标签： Suriname

Paramaribo, Suriname – April 16, 2026 – A historic leadership transition has taken place at the Federation of Organizations of Teachers in Suriname (FOLS), where long-serving president Marcellino Nerkust has officially handed over the gavel to newly elected leader Bernice Barron following the organization’s annual board election.

Nerkust announced his decision not to seek re-election after more than two decades at the helm of the country’s leading teachers’ advocacy group, choosing to make way for a new generation of leadership after guiding FOLS since August 2005. His tenure officially concluded on April 15, 2026, with the election held at the COB training and conference center. Barron defeated a small field of other candidates to win a three-year term as FOLS president, serving through 2029.

Though Nerkust had already been officially retired for five years, he said his choice to step down now comes as he has reached full pensionable age and completed what he considers a full contribution to Suriname’s teachers and education sector. “It is time now for the young generation to take the lead,” Nerkust said in remarks after the election.

The leadership election proceeded smoothly, aligned with updated organizational bylaws that came into force earlier this year. Those bylaws, which were formally published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Suriname on February 7, 2025, outline direct in-office election of the FOLS presidency, a framework that guided this week’s vote.

Looking back on his 21-year tenure, Nerkust reflected on a period marked by persistent challenges, but also counted a series of landmark wins for Suriname’s teaching community. During his leadership, FOLS secured the introduction of the FISO 1 and 2 salary adjustment schemes under the Venetiaan administration, and won a formal, legally recognized education allowance for teachers in December 2008. Under the Bouterse government, FOLS led successful advocacy for the revaluation of teachers’ professional status and pay.

More recently, during the Santokhi administration, Nerkust guided FOLS through the formal publication of its updated organizational statutes, secured a new clothing allowance for all teachers, and led bargaining through the Ravaksur-PLUS collective negotiation framework that delivered tangible purchasing power improvements for education workers. Just before his departure, Nerkust also oversaw the delivery of a new priority policy wishlist to current Suriname President Jennifer Simons.

Nerkust closed his remarks by saying he leaves the organization with his head held high, and expressed full confidence in FOLS’ future under Barron’s new leadership.

On April 15, Bishop Karel Choennie held a high-stakes meeting with Suriname President Jennifer Simons focused squarely on protecting and preserving the iconic monumental buildings that define Paramaribo’s historic city center. At the core of the discussion was the urgent need for targeted financial assistance to make critical restoration work possible, with Choennie pushing for concrete policy changes including full value-added tax exemptions and relief from other levies for property owners.

The talks covered both the specific ongoing restoration of the Poortgebouw located on Monseigneur Wulfinghstraat and the broader systemic challenges facing the upkeep of the nation’s irreplaceable cultural heritage. Choennie emphasized that preserving these historic landmarks is far more than a cultural mission — it is a significant financial burden that private owners cannot be expected to bear alone. As the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, which ranks as one of the largest private owners of historic real estate in Suriname, Choennie brought firsthand experience of these costs to the meeting.

According to communications officials from the Suriname government, the bishop formally requested that the presidency implement immediate tax relief for active restoration projects. In response, President Simons confirmed that her administration is already developing a comprehensive master plan for the revitalization of Paramaribo’s downtown district. She noted that a special presidential commission tasked with evaluating policy solutions is expected to deliver its final findings within a two-week window. The commission’s recommendations will ultimately form the basis for new legislation or a presidential executive order that will formalize financial support structures for monumental property owners.

Choennie reiterated that these historic buildings are the backbone of Paramaribo’s downtown identity, shaping the unique cultural character that draws residents and visitors alike. “If the government requires owners to keep these buildings in their original historic state, it must match that requirement with meaningful financial support,” the bishop stated during the meeting.

The president’s proposed framework already includes two key support mechanisms: interest-free loans specifically for exterior facade repairs, and low-interest loans for more extensive interior and structural renovations. Choennie expressed clear support for this targeted approach, arguing that it creates tangible opportunities to make Paramaribo’s downtown a more attractive and welcoming public space. “A more beautiful, well-preserved city draws more visitors and investment,” he noted. “Our goal should be to turn the downtown core into a space where residents are eager to gather, walk, and relax.”

Even as the plan moves forward, Choennie drew attention to the unique practical and financial hurdles that come with maintaining A-status monuments — the most historically significant and at-risk properties. The iconic wooden cathedral of Paramaribo, for example, faces exorbitant upkeep costs that far outstrip any potential revenue from commercial use. Structural constraints, elevated fire risk, and limited nearby parking all make it difficult to repurpose these historic spaces for profitable commercial activities.

“The traditional wooden construction and original floor plans make it extremely challenging to install modern infrastructure that businesses require,” Choennie explained. “That inherently limits the revenue potential for owners, even when the building is structurally sound.”

The bishop also highlighted the important work of private-sector and grassroots urban renewal initiatives, which have already purchased and restored dozens of at-risk historic properties across the downtown. Moving forward, he argued, sustained structural collaboration between the national government and private owners is the only way to stop further deterioration of Paramaribo’s historic core and secure its future for coming generations.

On Tuesday, April 15, the Suriname Energy Workers’ Union (Ogem Werknemers Organisatie Suriname, OWOS) — the registered labor body representing employees of state-owned utility N.V. Energiebedrijven Suriname (EBS) — brought its long-running internal conflict with EBS management to the desk of Suriname President Jennifer Simons during a formal meeting at the Presidential Cabinet.

The labor dispute recently escalated to a temporary work stoppage, making it a pressing priority for the union leadership to escalate the issue to the highest level of national government. OWOS Chairman Marciano Hellings emphasized that the ongoing tensions at the utility have reached a critical stage, demanding rapid intervention to restore stability to the organization, according to official statements from Suriname’s Communication Service.

In response to the union’s appeal, the Presidential Cabinet has committed to facilitating structured dialogue between the union bargaining team and EBS executive leadership. President Simons announced she will conduct a thorough review of the dispute in the coming days before inviting both parties to sit down for direct negotiations. Her core goal for the mediation process is to de-escalate tensions and ensure the utility can continue its core operations without further disruption.

Hellings voiced confidence in the president’s ability to mediate a fair resolution to the standoff. He noted that Simons has acknowledged the severity of the unrest at EBS and has given a formal commitment that she will not allow the crisis to drag on unresolved.

Beyond the immediate labor conflict, Hellings underscored the critical strategic role EBS plays in both Suriname’s social fabric and broader national economy. With major new development projects on the horizon in Suriname’s fast-growing oil and gas sector, Hellings said EBS stands to capture significant new opportunities to expand its operations and contribute more to national growth — but those gains are only achievable with stable internal governance and a clear long-term strategy.

“Everything hinges on strategic leadership, a transparent shared vision, and a concrete multi-year development plan,” Hellings said. “If that foundational structure is in place and organizational policy receives consistent support from all stakeholders, EBS can get back on a strong positive trajectory.”