标签： Suriname

At the 151st General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Geneva, Asis Gajadien, a prominent member of Suriname’s National Assembly and leader of the VHP party, urged the international community to bolster support for nations actively contributing to global climate protection. Gajadien highlighted Suriname’s unique position as one of the few countries worldwide with a net-negative carbon footprint, yet it faces severe humanitarian challenges due to climate change, including floods, coastal erosion, and the displacement of inland communities.

‘For Suriname, climate change is not a debate; it is a harsh reality. People are losing their homes and livelihoods. Humanitarian action must include climate financing,’ Gajadien asserted. He called for greater accessibility to climate funds like the Green Climate Fund for smaller nations, emphasizing the need for grants over loans. ‘No country should be forced into debt to protect the planet,’ he added.

Gajadien also underscored the critical role of parliaments in ensuring transparent use of resources for disaster prevention, climate adaptation, and safeguarding vulnerable communities. ‘Solidarity is not charity—it is justice,’ he concluded. ‘Suriname is ready to work with other nations to transform compassion into concrete action.’

The Surinamese parliamentary delegation, led by Rabin Parmessar (NDP party leader), is participating in the IPU assembly and related meetings in Geneva from October 19 to 23. The delegation includes Geneviève Jordan (ABOP) and is supported by Agatha Ramdass, Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly. Clerk Ruth de Windt is also attending the conference of clerks.

The French Ambassador to Suriname, Nicolas de Lacoste, paid a courtesy visit to President Jennifer Simons at the Presidential Cabinet on Tuesday. The meeting focused on deepening bilateral cooperation and celebrating the French Days (Journées Françaises), a week-long event currently taking place in Paramaribo. Ambassador De Lacoste described the discussions as “very productive,” emphasizing the strategic importance of various themes for both nations. “We explored ways to further strengthen our ties. This week is particularly special as we celebrate French Days in Paramaribo,” he remarked. The French Days coincide with two significant milestones: Suriname’s 50th anniversary of independence and the 25th anniversary of the regional office of the Agence Française de Développement. A special exhibition at the National Archives highlights the historical and contemporary collaboration between Suriname and France. Throughout the week, a series of public activities are being held, including a cycling tour, culinary events, film screenings, a conference on the Amazon Park of French Guiana, a French market, and French language lessons at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “These activities celebrate the friendship between our peoples,” said De Lacoste, expressing hope for strong public participation.

In a bold open letter to President Jennifer Simons, the Progressive Workers’ and Farmers’ Union (PALU) of Suriname has expressed its support for a strong and flourishing relationship with the Netherlands, a sentiment shared by many Surinamese citizens. However, the party emphasizes that such a relationship must be mutual and reciprocal. PALU raises critical questions about the numerous hostile actions taken by the Netherlands against Suriname over the past 50 years, which have significantly hindered the nation’s development. The letter questions whether these actions will persist in the renewed relationship.

PALU highlights that since Suriname’s independence in 1975, the Netherlands has consistently obstructed the country’s efforts to chart its own course on the global stage. This interference, the party argues, has had a profoundly negative impact on Suriname’s progress. The letter warns that welcoming the Dutch king without addressing these issues would absolve the Netherlands of responsibility and place the blame solely on Suriname. PALU asserts that the former colonizer would then position itself as the savior, a dynamic that has historically been detrimental to former colonies.

The party further argues that Suriname’s independence may have been a facade, designed to maintain the country’s dependency on the Netherlands under a new guise. PALU cites several examples of Dutch actions that have impeded Suriname’s development, including the control of development funds post-independence and the Netherlands’ aggressive response to the 1980 military coup. The letter also references a planned invasion in 1982 and a brutal civil war from 1986 to 1992, actions that PALU claims were orchestrated to undermine Suriname’s sovereignty.

PALU concludes that while it supports future cooperation with the Netherlands, the Dutch king’s visit raises significant concerns. The party insists that the Surinamese people deserve clarity on the Netherlands’ role in their country’s struggles and how this relationship will change moving forward. Until such clarity is provided, PALU firmly believes the king should refrain from visiting Suriname.

Leaders of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) have issued an urgent appeal to the United States to immediately renew the Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) and Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) Acts. These programs grant Haiti duty-free access to the U.S. market for textile and apparel exports, which Caricom leaders describe as vital for employment, investment, and stability in the nation. In an official statement, the leaders emphasized that the discontinuation of these preferential trade agreements would severely hinder Haiti’s economic recovery, particularly as the country grapples with escalating social and humanitarian challenges. ‘This is not the time to further weaken Haiti but to demonstrate international solidarity,’ the heads of state declared. The Caricom Conference of Government Leaders reiterated its support for HOPE/HELP, highlighting their dual role in bolstering Haiti’s economy and strengthening trade relations with the United States. The organization has called on the U.S. government and Congress to expedite the renewal of the legislation to ensure the continuation of these programs.