initiatives focused on expanding educational access. A new pilot program is already in development to give people with disabilities the opportunity to pursue vocational secondary education (MBO-level training). Wan Okasi has also formed a new partnership with the Anton de Kom University of Suriname (AdeKUS), aimed at increasing enrollment of students with disabilities starting in the upcoming academic year.

Koendjbiharie also called for the establishment of a structured, regular consultation framework between the organization and the national government. He noted that Wan Okasi has grown dramatically in size, reach, and expertise over the past 15 years, and is fully prepared to enter a new phase of formal collaboration with state institutions. To advance this goal, the organization will submit a formal governance code with concrete policy proposals to the Simons administration in the coming period.

The 15th anniversary gathering brought together disability advocates, government officials, and community members to celebrate the progress that has been made, while reinforcing shared commitments to building a more inclusive Suriname for all.

On a Sunday morning in Suriname, inmates held at the Uitvlugt police station’s detention block launched a coordinated uprising, fueled by long-simmering grievances over provided meals and visitation policies. Authorities from the Suriname Police Corps confirmed on Wednesday that the unrest, which began at approximately 10 a.m., has been fully contained, and a potential mass escape has been successfully prevented. According to the police’s public relations division, the unrest originated from two core complaints from the incarcerated individuals: first, widespread dissatisfaction with the quality of state-provided meals delivered to the facility, and second, strong objection to existing regulations that ban visitors from bringing in certain personal items, most notably instant noodles like popular Indomie brand soup. What began as a collective protest quickly escalated into open insurrection. Inmates ripped cell block doors from their hinges, constructed barricades at the main entrance to the detention wing, and caused extensive property damage throughout the facility. Multiple reports also confirm that protestors threw contaminated water and waste at on-duty police officers stationed at the complex. In response to the rapidly escalating crisis, police leadership ordered an immediate evacuation of the entire cell block. All inmates were swiftly transferred to other detention facilities across the region, with identified suspected ringleaders of the uprising moved to the central prison, the House of Detention, to prevent further unrest. In a post-incident briefing, police officials clarified that the catering service responsible for meals at Uitvlugt also supplies food to multiple other detention facilities in Suriname, and no complaints about meal quality have been recorded at any other location. This lack of parallel complaints has led investigators to conclude that the uprising was deliberately incited by a small group of inmates, rather than being a spontaneous response to poor conditions. Police spokesperson further noted that the unrest is likely linked to recent severe sentencing demands brought against several of the suspected ringleaders. The protest was allegedly orchestrated to create chaos that would enable an escape attempt, a plot that law enforcement successfully dismantled before it could progress. The operation to regain control of the facility was led by Haimee Hip, regional commander for Paramaribo and chief inspector, who coordinated closely with the Uitvlugt regional commander and his command staff. Additional tactical support was provided by the specialized Arrest Team and the Paramaribo Regional Assistance Team, allowing authorities to regain control of the facility without extended conflict.