标签： Suriname

The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency session on Thursday amid escalating diplomatic tensions between the United States and Iran regarding the handling of recent civil unrest within Iranian territories. The session, requested by the U.S., revealed sharply divided positions among global powers concerning appropriate international response mechanisms.

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz asserted that Washington maintains “all options on the table” to address reported violence against protesters in Iran, reiterating President Donald Trump’s support for what he termed “the brave Iranian people.” This stance followed earlier presidential statements suggesting potential intervention supporting demonstrators, though Trump subsequently adopted a more measured position, noting decreased violence and denying plans for large-scale executions.

Iran’s Deputy UN Ambassador Gholamhossein Darzi delivered a sharp rebuttal, characterizing American statements as “lies, factual distortions, and a deliberate disinformation campaign” designed to conceal alleged U.S. involvement in instigating unrest. Darzi warned that any direct or indirect aggression against Iran would trigger a “decisive, proportional, and lawful response,” emphasizing this constituted legal reality rather than mere threat.

Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia criticized the U.S. motive for convening the session, accusing Washington of attempting to justify “brutal aggression and interference in the domestic affairs of a sovereign state” while pursuing regime change through military means. He urged American leadership and allied nations to reconsider their approach.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres appealed for maximum restraint during this sensitive period, encouraging all parties to avoid actions potentially leading to additional casualties or broader regional escalation. Danish Ambassador Christina Markus Lassen emphasized the Iranian people’s repeated demonstrations demanding improved living conditions, calling upon Tehran’s government to peacefully respond to its citizens’ expressed will.

The emergency meeting concluded without consensus, reflecting persistent geopolitical divisions while underscoring the international community’s growing concern regarding potential escalation pathways in the already volatile region.

A burgeoning controversy surrounding the accompaniment of President Jennifer Simons’ spouse on official state missions has ignited a crucial debate about governmental transparency and accountability. What began as a simple inquiry about travel protocols has evolved into a complex discussion about the essential boundaries between private and public roles in high-level governance.

The core issue centers on the fundamental necessity for clarity when family members join official delegations. Legitimate questions regarding capacity of participation, funding sources, and access to diplomatic meetings represent not media intrusion but essential components of proper democratic oversight. The situation escalated when social media imagery depicted the president’s husband actively participating in official engagements, despite subsequent claims of his ‘private’ attendance status.

Concerningly, the public discourse has shifted from examining transparency requirements to questioning media motives, particularly targeting Starnieuws for raising these valid inquiries. This deflection strategy mirrors previous administrations’ approaches when similar scrutiny was applied to First Lady Mellisa Santokhi’s extensive travel with former President Santokhi—a subject that received substantial critical media coverage despite current suggestions otherwise.

The essential principle remains unchanged: transparency operates prospectively, not retrospectively. Each administration bears independent responsibility for maintaining clear boundaries and disclosure practices. In democratic systems, transparency constitutes an obligation rather than a concession, with higher offices demanding greater clarity due to their profound impact on public trust.

Critical journalism serves as democracy’s necessary counterbalance rather than an adversary to power. The media’s function involves ensuring governability through accountability, not maintaining official comfort. Personalizing these inquiries risks undermining press freedom’s vital role in democratic societies.

This situation requires simple preventive measures: advance disclosure of delegation composition, purposes, capacities, and cost allocations. Such transparency wouldn’t eliminate criticism but would ensure it remains fair, measurable, and proportionate—ultimately benefiting all stakeholders, especially the public.

Surinamese Vice President Gregory Rusland is set to embark on an official visit to Switzerland this Saturday to participate in the prestigious World Tourism Forum, convened during the influential World Economic Forum week. Accompanied by a delegation of three senior officials, the Vice President will engage in high-level discussions before returning the following week.

Mr. Rusland received a specific invitation to join an exclusive assembly of forty international decision-makers, comprising heads of state, chief executive officers, and government ministers. This selective gathering represents some of the most influential figures in global governance and business leadership.

The central theme of his participation will focus on translating commitments into actionable strategies under the forum’s agenda: “From Pledges to Implementation: Scaling Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality.” This dialogue aims to bridge the gap between theoretical frameworks and practical execution in sustainable tourism development.

Unlike conventional tourism conferences, the World Tourism Forum operates as a high-level decision-making platform that reconceptualizes tourism not as an isolated industry but as a strategic pillar for global economic resilience. The forum emphasizes peer-to-peer interaction and strategic alignment among participants, moving beyond traditional presentation formats to foster genuine collaboration and policy development.

The participation of Suriname’s Vice President signals the growing recognition of small nations in shaping global tourism policies and highlights the increasing importance of sustainable tourism in national economic strategies.

The National Assembly of Suriname witnessed intense deliberations on Thursday as parliamentary rapporteurs, chaired by NDP member Silvana Afonsoewa, examined proposed amendments to the Labor Advisory Council (AAC) Act. Central to the legislative revision is extending council members’ terms from two to five years—a move proponents argue would enhance institutional stability but critics warn requires stronger justification.

Afonsoewa opened deliberations by characterizing the tripartite AAC—bringing together government, employers and workers—as vital for social dialogue and labor policy formulation. She contended that the current two-year term proves insufficient for maintaining continuity, developing expertise and preserving institutional memory. The proposed five-year term, she asserted, would foster stability and improve advisory quality, particularly amid significant economic and labor market reforms. Afonsoewa noted that members frequently serve beyond two years in practice.

Opposition voices emerged swiftly. VHP representative Chuanrui Wang acknowledged continuity benefits but criticized the proposal’s inadequate substantiation. He cautioned that extended terms without mid-term evaluations, clear performance metrics or parliamentary accountability mechanisms risked stagnation rather than improved functionality. Wang emphasized that structural challenges—including limited capacity and advisory implementation—would persist merely through tenure extension.

NDP member Jennifer Vreedzaam raised governance concerns, questioning why five years specifically was necessary when existing legislation already permitted exceptions and reappointments. She warned that unchecked continuity might breed stagnation without evaluation benchmarks. Colleague Claudie Sabajo countered that the AAC itself identified two years as insufficient for developing quality advisories, arguing longer terms would reduce administrative burdens and enable deeper policy engagement. She simultaneously requested government transparency regarding past advisory implementations.

Representation issues took center stage when VHP’s Mahinder Jogi challenged whether the AAC adequately represented informal sector workers, small entrepreneurs and unorganized laborers. He deemed the amendment overly narrow and recommended broader legislative reconsideration. ABOP representative Edgar Sampie linked the reform to Suriname’s emerging oil and gas sector, stressing that international labor conventions demanded a robust, independent AAC. Without adequate resources and authority, he cautioned, the council risked becoming ‘a tiger without teeth.’

NPS representative Jeffrey Lau highlighted that no labor legislation proceeds without AAC consultation. He endorsed five-year terms as better aligned with governmental periods, facilitating medium-term planning and measurable policy outcomes. The council itself, he noted, considered five years operationally feasible.

While consensus existed on the AAC’s importance, divisions persisted regarding whether term extension sufficed or broader evaluation of composition and operations was prerequisite. Deliberations will continue Thursday with contributions from non-rapporteur assembly members.

In a significant move to address chronic parliamentary absenteeism, Surinamese Assembly members Bronto Somohardjo and Silvana Afonsoewa have submitted a formal proposal to amend the standing orders of De Nationale Assemblée (DNA). The initiative targets the persistent lack of quorum that has repeatedly paralyzed legislative and oversight functions, undermining both parliamentary efficiency and public trust in the nation’s highest representative body.

The core provision of the proposed amendment would introduce Article 32a under the heading ‘Quorum Responsibility,’ establishing that any legislator absent without valid justification from two consecutive quorum-required meetings would be classified as structurally absent. Such members would face temporary suspension of fifty percent of their compensation for the following month, with automatic reinstatement upon resuming their attendance duties.

Valid exemptions would include documented illness, official government duties, and circumstances of force majeure. Assembly Chair Ashwin Adhin, who received the formally registered proposal on Tuesday, would be empowered to implement the salary withholdings following consultation with the clerk, while also maintaining transparent records of absences and providing periodic reports.

The proponents emphasize that the measure is not intended as punitive but as a proportional corrective mechanism. ‘Providing quorum is not a favor to the coalition or opposition—it is a duty to the people,’ stated Somohardjo. Both legislators assert that the initiative transcends political gamesmanship, seeking instead to reinforce institutional credibility and professional responsibility among elected representatives.

The proposal now awaits formal consideration and scheduling by the National Assembly, potentially marking a transformative step toward greater parliamentary accountability in Suriname’s democratic processes.