标签: Suriname

苏里南

  • Saleh nieuwe voorzitter Surinaamse Libanese Vereniging; inzet op vernieuwing en groei

    Saleh nieuwe voorzitter Surinaamse Libanese Vereniging; inzet op vernieuwing en groei

    PARAMARIBO, Suriname – April 20, 2026 – The Suriname Lebanese Association (SLV), one of the country’s longest-standing community cultural organizations, has ushered in a new governing board during its recent leadership election held Saturday, with longtime community member George Saleh selected to serve as the group’s new chairman.
    Joining Saleh on the seven-member new board are Daniel Nouh Chaia, George Frangie, Aegina Brahim, Giselle Helou, Munira Issa and Emely Issa, who will collectively guide the association’s activities and strategic direction through their upcoming term.
    Founded in 1996, the SLV is marking its 30th year of serving the Lebanese community in Suriname this year, a milestone that frames the new leadership’s priorities. In his inaugural address after the vote, Saleh described his appointment as both a profound honor and a weighty responsibility, extending sincere gratitude to association members for the trust they placed in his leadership team.
    Saleh emphasized that while the SLV has built a powerful legacy rooted in long-held tradition and a tightly connected community, the organization must continue to adapt and innovate to remain relevant and resilient for future generations of members.
    Among the core policy priorities of the new board is a comprehensive modernization of the SLV’s bylaws, a change designed to make the organization’s operations more transparent and efficient for both members and stakeholders. Beyond governance reform, the board plans to expand the association’s programming, adding new cultural and social events that cater to community members of all age groups, from youth to older residents.
    Existing popular annual events that have become staples of the SLV’s calendar – including Family Day, the community men’s cookout, Maria Day, and the traditional hafli celebration – will remain on the schedule, with new initiatives rolled out to complement these beloved gatherings.
    Another central pillar of the new board’s agenda is preserving and passing down Lebanese cultural heritage to younger community members. This work centers on protecting core traditions, celebrating Lebanese culinary identity, and reinforcing shared cultural values including radical hospitality and strong intergenerational family bonds. The board also plans to upgrade the association’s internal administrative systems and expand its community network, most notably through the launch of a new “Friends of the SLV” membership initiative open to broader community supporters.
    Closing his address, Saleh called on all SLV members to deepen their engagement and collaborate closely with the new leadership to strengthen the association and build a sustainable, future-ready organization that can serve the Suriname Lebanese community for decades to come.

  • Blokkade Straat van Hormuz remt Iran-VS gesprekken

    Blokkade Straat van Hormuz remt Iran-VS gesprekken

    Tensions between Iran and the United States have reached a new boiling point in the Middle East, with Tehran issuing a non-negotiable precondition for the next round of planned peace talks set to take place in Islamabad, multiple informed sources have confirmed. Iran will only participate in the negotiations if Washington immediately lifts its ongoing naval blockade of Iranian ports, a position that has been formally backed by both a senior insider source speaking to Al Jazeera and Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan.

    Pakistan, which is facilitating the proposed talks, has launched intensive diplomatic outreach to push for Iran’s participation: both the country’s prime minister and foreign minister have held direct talks with Iran’s president and foreign minister to persuade Tehran to join the dialogue, while Iran’s Supreme National Security Council convened a special meeting to deliberate on the decision. Despite these diplomatic efforts, deep skepticism persists across Tehran’s leadership. Iranian officials and insiders warn that the talks could drag on indefinitely without any concrete progress on two core demands: the full lifting of crippling Western sanctions and the unfreezing of billions of dollars in Iranian assets held overseas. Additional distrust stems from past negotiation rounds, which were ultimately followed by joint US-Israeli military conflict, leading Iranian sources to frame the current talks proposal as a potential strategic distraction rather than a genuine path to peace. Official Iranian state media has further underscored this position, with the state news agency IRIB confirming that Tehran currently has no plans to attend the next round of talks, while other local outlets point to the ongoing blockade and what they call Washington’s “unreasonable and unrealistic demands” as major barriers to any productive dialogue.

    The diplomatic standoff has been compounded by a recent military escalation, announced by former US President Donald Trump: US forces seized an Iranian cargo vessel, the Touska, as it attempted to pass through the US blockade near the Strait of Hormuz. According to Trump, the vessel’s crew ignored repeated warnings from a US guided-missile destroyer operating in the Gulf of Oman, prompting US forces to damage the ship’s engine room before US Marines boarded and seized the vessel.

    In response to what Tehran calls “armed piracy” by the US, Iran’s military has issued a formal warning of imminent retaliation. A spokesperson for the Khatam Al-Anbiya military command told Iranian news agency ISNA that the Islamic Republic of Iran will respond soon and carry out retribution for the US military action.

    The escalating tensions have already sent shockwaves through global energy markets, driving a sharp spike in international crude oil prices. On Monday, the US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) jumped 7.5% to settle at $90.17 per barrel, while the global benchmark Brent crude rose 6.5% to hit $96.27 per barrel. Data from shipping analytics firm Kpler shows that more than 20 vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, the highest daily volume since March 1, including five vessels carrying Iranian cargoes such as oil products and metals.

    The ongoing crisis carries sweeping global economic consequences, as the Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical chokepoints for global energy trade. Before the current blockade was imposed, roughly 20% of the world’s daily oil supply passed through the waterway. The recent escalation-driven jump in oil prices is already fueling broader inflationary pressures, pushing up costs for consumers across every continent. Higher fuel prices trigger a cascading effect across global supply chains, raising operating costs for transportation and manufacturing sectors that are core to global economic growth, a dynamic that many economists warn could slow overall global expansion. Oil-importing developing nations are disproportionately vulnerable to these price spikes, with the potential to exacerbate existing domestic political and social unrest. Global markets and businesses are already reacting to the heightened uncertainty, with persistent price increases putting additional pressure on household budgets and pushing up costs for nearly all goods and services. For central banks around the world, this creates a difficult policy balancing act between supporting stagnant economic growth and taming persistent rising prices.

  • Column: Onderwijs, de onmisbare bouwsteen voor mens en natie

    Column: Onderwijs, de onmisbare bouwsteen voor mens en natie

    Education is far more than the simple acquisition of literacy, numeracy, and rote facts. It is the foundational catalyst for individual self-development, collective societal advancement and long-term national growth. Through education, people uncover their innate talents, cultivate critical thinking capabilities, and learn to engage meaningfully and actively with their communities. For nations, investing in robust education systems is synonymous with investing in long-term prosperity: a skilled, knowledgeable population drives continuous innovation, fuels sustainable economic expansion, and preserves social cohesion.

    This inherent value of education is deeply understood by millions of parents and children across communities, who hold tight to the belief that education can break down systemic barriers and transform their life trajectories. Indra Toelsie, the author of this commentary, shares a personal reflection on this truth: her own parents, neither of whom completed primary education, sacrificed relentlessly to ensure their children could access secondary and higher education. Rain or shine, her father traveled with her across the region on his old Zundapp motorcycle to the education library, collecting reference materials for school assignments. He helped cut and paste materials for school projects, reached out to colleagues for hard-to-find information, and offered constant guidance. For Toelsie’s parents, education was the most valuable gift they could give their children, and no effort to support their schooling was too great.

    Yet, this clear understanding of education’s importance is alarmingly missing from many current policy making circles, Toelsie argues. Instead of committing to long-term, structural investments in school infrastructure, educator development, and accessible learning resources, a deeply concerning trend has emerged: policy making is increasingly driven by short-term populism. Politicians prioritize flashy, superficial policy measures that win quick public support over the durable, systematic reforms that would actually strengthen education systems from the ground up. As critics have repeatedly highlighted, modern education policy is trapped in a constant cycle of unplanned, half-baked experiments that leave the system adrift. This constant upheaval breeds widespread frustration among both educators and students, leaving the sector with no clear long-term vision or roadmap for where it aims to be decades from now.

    This populist-driven approach to education policy is not just unproductive—it is dangerous and short-sighted, Toelsie warns. By failing to give education the top policy priority it deserves, leaders are eroding the future prospects not only of today’s youth, but of the entire nation. Populist education measures may deliver quick electoral gains for politicians, but they fail to address the root structural challenges holding the sector back. In fact, they exacerbate existing gaps, leading to wider skills deficits and growing social inequality over time.

    The shifting priorities facing the education workforce also demand urgent attention. While countless educators remain deeply committed to their students and their craft, growing financial pressures are increasingly pushing passion for teaching and student development to the background. Many teachers report feeling demoralized and undervalued, leading them to invest less time and energy in their own professional growth and their students’ development than the system requires. The core mission of nurturing young people is increasingly being sidelined by competing priorities.

    Toelsie emphasizes that no child is inherently incapable; every person carries a unique set of talents and skills waiting to be nurtured. Unlocking that potential requires well-designed, functional systemic structures, and that responsibility falls squarely on policy makers. They must craft policies that make learning accessible, enjoyable, and motivating for all students. Meaningful innovation in education is also non-negotiable: learning should not be limited to theoretical instruction, but should expand opportunities for hands-on, practical experience, from structured company site visits to educational trips to cultural institutions like museums.

    Every parent wants the best possible opportunities for their children, greater or equal to what they themselves received. Not every student can afford to study abroad or secure a competitive scholarship; the vast majority of young people must rely on their domestic public education system to build their futures. When that system fails to deliver, leaving both students and teachers discouraged and disempowered, the long-term stability and prosperity of entire societies is put at risk.

    It is long past time for policy makers to step up and accept their core responsibility, Toelsie concludes. Education must be restored to its rightful place at the very top of the national policy agenda, recognized as the irreplaceable building block of both individual flourishing and national strength.

  • Crisis bij Canawaima: beschuldigingen van belangenverstrengeling en machtsstrijd

    Crisis bij Canawaima: beschuldigingen van belangenverstrengeling en machtsstrijd

    A simmering power struggle between executive leadership and the newly appointed supervisory board at state-owned Canawaima Management Company (CMC) is on the brink of a major escalation, with the firm’s terminal manager calling for urgent intervention from the national government. In a formal letter addressed to Raymond Landveld, Suriname’s Minister of Transport, Communication and Tourism, terminal manager Lesley Daniël has laid out detailed allegations against the company’s Raad van Commissarissen (RvC, Supervisory Board), accusing the body of systematically overstepping its mandated oversight role and encroaching on day-to-day operational management.

    Internal documents reviewed by local media outlet Starnieuws corroborate Daniël’s claims that the new RvC has been making executive decisions that fall outside the scope of its supervisory mandate. These unauthorized actions include signing off on major investment commitments, approving new staff hires, and signing off on day-to-day operational expenditures, according to the documentation.

    What has sharply intensified the conflict are emerging allegations of widespread conflicts of interest within the RvC, with particular focus falling on Richenel Vrieze, the board’s president commissioner. These claims have been independently confirmed by the trade union representing workers at the state-owned enterprise, led by Dayanand Dwarka. The union has confirmed it is aware of the problematic actions, but has not yet finalized a decision on what collective action it may take. The union’s governing body is scheduled to hold a deliberative vote on the matter this coming Monday.

    Per the reviewed documentation, multiple service contracts have been awarded to firms linked to Vrieze. The companies, which operate in procurement and repair services for CMC, are currently registered under Vrieze’s wife’s name, though public records show Vrieze was the direct owner of the businesses in prior years.

    Further financial irregularities have also been uncovered: procurement records show goods were originally purchased from a third-party firm at a lower cost, but inflated invoices were submitted for reimbursement through Vrieze-linked entities to secure higher payments. Additional documentation also reveals that apartments have been rented to one sitting RvC member from a building owned by the son of another RvC board member, creating another unreported conflict of interest.

    In response to the allegations, the RvC has pushed back against Daniël, pushing for his immediate removal from his position. Board members claim Daniël has failed to deliver sufficient performance for the state-owned firm, which has faced severe long-term financial shortfalls despite generating substantial annual revenue. The RvC accuses Daniël of drawing a high executive salary without meeting performance expectations for the role.

    The combination of toxic institutional power struggles and serious potential integrity violations has created extreme pressure on CMC’s operations and governance. In his formal request to the minister, Daniël is calling for immediate government intervention to address the perceived dysfunction and rule-breaking on the part of the current RvC, requesting targeted measures to correct the board’s overreach and resolve the alleged conflicts of interest.

  • Waterschap Corantijn Project vraagt aandacht voor tekorten tijdens bezoek aan RO

    Waterschap Corantijn Project vraagt aandacht voor tekorten tijdens bezoek aan RO

    On Friday, the governing board of the Overliggend Waterschap Multipurpose Corantijn Project (OWMCP), a key water management agency supporting Suriname’s rice industry, held an introductory working visit to the country’s Ministry of Regional Development (RO). The meeting, centered on addressing operational challenges that have hampered the agency’s core functions, brought the most pressing bottlenecks facing OWMCP to the attention of senior ministry officials.

    According to statements from the OWMCP board, the organization is currently grappling with two major interconnected issues: a significant shortage of operational funding and critical gaps in essential equipment. Compounding these problems, a large portion of the agency’s heavy machinery fleet is in poor technical condition, creating major delays and complications for ongoing and planned water management work across its service area.

    In response to the concerns raised, RO officials announced plans to conduct an on-site assessment of OWMCP’s operations and infrastructure. Ministry representatives noted that an in-person visit to the project area will give officials a first-hand, clearer understanding of the full scope of the challenges, including the current condition of the machinery, unmet resource needs, and long-standing maintenance issues affecting the region’s irrigation canals.

    The Ministry of Regional Development confirmed in its post-meeting announcement that the OWMCP board has welcomed the on-site assessment initiative, and has committed to providing full cooperation to support the ministry’s review.

    As a subsidiary agency of the Ministry of Regional Development, OWMCP plays an indispensable role in Suriname’s agricultural economy, particularly the rice sector that forms a core part of the country’s food production and export market. The agency is tasked with two critical, farmer-focused responsibilities: delivering a reliable supply of irrigation water to agricultural polders in the Nickerie district, and managing the drainage of excess floodwater from these productive farmlands to prevent crop damage.

  • Familie Ramdat Misier verontwaardigd over diefstal borstbeeld en vraagt om snel ingrijpen

    Familie Ramdat Misier verontwaardigd over diefstal borstbeeld en vraagt om snel ingrijpen

    Paramaribo, Suriname – The family of Lachmipersad Frederik “Fred” Ramdat Misier, the former head of state of Suriname who passed away, has voiced intense outrage over the theft of his bronze bust from its public pedestal along Grote Combéweg. In an official letter addressed to current Surinamese President Jennifer Simons, the family is calling for immediate, decisive intervention from national law enforcement and governmental authorities to resolve the case.

    Crafted by renowned local artist Erwin de Vries, the bust was forcibly ripped from its mounted base and stolen sometime between the evening of April 11 and the morning of April 12, according to initial official reports. Local law enforcement has already launched a full criminal investigation into the incident, though no suspects have been named publicly as of yet.

    For the Ramdat Misier family, the theft extends far beyond the loss of a single piece of public art. They frame the act as a deliberate insult to the dignity not only of the former president, but of the entire Republic of Suriname. The bust has long stood as a central public symbol of the nation’s commitment to constitutional governance, the rule of law, and unbroken national continuity, carrying deep cultural and political meaning for Surinamese society.

    Beyond this specific incident, the family has also raised alarm over what they identify as a growing pattern of targeted thefts of national monuments across Paramaribo’s historic city center. These repeated thefts, they argue, systematically erode Suriname’s irreplaceable cultural heritage and erode the collective historical memory that binds the nation together.

    In their formal appeal to the Simons administration, the family is demanding that authorities deploy all available resources to three core priorities: recover the stolen bust as quickly as possible, return it to its original public pedestal, and track down all individuals responsible for the theft to hold them accountable through the national judicial system.

    The family closed their letter by stating they hold an expectation that law enforcement and government leaders will treat this high-profile case as a top law enforcement and cultural priority for the nation.

  • Newmont stelt invoering nieuw werkrooster tijdelijk uit na overleg met overheid

    Newmont stelt invoering nieuw werkrooster tijdelijk uit na overleg met overheid

    In a recent announcement published on April 19, gold mining firm Newmont Suriname has confirmed that it will temporarily suspend the planned implementation of its new Fatigue Management Work Schedule, a decision reached following constructive consultations with key government stakeholders.

    The temporary pause in rolling out the adjusted scheduling system has been framed as an intentional step to create sufficient space for additional comprehensive evaluation of the policy, aligned with the company’s structured approach to organizational change. Newmont Suriname emphasized that its commitment to rolling out the modified work roster ultimately remains unchanged, even amid the current hold.

    Designed to address occupational health and safety risks in the mining sector, the new system was developed to better manage worker fatigue, improve overall site safety standards, and cut down on hazards linked to extended night shift rotations. Mining operations rely on round-the-clock staffing, making shift-related fatigue a critical industry-wide concern for employee well-being and operational continuity.

    Company representatives reiterated that the safety, physical health, and overall welfare of their workforce continue to stand as the firm’s top priorities. This commitment, they noted, runs parallel to their core goal of maintaining consistent, stable, and secure mining operations that meet both operational and regulatory requirements.

  • Blokkade van Straat van Hormuz legt wereldwijde olietoevoer lam

    Blokkade van Straat van Hormuz legt wereldwijde olietoevoer lam

    On Sunday, all commercial shipping traffic through the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz came to a complete standstill after Iran reasserted full control over the key waterway, escalating tensions just days ahead of the expiration of a fragile ceasefire between Tehran and Washington. The narrow strait, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, is the linchpin of global energy supply chains, and the sudden shutdown has sent fresh waves of uncertainty through global oil and natural gas markets already roiled by two months of open conflict between Iran and the United States.

    The collapse of temporary transit access came with a swift reversal from Iranian authorities. Just one day earlier, Tehran had announced it would temporarily allow unimpeded shipping passage through the strait, but walked back that commitment after accusing the U.S. of violating the existing ceasefire by maintaining its own naval blockade of Iranian commercial ports. Shortly after the reversal, at least two Indian-flagged commercial vessels reported coming under fire while attempting to traverse the waterway. Data from global ship tracking systems confirms that by early Sunday morning, no commercial traffic was moving through the 21-mile wide strait, leaving hundreds of vessels stranded on both sides of the choke point.

    This escalation comes amid eight weeks of open conflict that began on February 28, when joint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeted Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure. The war has killed thousands of people and already sent shockwaves through global energy markets. Before the outbreak of hostilities, roughly 20 percent of the world’s daily crude oil supply transited the strait, making any disruption a major risk for global economic stability.

    Peace talks mediated by Pakistan have continued, despite the rising tensions. Last week, the first direct negotiations between Iranian and U.S. delegations in decades took place in Islamabad, wrapping up without a breakthrough agreement even as both sides acknowledged limited progress. Iranian chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has stated that recent discussions with U.S. counterparts moved forward on some key points, but deep disagreements remain over two core issues: the future of Iran’s nuclear program and sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. Neither side has released detailed public information about the current status of negotiations, which are set to resume ahead of the ceasefire’s expiration on Wednesday.

    Additional security has been deployed at the Islamabad hotel hosting the talks, though measures are less stringent than during the first round of negotiations. The core sticking point in nuclear discussions remains the length of a proposed freeze on Iranian nuclear activities: U.S. negotiators have proposed a 20-year moratorium on enrichment and related development work, while Iran is only willing to agree to a three- to five-year pause.

    Top Iranian leaders have doubled down on their hardline stance in recent days. Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei declared that the Iranian Navy is fully prepared to inflict “new bitter defeats” on what Tehran labels as regional aggressors. U.S. President Donald Trump has labeled Iran’s blockade of the strait “nuclear extortion” and renewed threats of large-scale military action if a long-term comprehensive agreement is not reached before the ceasefire expires.

    The escalating crisis has already spilled over into diplomatic relations with third countries. New Delhi summoned Iran’s ambassador to protest the shooting of Indian commercial vessels, a rare public rebuke from a country that has long maintained economic and diplomatic ties with Tehran. U.S. Central Command has confirmed it continues to enforce its own naval blockade of Iranian ports, but declined to offer any comment on the latest escalation in the strait.

    While global oil prices saw a minor dip earlier last week amid hopes that shipping would resume, the shutdown has erased those early gains, and the market remains on edge heading into the week. Hundreds of commercial vessels and tens of thousands of crew members remain stranded in the Gulf region, stuck waiting for a resolution that would clear the strait for transit. With the fragile ceasefire set to expire and negotiations still deadlocked on core issues, the next three days are expected to be a critical turning point for both regional stability and the future of the global energy market.

  • Humanoïde robots lopen menselijke atleten voorbij in halve marathon in Beijing

    Humanoïde robots lopen menselijke atleten voorbij in halve marathon in Beijing

    On a race day in Beijing, the second edition of the Beijing E-Town Half Marathon made global headlines, not just for the thousands of human runners competing, but for a groundbreaking companion event that showcased how far humanoid robotics have advanced in just 12 months. When the special humanoid robot half-marathon debuted last year, most of the competing machines failed to even reach the finish line, and the fastest entry logged a time far slower than the average human competitor. This year, that narrative shifted dramatically, with dozens of China-developed humanoid robots delivering staggering improvements in speed, autonomy, and endurance over the 21-kilometer course.

    The event saw explosive growth in participation, with the number of competing robotics teams jumping from just 20 in 2024 to more than 100 in 2025. To eliminate collision risks between human and robotic runners, the two groups competed on separate parallel courses, allowing each group to push their limits without interference. When the checkered flag fell, the top spot went to the Honor Lightning humanoid, developed by Chinese smartphone manufacturer Honor — a spin-off of tech giant Huawei. Honor’s winning machine crossed the finish line in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, a time that beats the current official men’s half-marathon world record set by Jacob Kiplimo just one month prior in Lisbon. In a dominant showing, Honor claimed all three podium positions with three separate teams.

    According to Du Xiaodi, an engineer leading the project at Honor, the competing robot took one full year of targeted development to reach this performance level. Standing out for its design, the machine features 90 to 95 centimeter legs, a proportion matching that of elite human long-distance runners, and leverages advanced liquid cooling technology adapted from Honor’s smartphone designs to prevent overheating during sustained high-speed operation, a common technical challenge for bipedal robots.

    The rapid improvement in robotic performance, from widespread failure to finishing faster than the world’s best human runners, underscores the dramatic progress China has made in the robotics and artificial intelligence sectors. For spectators in attendance, including large numbers of engineering students and young software developers, the event was a clear sign that the widespread AI and robotics era is rapidly approaching. A 23-year-old engineering student at the race summed up the prevailing sentiment among young tech professionals, noting that those who fail to adapt to working with AI now will be left behind as the sector transforms global industries.

    While the successful race demonstrates huge potential for humanoid robotics, experts note that practical widespread commercial application remains in the experimental stage for most use cases. The capabilities demonstrated on the running course do not directly translate to many commercial roles, which require fine motor control, precise manual manipulation, and complex adaptive interaction with unpredictable environments, they cautioned. Even so, the technology opens the door to future use cases including replacing human workers in high-risk occupations and even potential applications in defense operations, the event organizers noted.

    China has prioritized the development of humanoid robotics and AI in recent years, rolling out generous government subsidies and large-scale infrastructure projects to support domestic technology companies advancing the sector. The national ambition for the industry was even highlighted at this year’s CCTV Spring Festival Gala, the country’s most-watched annual television event, which featured a viral martial arts demonstration performed by Unitree humanoid robots that drew hundreds of millions of views.

    With this landmark half-marathon event, China’s leading technology firms have put their progress on full display, making clear that humanoid robots are on track to become a core part of the future of global industry and everyday society.

  • Gajadien: Zonder kansen voor jongeren groeit wereldwijde instabiliteit

    Gajadien: Zonder kansen voor jongeren groeit wereldwijde instabiliteit

    At the 152nd General Assembly and a working session of the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s (IPU) High-Level Advisory Group (HLAG), Asis Gajadien, parliamentary group leader of Suriname’s Progressive Voters Party (VHP) and member of the Surinamese National Assembly, has urged the global community to launch coordinated, targeted international action to address youth marginalization and the global youth employment crisis.

    Gajadien, who joined the Surinamese parliamentary delegation to the IPU meeting hosted in Turkey, warned that overlapping global crises – from ongoing armed conflicts across multiple regions to widespread post-pandemic economic instability – are eroding the future prospects of young generations worldwide. He emphasized that the persistent lack of sustainable, dignified work for young people does not only harm individual livelihoods; it also fuels simmering social tension, weakens community resilience, and erodes public trust in democratic and governmental institutions.

    The Surinamese lawmaker argued that global policy frameworks must explicitly recognize the interconnected nature of armed conflict, economic disruption, and soaring youth unemployment. He positioned decent work as a core foundation for long-term sustainable peace, arguing that this goal can only be achieved through strengthened, inclusive international cooperation. “A generation robbed of future opportunity is a risk the world simply cannot afford to take,” Gajadien stated during his address.

    Turning to the root causes of terrorism and violent extremism during the HLAG session, Gajadien stressed that these threats cannot be separated from systemic economic inequality, social exclusion, and the lack of long-term perspective for disenfranchised young people. He pushed back against relying solely on repressive security measures to counter extremism, noting that such approaches fail to address the underlying conditions that drive radicalization.

    Instead, Gajadien called for targeted investments in robust public institutions, inclusive economic development, and expanded access to economic opportunity as a long-term, structural solution to prevent radical recruitment. He also drew attention to the growing role of digital platforms in spreading extremist ideology online, highlighting the urgent need for balanced regulatory legislation that protects public safety while upholding fundamental human rights and digital freedoms.

    Across his remarks, Gajadien advocated for a cohesive, integrated global approach to tackling these linked challenges, arguing that security, sustainable development, and the rule of law are inherently interconnected and cannot be advanced independently of one another.