The Foundation for Labor Mobilization and Development (SAO) has inaugurated a cultural-historical meeting space on its premises in Geyersvlijt, Suriname. The centerpiece of this new community hub is a miniature wooden house, ‘SAO Oso Tori Oso,’ crafted by students from the Construction and Mechanical Woodworking Vocational School. The house, previously managed by the cultural organization NAKS, was officially dedicated during a festive ceremony. This initiative is part of a newly designed plaza intended to serve as a central gathering spot for local residents, students, and visitors. The space showcases traditional Surinamese artifacts (fosten sani), offering a glimpse into the nation’s cultural heritage. The project was realized in collaboration with the foundation Under the Blue Surface and funded with support from the Netherlands. Deputy Minister Raj Jadnananding (Health, Welfare, and Labor) and SAO Director Joyce Lapar presided over the opening ceremony, as reported by the Suriname Communication Service. During the event, ten senior residents were honored for their contributions to the community, receiving gift packages and snacks courtesy of the Lions Club Parwani. ‘This building is a piece of our history,’ remarked one of the honorees. The SAO, which will celebrate its 45th anniversary in 2026, provides vocational training for youth, adults, and seniors. Lapar emphasized that the new meeting space aims to foster community connections and spark interest in educational opportunities. The venue can accommodate gatherings of up to thirty people and will host workshops and themed events, including a Mental Health Day on October 22. ‘With knowledge, you build not just a house but also yourself,’ Lapar stated, urging the public to take advantage of SAO’s retraining and upskilling programs.
标签： Suriname
苏里南
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President roept op tot nationale verbondenheid bij Diváliviering in Saramacca
On Friday, President Jennifer Simons inaugurated the Diváli celebrations in the Saramacca district by lighting a symbolic dia at the district commissioner’s office in Groningen. The ceremony was attended by prominent figures, including Parliamentary Chairman Ashwin Adhin, Minister Lalinie Gopal, District Commissioner Aniel Ramautar, Assembly Member Jayant Lalbiharie (NDP), and Indian Ambassador Subhash Gupta. Diváli, the Festival of Lights, is globally recognized as a celebration of light triumphing over darkness. In her address, President Simons urged society to translate this symbolism into social unity. ‘Although Suriname observes multiple light festivals, there is one source: divine light. Let us be a light for one another. Our nation needs direction, connection, and inner strength,’ she emphasized. The dia was jointly lit by President Simons, Chairman Adhin, and Commissioner Ramautar. Speakers unanimously highlighted the importance of reflection, love, and community spirit during times of societal challenges. Commissioner Ramautar described the flame as ‘a symbol of hope and collective willpower,’ while Ambassador Gupta called for spiritual purification and the renewal of moral values. The National Diváli Manifestation will take place tonight at Independence Square.
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President benadrukt publieke taak STVS bij viering 60-jarig jubileum
The Surinamese Television Foundation (STVS), the nation’s pioneering television station, is set to mark its 60th anniversary on October 20. A commemorative gathering was held on Friday, attended by President Jennifer Simons, Vice President Gregory Rusland, and Minister of Home Affairs Marinus Bee. President Simons highlighted the enduring public value of STVS, describing it as a vital source of news, education, and cultural enrichment for the country. She expressed optimism that the broadcaster would continue to fulfill its societal role professionally in the digital age. STVS Director Raoul Abisoina reflected on six decades of broadcasting, calling the milestone ‘a moment of gratitude and reflection.’ He acknowledged the station’s resilience through political and technological changes but emphasized the need for modernization investments, including a new broadcasting facility. Established on October 20, 1965, by then-Prime Minister Johan Adolf Pengel, STVS was Suriname’s sole television channel for many years.
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DSB waarschuwt voor toename digitale fraude
October has been designated as Cyber Security Month worldwide, an annual initiative aimed at raising awareness about digital resilience. In Suriname, concerns are growing over the surge in online fraud, phishing, and identity theft. The Surinaamsche Bank (DSB) has emphasized that digital vigilance is no longer optional but a necessity, as cybercriminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Fraudsters are deploying a range of deceptive tactics, including fake emails, SMS messages, WhatsApp communications, and even counterfeit social media profiles that appear to originate from banks, businesses, or government agencies. Their primary objective is to trick individuals into divulging personal or financial information. To combat these threats, DSB has issued key recommendations for the public: Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited messages or emails; always access websites directly through a browser. Verify the sender’s authenticity, as official bank emails typically end with their domain (e.g., www.dsb.sr), though spoofing remains a risk. Be wary of urgent requests, threatening language, or impersonal greetings, as these are often red flags. Never share passwords, PINs, CVV codes, or other sensitive data, regardless of the channel used to request it. Additionally, vigilance extends beyond the internet. At ATMs, individuals are advised to shield the keypad when entering their PIN, take their card and receipt immediately, and report any irregularities or tampering to the bank promptly.
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SBB stuit op bijkans 2.160 illegale bruinhartpalen bij EBS
In a startling revelation, the Foundation for Forest Management and Supervision (SBB) has identified significant irregularities during a follow-up inspection at the premises of Energie Bedrijven Suriname (EBS) on Bethesdastraat. The inspection, which began on October 1, 2025, and is still ongoing, uncovered 2,159 brownheart timber poles with serious violations, a dramatic increase from the initial report that flagged 508 suspicious poles. The findings have been detailed in a second report, now forwarded to the Public Prosecutor’s Office. The SBB report highlights that the poles exhibit signs of illegal logging, with multiple infractions observed during field inspections. These include missing origin information (marked only as ‘sold’), poles with ‘retribution paid’ status but lacking mandatory transport tickets, reused labels, and the absence of legally required labels. The SBB emphasized that timber of suspected illegal origin should have passed at least one checkpoint, where transport tickets are presented to forestry officials and registered in the SFISS system—a step that was notably skipped. The report underscores that the inspection was conducted on poles currently in a seized state at the EBS site.
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Suriname-Guyana handelsrelaties gaan nieuwe fase in
Andrew Baasaron, Suriname’s Minister of Economic Affairs, Entrepreneurship, and Technological Innovation, recently concluded a series of field visits in Guyana as part of a working trip aimed at fostering bilateral economic collaboration. Accompanied by Guyana’s Minister of Tourism, Industry, and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues, Baasaron toured key facilities, including the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC), a processing plant, and an industrial site. The visit followed high-level discussions between the two ministers on joint initiatives in tourism, trade, and industrial development. At the Guyana Shop, a hub for promoting local products for both domestic and export markets, Baasaron praised Guyana’s organized agricultural and agro-processing sectors, calling it an inspiring model of government-private sector collaboration. Discussions at the processing facility explored the potential for establishing a similar structure in Suriname to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in product development and export. Baasaron emphasized that such efforts align with Suriname’s goals of strengthening its non-oil sector, enhancing regional food security, and diversifying exports. The delegation also engaged with local entrepreneurs and officials at the industrial site to gain insights into Guyana’s approach to industrial projects, which could inform the development of industrial zones in Suriname.
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President: Geen militaire acties in de regio; wel strijd tegen drugs
In a firm statement during a press conference on Friday, President Jennifer Simons of Suriname unequivocally declared that her country will not support any military intervention by the United States against Venezuela. This announcement comes amid reports that the US has conducted six attacks on vessels in Venezuelan waters, resulting in at least 27 fatalities, as part of what has been labeled as ‘counter-narcotics operations’ by international media outlets. President Simons emphasized that Suriname’s foreign policy remains steadfastly rooted in principles of non-intervention, neutrality, and peaceful conflict resolution. ‘We are friends with both the United States and Venezuela, as well as Guyana and Trinidad. Suriname’s sole desire is to foster a region of peace. We do not want war in the Caribbean or South America,’ she stated. While acknowledging the importance of international cooperation in combating drug trafficking, the President underscored that such efforts must adhere to the rule of law and respect for human rights. ‘We have abolished the death penalty. Even those guilty of drug trafficking face imprisonment, not execution. Extrajudicial killings are not our way,’ she added. The issue has been extensively discussed within the Caribbean Community (Caricom), with President Simons expressing understanding for the pressures faced by some governments but reiterating Suriname’s refusal to endorse any stance that legitimizes war. The core of Suriname’s position, as outlined by the President, includes: no military escalation or invasion in the region, active support for combating drug-related crime, and a commitment to peaceful diplomacy within the framework of international law. ‘We urge all parties to engage in dialogue. No to war. Yes to cooperation against drugs—but never through extrajudicial executions or armed interventions,’ she concluded.
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Quickscans onthullen grote misstanden: diepgaander onderzoek en externe audits nodig
During a press conference held on Friday, the government revealed that preliminary quickscans conducted across various ministries have uncovered alarming irregularities. The initial findings, described as deeply concerning by attending ministers, have prompted an immediate escalation to external financial audits and comprehensive investigations.
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Suriname en Guyana willen krachten bundelen voor groei
In a significant move to bolster bilateral cooperation, Suriname’s Minister of Economic Affairs, Entrepreneurship, and Technological Innovation, Andrew Baasaron, met with Guyana’s Minister of Tourism, Industry, and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues, during Baasaron’s official visit to Guyana. The meeting, held on Wednesday, focused on enhancing joint tourism initiatives and exploring economic synergies between the two nations. A key discussion point was the development of combined tourism packages that would position Suriname and Guyana as a unified destination. The ministers explored opportunities to integrate eco-tourism and adventure tourism in the hinterlands with cultural and urban experiences. Rodrigues emphasized the potential of leveraging their shared natural and cultural wealth to offer unique travel experiences to both regional and diaspora visitors. Baasaron highlighted tourism as a critical growth sector within Suriname’s economic diversification strategy, citing collaboration with Guyana as a pathway for joint marketing, improved air connectivity, and investments in the tourism value chain. Beyond tourism, the ministers also discussed industrial development and entrepreneurship. Rodrigues shared Guyana’s experiences with small business incubators and industrial zones, expressing openness to knowledge-sharing with Suriname. Both ministers identified opportunities for joint ventures in establishing incubators and processing facilities. Baasaron extended an invitation to Rodrigues to lead a trade mission to Suriname, aiming to further strengthen trade relations and pave the way for new investments in tourism and agro-industry. The ministers underscored that their collaboration extends beyond economic interests, serving as a model for regional partnership within CARICOM, focused on shared growth, innovation, and inclusive development.
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VWA en IDB bespreken voortgang arbeidsmarktproject
Suriname’s Deputy Minister of Health, Welfare, and Labor (VWA), Raj Jadnanansing, recently hosted a delegation from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), led by Margarita Hernandez, Chief of Operations. The meeting focused on the progress of the Labor Market Alignment with New Industries project, a collaborative initiative launched in August 2023 with IDB funding. The project aims to bridge the gap between job seekers and employers while aligning education and training with labor market demands. A key milestone is the establishment of a modern Employment Services Center at the VWA headquarters on Lalla Rookhweg, offering accessible job placement, guidance, and training for job seekers, as well as streamlined recruitment for employers. The IDB reported that the procurement process for the center is nearing completion, with an expected launch by mid-2025. Additionally, the project emphasizes skill development in high-potential sectors such as tourism, agriculture, and ICT, equipping workers with practical, market-relevant expertise. Several training sessions have already been conducted, with more planned in the near future. The initiative is locally coordinated by the Labor Market Sub-Directorate under Naomi Esajas-Friperson. Deputy Minister Jadnanansing emphasized the importance of labor market reform for sustainable growth and social progress, stating, ‘This collaboration ensures Surinamese citizens are prepared for the jobs of the future.’