Carib Scope

标签： Suriname

苏里南

  • Hormuz centraal in VS-Iran onderhandelingen, Golfregio bezorgd

    Hormuz centraal in VS-Iran onderhandelingen, Golfregio bezorgd

    Amid escalating regional tensions between the US, Israel and Iran, a stark warning from former Russian president and current deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council Dmitry Medvedev has amplified long-simmering anxieties among Gulf Arab states over the upcoming US-Iran negotiations scheduled to take place in Islamabad. Senior regional officials and independent analysts now confirm that the talks will center heavily on two core issues: capping Iran’s uranium enrichment program and addressing Tehran’s growing control over the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most critical chokepoint for global oil shipments. Less priority will be placed on two longstanding Western demands: rolling back Iran’s ballistic missile program and curbing its network of regional proxy militias.

    Gulf state officials have sounded the alarm that this narrowed negotiating approach carries significant risk: rather than breaking Iran’s grip on Middle Eastern energy infrastructure, it would simply formalize and manage Tehran’s influence, leaving the nations most vulnerable to energy and security disruptions shut out of key decision-making processes. Sources close to Gulf regional governments note that US-Iran diplomacy is currently focused almost entirely on accepting Iran’s existing leverage over Hormuz in exchange for limits on uranium enrichment. Even as talks remain deadlocked over the scope of permitted enrichment — Iran has rejected demands for zero enrichment and the export of its existing stockpiles — the shift in negotiating priorities has already sparked deep concern among regional leaders.

    “Ultimately, Hormuz has become the new red line,” one senior Gulf government source explained. “It was not the red line before, but it is now. The core objectives of these talks have fundamentally shifted.”

    During the latest round of regional conflict, Iran broke longstanding geopolitical taboos by openly threatening to block the Strait of Hormuz, transforming the waterway for the first time into a tangible negotiating weapon. In an April 8 post on the social platform X, Medvedev highlighted this new strategic reality, writing: “It is unclear how a ceasefire between Washington and Tehran will play out, but one thing is certain: Iran has already tested its nuclear weapon, and it is called the Strait of Hormuz. Its potential is inexhaustible.”

    Medvedev’s comment underscores how Iran now uses its geographic control of the strait as a strategic leverage tool to raise costs for Western powers and set the terms of engagement without crossing the explicit nuclear threshold. This perspective is confirmed by senior Iranian security sources. One high-ranking Iranian security official described the strait as a “priceless golden asset derived from Iran’s geographic position that the world cannot take away.” A second source close to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard further confirmed that the taboo against openly threatening to close the strait has now been permanently broken.

    The international community has reacted with widespread concern to these shifting dynamics. The United States has repeatedly emphasized that unimpeded passage through the strategic waterway is non-negotiable for global energy markets and international security. A senior US defense official stated: “We will deploy every necessary measure to uphold freedom of navigation and protect the global oil supply.”

    The European Union has called for restraint and urgent diplomatic action to prevent further escalation. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell noted: “It is critically important that Iran and the US resolve their differences through dialogue and minimize the risk of disruptions to global energy supplies.”

    Gulf states, particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, are monitoring the situation closely. An anonymous Gulf diplomat warned: “Prolonged instability in the Strait of Hormuz would have catastrophic consequences for our national economies and the entire global market. We urge a compromise that upholds the security and sovereignty of all nations in the region.”

    As one of the world’s largest importers of Middle Eastern oil, China has also called for regional stability. A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “We support peaceful diplomatic resolutions and emphasize the importance of unimpeded passage for all international trade.”

    Against this backdrop, tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz remain a persistent flashpoint for geopolitical instability, with far-reaching implications for global energy security and international relations.

  • Herinneringen aan Albert Adama

    Herinneringen aan Albert Adama

    On April 16, 2026, the global energy community and Surinamese literary world lost one of their most distinguished figures: Albert Wilhelm David Adama, who passed away in Leidschendam, the Netherlands, at the age of 88. Born in Paramaribo, Suriname, in February 1938, Adama built a remarkable multi-faceted career spanning energy expertise, academic research, consulting and literature, leaving indelible marks on both his professional fields and Surinamese cultural life.

    This tribute, written by his close friend Carlo Jadnanansing, traces Adama’s life journey from his early years in the Caribbean to his decades of global work. Adama spent part of his childhood in Curaçao before returning to Suriname, and after completing his secondary education, he moved to the Netherlands to pursue higher studies, graduating with distinction from Delft University of Technology. He later continued his academic career in the United States, earning his PhD from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he developed deep specialized expertise in the energy sector, with a particular focus on oil and gas. Over the course of his career, he supplemented his professional knowledge with postgraduate training in management, organizational studies, information technology and nuclear energy technology at leading institutions in Brussels, Paris, London and across the United States.

    Adama’s professional career took him across continents. From 1967 to 1968, he worked in Nigeria and served as a professor at the University of Nsukka. In 1981, he established himself as an independent consultant specializing in energy, information technology and related fields, advising governments and industry stakeholders across the globe. He remained active in his native Suriname well into his later years, contributing his expertise as a consultant to key national energy projects: he co-authored Suriname’s new Electricity Act, helped establish the Energy Authority Suriname, and drafted the terms of reference for the country’s national energy sector plan. He also maintained a steady output of academic and public writing, with his last published article on the development of Suriname’s Gran Morgu oil field and national welfare fund appearing on Starnieuws as recently as October 2024.

    Beyond his professional achievements in energy, Adama was a gifted writer, poet and cultural scholar whose literary work has enriched Surinamese literature. In 2019, he published his memoir-novel *En toen was het even stil* (And Then There Was Silence for a Moment), which chronicled his life experiences and encounters with notable figures around the world, establishing his reputation as a serious literary voice. One of his most acclaimed short stories, *Blaka Perka (Black Pearl)*, set in Suriname, centers on the theme of human impermanence, showcasing his elegant prose and thoughtful perspective. He was also a deeply knowledgeable scholar of Afro-Surinamese culture, fluent in the Sranan language, a skill he retained even after spending most of his life outside Suriname. His poetry, often written in Sranan, blends his cultural roots with his personal spiritual and philosophical outlook, which was shaped by a freethinking approach to life that combined his Christian upbringing with a nuanced, open-ended spirituality.

    Jadnanansing first met Adama decades ago at the De Waterkant society in The Hague, where Adama was a prominent member and a key organizer of lectures, cultural and academic events. What struck Jadnanansing from their first encounter was Adama’s warm, approachable demeanor, his genuine smile and his considerate way of interacting with everyone he met. Their close friendship deepened in the early 2000s through their shared involvement with the Het Park outdoor society in the Netherlands, where Adama was a regular guest when he was not staying in Suriname. A self-identified cosmopolitan, Adama felt equally at home in France, across Africa and in Europe, having worked in nearly every region of the world over his long career.

    In closing his tribute, Jadnanansing reflected on Adama’s life: Adama lived exactly as he wanted, surrounding himself with interesting, impactful people, and made fundamental contributions to energy development across many nations, including his beloved native Suriname. “Moge jouw ziel de eeuwige vrede ten deel vallen,” he wrote — May your soul find eternal peace.

  • Amnesty noemt Netanyahu, Putin en Trump vraatzuchtige roofdieren

    Amnesty noemt Netanyahu, Putin en Trump vraatzuchtige roofdieren

    In its 2025 annual global human rights assessment published Tuesday, Amnesty International has identified Israel, Russia, and the United States as the primary actors responsible for a dramatic erosion of fundamental human rights protections across the globe. The leading global human rights organization has labeled the three nations’ top leaders — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and US President Donald Trump — as “greedy predators” that pursue economic and political dominance at the direct expense of core human freedoms.

    Amnesty Secretary-General Agnes Callamard told reporters at a London press briefing that the fragile international order painstakingly constructed in the aftermath of World War II suffered sharp, destructive reversals over the course of 2025. “A global environment where primitive cruelty can flourish has been building for a long time,” Callamard said, warning that the deterioration of rights protections has reached a critical tipping point.

    Callamard criticized the global community’s muted response to these power holders, noting that most governments have chosen to appease rather than confront the three major nations accused of widespread abuses. She further cautioned that a growing number of countries have even begun to replicate the authoritarian and rights-violating behavior of these major powers. Spain was singled out as a rare exception, recognized for its open, unflinching criticism of Israeli military operations in Gaza and joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran.

    The 100+ page report devotes extensive coverage to three major conflict zones where international law has been systematically discarded: the ongoing Israeli campaign in Gaza that Amnesty classifies as genocide, Russia’s ongoing commission of crimes against humanity in Ukraine, and the escalating military confrontation against Iran led jointly by the US and Israel. Beyond these high-profile conflicts, the report documents a global rise in authoritarian governance and widespread violations of civilian rights in dozens of nations.

    Notable examples of ongoing abuses cited include systematic exclusion of women from education and employment by the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, inadequate investigations into gender-based violence against Dalit women in Nepal, and heavy-handed government repression of pro-Palestinian solidarity movements in the United Kingdom. The report lays out devastating human costs of the ongoing crises: since Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza in October 2023, more than 72,500 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes, with over 40,000 more suffering life-altering, permanent injuries. In Ukraine, more than 15,000 civilians have been killed since Russia’s full-scale invasion began, while broader regional conflicts across the Middle East have left tens of thousands dead and millions forcibly displaced from their homes.

    Callamard emphasized that these ongoing wars and mass atrocities are rooted in a shifting global norm that has normalized violence against civilian populations, adding that no meaningful, effective action has been taken to hold Israel accountable for its repeated violations of international human rights standards. Despite the grim overall assessment, the report also identifies glimmers of progress that offer cautious hope for the future. These include widespread mass protests against human rights abuses and war crimes held across the globe, the growing number of nations backing South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, and ongoing legal action by the International Criminal Court targeting accused perpetrators including former Filipino leaders and Taliban commanders.

  • Column: Corruptie als systeem: wie houdt nog toezicht op de toezichthouders?

    Column: Corruptie als systeem: wie houdt nog toezicht op de toezichthouders?

    A long-standing pattern of unaddressed misconduct at the Surinamese state-owned enterprise Canawaima has pulled back the curtain on deep-rooted systemic failures in the oversight of the country’s public sector entities, a pattern that has persisted across successive government changes.

    Every transition of power in Suriname follows a familiar routine: supervisory boards (Raden van Commissarissen, or RvCs) and executive teams at all state-owned companies are replaced. The theory promises fresh leadership, a new strategic direction, and strengthened independent oversight. In practice, however, the only meaningful shift tends to be who gets to hold the levers of power – while long-standing structural problems remain untouched.

    The core mandate of a supervisory board is clear: to provide independent oversight, enforce accountability, and safeguard good governance. But what happens when the overseers themselves become the source of corruption and mismanagement? Long before many newly appointed supervisory boards and executive teams have even settled into their roles, allegations of impropriety have already emerged across multiple state entities. Irregularities have been flagged at Suriname’s Telecommunications Authority, the Central Milk Board, and the State Health Insurance Fund. At gold mining firm Grassalco, investigations have been repeatedly announced, but no results have ever been made public, and no officials have been held to account for wrongdoing.

    The latest controversy to erupt centers on Canawaima, the critical ferry and transport enterprise connecting Suriname and Guyana. What is unfolding at the company is no isolated scandal – it is a clear symptom of a much deeper systemic rot across Suriname’s public sector. The Canawaima trade union, led by Dayanand Dwarka, has already formally revoked its confidence in the company’s supervisory board and sounded the alarm over pervasive misconduct.

    The allegations leveled against the board are severe: conflict of interest, widespread financial mismanagement, and the routine overstepping of institutional authority. Rather than limiting itself to independent oversight, the board has directly inserted itself into the day-to-day operational management of the company. In effect, the referee has stepped onto the field to play the game – while also controlling the final score. This is not simply poor governance; it is outright abuse of power.

    The accusations go even further. There is documented evidence that financial flows within the company are routed through opaque structures linked directly to supervisory board members. These include shell companies registered in the names of board members’ family members, questionable invoicing practices, and entirely non-transparent transactions. Far from being isolated missteps, these patterns point to a systemic scheme that diverts public funds toward private gain.

    Crucially, Canawaima does not have to be a troubled enterprise. It boasts strong revenue-generating capacity and holds a strategically vital role in cross-border trade and connectivity between Suriname and Guyana, moving massive volumes of capital through its operations annually. Yet for years, that revenue has been captured by executives and overseers who have manipulated the system for their own benefit. The core problem is that state-owned enterprises are not being governed – they are being hollowed out from the inside, even as top officials draw exorbitantly high public salaries.

    A bitter power struggle has paralyzed Canawaima’s operations. The company’s terminal manager has come under intense fire from the board, while he in turn accuses the supervisory board of repeated overreach and unethical behavior. The end result is institutional chaos that has strained service delivery, leaving ordinary Surinamese citizens to bear the consequences of elite infighting and corruption.

    Despite the mounting evidence, no decisive action has been taken to address the crisis. Suriname’s president has repeatedly pledged to crack down hard on corruption and promised that no wrongdoer will be protected. But on-the-ground reality tells a different story: dossiers of alleged misconduct pile up, investigations drag on indefinitely, and meaningful sanctions are never imposed. The current system does not correct itself – it protects insiders. Corruption is no longer an aberration; it has become a profitable business model, one that survives on public funds and persists because there are no consequences for misconduct.

    The question that lingers over Suriname’s public sector is as simple as it is confronting: who will watch the watchmen? As long as supervisory boards themselves face credible allegations of corruption and self-dealing, the entire concept of independent oversight becomes a meaningless farce. Without credible oversight, good governance becomes nothing more than an illusion, and state-owned enterprises become nothing more than playthings for powerful personal interests.

    What Suriname needs right now is not another unpublicized investigation that will be buried in a government drawer. What it requires is genuine political will to intervene impartially, hold wrongdoers to account regardless of their standing, and attach real consequences to misconduct. Until that happens, the broken system will remain intact – and ordinary Surinamese society will continue to pay the price.

  • Regering belooft ingrijpen bij Canawaima: RvC onder druk na crisis

    Regering belooft ingrijpen bij Canawaima: RvC onder druk na crisis

    A brewing governance scandal at Suriname’s state-owned Canawaima Management Company (CMC) erupted into open industrial action this week, prompting the country’s transport ministry to commit to sweeping leadership changes at the firm, which operates the critical cross-border ferry link between Suriname and Guyana.

    The crisis escalated sharply on Monday when employees launched a short strike to protest alleged conflicts of interest and improper operational interference by CMC’s Supervisory Board (RvC). Following the industrial action, union leadership pulled its full confidence in the current board and formally called on Minister of Transport, Communication and Tourism Raymond Landveld to step in to resolve the mismanagement.

    Dayanand Dwarka, chair of CMC’s employees’ union, told reporters after meeting with the minister that the situation had become untenable for staff. “What has already come to light is not only confirmed to be true, it is likely just the tip of the iceberg of broader irregularities within the company,” Dwarka said. In response to the union’s demands, Landveld gave a firm commitment to intervene in the company’s leadership, after which workers agreed to resume their duties.

    The call for government intervention was not limited to union representatives. Lesley Daniël, CMC’s newly appointed terminal manager, also submitted a formal written request to Landveld, urging urgent and decisive action to address the internal turmoil. The walkout immediately disrupted daily ferry operations connecting Suriname and Guyana, a key trade and travel route that highlights the stakes of the ongoing crisis for cross-border activity.

    Two senior members of the current Supervisory Board — president-commissioner Richenel Vrieze and board member Edgar van Genderen — defended their actions in a separate letter sent to Landveld on Monday. The pair argued that the board was forced to intervene directly in daily company operations because senior management failed to address persistent disorder in both the ferry service and the company’s human resources structure.

    The board leaders did not directly address the specific allegations of conflict of interest leveled against them, including claims related to payments to companies that Vrieze holds personal stakes in. They confirmed that invoices and other financial documentation for these companies have not yet been submitted to CMC’s executive leadership, claiming the documents were stolen while Vrieze was attending a staff meeting on board the company’s ferry.

    Their explanation has failed to ease government concerns, according to Dwarka, who said Landveld has committed to removing both Vrieze and van Genderen from their positions. Minister Landveld is also currently considering replacing the entire Supervisory Board to resolve the crisis. Dwarka emphasized that only structural organizational changes will be enough to rebuild trust among staff and restore stable operations at the critical state-owned enterprise.

  • 53 deelnemers in Nickerie getraind voor werk in toerisme en dienstverlening

    53 deelnemers in Nickerie getraind voor werk in toerisme en dienstverlening

    Fifty-three job seekers in Suriname’s western district of Nickerie have successfully completed a fully government-subsidized professional training program to qualify as Customer Experience Officers, marking a key milestone in the country’s workforce development initiative aimed at boosting local employment.

    The five-day, practice-focused training was delivered by the Suriname Hospitality and Tourism Training Centre Foundation (SHTTC), and forms part of the national Leri Fu Feni Wroko initiative. This falls under the broader Training for Employment program, run by the Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Labor of Suriname with financial and logistical backing from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The curriculum centered on building high-demand core professional competencies, including customer-centric thinking, interpersonal communication, service delivery excellence, and professional workplace etiquette—skills that translate across multiple growing sectors of Suriname’s economy.

    At the recent certificate awarding ceremony, Deputy Minister Raj Jadnanansing emphasized that earning the professional certification is not the final outcome of the program, but rather the foundational starting point for participants’ new professional careers. All graduates will continue to receive personalized support and guidance as they pursue open roles in the local labor market. Jadnanansing noted that the government’s targeted investment in these skills training programs directly responds to the need to strengthen Suriname’s overall workforce, with a particular focus on expanding opportunities for young people in Nickerie.

    He also highlighted the growing range of employment opportunities opening up in the district, particularly in the expanding tourism sector. Western Suriname is projected to see strong economic growth in coming years, driven in large part by ongoing development in the region’s burgeoning oil and gas sector, which will create ripple effects across hospitality, customer service, and supporting industries.

    Representatives from all partner organizations, including the IDB, SHTTC, and the Nickerie district administration, echoed the deputy minister’s remarks, reinforcing the critical role of upskilling programs in reducing local unemployment and driving inclusive economic growth. They encouraged graduates to remain proactive in continuing their professional development and engaging with placement support services to secure sustainable employment.

    Looking ahead, the Surinamese government has confirmed that additional rounds of this fully subsidized professional training will be organized in Nickerie in the future, aligned with local labor market demand and the needs of job seekers in the district.

  • Tsjaad stuurt 1.500 troepen naar Haïti als onderdeel van VN-veiligheidsmacht

    Tsjaad stuurt 1.500 troepen naar Haïti als onderdeel van VN-veiligheidsmacht

    PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI – As Haiti grapples with a spiraling humanitarian and security crisis fueled by powerful gang coalitions that control most of the capital, the central African nation of Chad has formally committed to deploying 1,500 additional troops to the UN-endorsed multinational security mission tasked with stabilizing the Caribbean country. The announcement, made public Monday via a letter from the Chadian presidential office to the country’s national parliament, marks a major boost to the understaffed mission, which has long fallen short of its personnel recruitment targets.

    According to the official document, the first contingent of Chadian troops – roughly 400 service members – already arrived in Haiti on April 1, and is now operating under the command of the newly restructured UN mission leadership, which was reorganized late last year. Chad’s full deployment will consist of two full battalions of 750 troops each, with the entire force serving a 12-month tour of duty starting this month.

    Prior to Chad’s commitment, the multinational mission counted approximately 1,000 international personnel on the ground, most of whom are police officers from Kenya, supplemented by small specialized units from several Central American and Caribbean nations. The voluntary mission originally set an initial target of 2,500 troops, but as of early 2025, it had only reached 40% of that goal. That figure prompted UN security officials to raise the overall official target to 5,500 personnel by August this year, a milestone that Chad’s contribution will go a long way toward helping the coalition meet.

    The deployment boost comes as security conditions across Haiti continue to deteriorate, despite incremental efforts by international forces to push back against gang control. Over the past years of escalating conflict, the number of Haitians displaced by gang violence has skyrocketed from just over 133,000 to more than 1.4 million, with thousands of civilian lives lost to rampant attacks, sexual violence, and territorial clashes between rival factions. Once confined to the capital Port-au-Prince, gangs have now expanded their influence into rural areas surrounding the city, and the dominant gang alliance Viv Ansanm maintains de facto control over most of Port-au-Prince’s northeastern neighborhoods.

    In a small sign of incremental progress earlier this month, notorious gang leader Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier ordered his followers to withdraw from several northeastern Port-au-Prince districts and called on former residents to return to their homes. That move allowed hundreds of displaced residents to go back to the Delmas 30 neighborhood, though widespread insecurity persists across much of the country.

    The ongoing chaos has also derailed Haiti’s political transition: general elections have been repeatedly delayed, with the last national vote held a full decade ago. Compounding the crisis, a recent UN internal report has documented allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation committed by some members of the international security mission, adding another layer of challenge to the already fraught stabilization effort.

  • Gestolen bronzen borstbeeld ex-wnd. president teruggevonden; twee verdachten aangehouden

    Gestolen bronzen borstbeeld ex-wnd. president teruggevonden; twee verdachten aangehouden

    PARAMARIBO, Suriname – Authorities in Suriname have taken two suspects into custody as part of an investigation into the theft of a bronze bust honoring Fred Ramdat Misier, the country’s former acting president, law enforcement agencies confirmed April 20. The memorial statue, which stood on public display outside the Canton Civil courthouse on Grote Combéweg, was found by investigators after its disappearance but had already sustained severe damage, investigators reported.

    Preliminary probes into the theft have traced the heist to the night between April 11 and 12, when the perpetrators ripped the bust from its stone pedestal and carried it away from the public site. Following their arrest, the two unnamed suspects were transported to a local police station for an initial court hearing. After coordinating with the Public Prosecution Service, authorities ordered the pair be remanded in custody while the criminal investigation continues.

    The family of the late former president had previously publicly called for urgent action from the country’s leadership, releasing an open letter addressed to President Jennifer Simons demanding swift, decisive intervention from law enforcement. For the Ramdat Misier family, the crime is far more than the theft of a single piece of public art: they frame it as a deliberate attack on the dignity of a former head of state and an insult to the Republic of Suriname itself. Created by renowned local artist Erwin de Vries, the bust is widely recognized as a core national symbol of constitutional accountability, the rule of law, and the continuity of Suriname’s national governance.

    Beyond the theft of this specific monument, the family has also raised alarms about what they call a growing pattern of historical monument theft in central Paramaribo. They warn that these repeated thefts systematically erode Suriname’s cultural heritage and erase the foundations of the nation’s collective memory, calling for broader action to protect other public memorials across the capital.

  • Japan versoepelt tsunami-waarschuwing na aardbeving met kracht van 7,7

    Japan versoepelt tsunami-waarschuwing na aardbeving met kracht van 7,7

    On April 20, 2026, a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake jolted the northeast coast of Japan, prompting immediate emergency measures across the affected region. The seismic event struck at 16:53 local time, with its epicenter located 20 kilometers beneath the surface of the Pacific Ocean, registering an intensity of “above 5” on Japan’s domestic seismic scale — strong enough to complicate walking and cause unreinforced concrete walls to collapse.

    Immediately after the quake, Japanese meteorological authorities issued a full tsunami warning, projecting that waves as high as 3 meters could crash into low-lying coastal communities. Two hours after the initial tremor, however, the largest tsunami wave recorded reached just 80 centimeters, leading officials to downgrade the alert to an advisory level. Government spokesperson Minoru Kihara confirmed in an early press briefing that as of the initial assessment, no reports of casualties or major infrastructure damage had been received.

    Evacuation orders were swiftly issued to thousands of residents in multiple port cities, including Otsuchi and Kamaishi — two communities that were devastated by the catastrophic 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. In the wake of the main quake, temporary disruptions to transportation rolled out across the region: all bullet train services were suspended, and several major highways were closed to prevent accidents from aftershocks. No operating nuclear power plants are located in the affected area, and operators Hokkaido Electric Power and Tohoku Electric Power reported no anomalies at their idled facilities in the region, easing fears of a repeat of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.

    Despite the initial lack of severe harm, Japanese officials have warned the public to remain on high alert in the coming week. The Japan Meteorological Agency notes that the probability of a follow-up major earthquake measuring magnitude 8 or higher has risen from the typical 0.1% to approximately 1% in the seven days after the 7.7-magnitude event. A senior government official emphasized the critical need for ongoing preparation, urging residents: “Protect your own life and take preventive measures.”

    Japan sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a geologically active region marked by frequent volcanic and seismic activity, making it one of the most earthquake-prone countries on Earth. On average, the country experiences a seismic event every five minutes, and it accounts for roughly 20% of all magnitude 6.0 or higher earthquakes recorded globally. This long history of seismic risk has shaped the country’s strict emergency preparedness protocols, which were activated within minutes of Monday’s tremor.

  • Parmessar: ingrijpen GBB eerste stap, maar volledige transparantie blijft nodig

    Parmessar: ingrijpen GBB eerste stap, maar volledige transparantie blijft nodig

    In a recent interview with local outlet Starnieuws, National Democratic Party (NDP) parliamentary faction leader Rabin Parmessar has characterized the intervention by Suriname’s Ministry of Land Policy and Forest Management (GBB) into controversial land allocations near the western border town of Apoera as a welcome but incomplete first step toward correcting systemic irregularities in state land distribution. Parmessar, who first raised the alarm about unscrupulous mass land allocation in Suriname’s National Assembly, argues that full transparency has yet to be achieved over the process.

    The NDP leader’s investigation has uncovered that hundreds of hectares of state-controlled land have been allocated to private individuals over the past five years, a process he says was carried out through blatantly unlawful administrative procedures. Following his initial exposure of the issue, he called on GBB Minister Stanley Soeropawiro to reverse all improper allocations within a tight timeframe, and to return all wrongfully transferred land to full state ownership.

    Parmessar stresses that the demand for reversal stretches far beyond the contested plots between Nickerie and Apoera, the region currently at the center of public attention. His review of land records also identifies improperly allocated island parcels in the Corantijn River region and the area surrounding the Suriname Reservoir, all of which he says must revert to state control. Additionally, he has drawn attention to agricultural land and experimental test plots managed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (LVV), which he claims were privately allocated between 2020 and 2025. These lands were originally reserved for public use and agricultural development, so Parmessar argues they too must be brought back under state management to serve the broader public good.

    While Parmessar confirms he is satisfied that Minister Soeropawiro has taken preliminary action in response to his earlier calls for intervention, he emphasizes that the process of correcting the illegal allocations is far from over. He is calling on the GBB to publish a full, public inventory of every plot of land that has been privately allocated across all affected regions, alongside a detailed breakdown of all corrective measures that have already been implemented.

    “This is only the first step,” Parmessar told reporters. “We need to know exactly which lands have been returned to the state, and what remains to be done to correct all the outstanding irregularities.” The GBB had previously announced it would cancel multiple pending statements of willingness for land parcels along the Apoera access road, and launch a new legal review of a large plot located in South Drain, moves that represented the first official government response to the scandal Parmessar brought to light.