标签： Suriname

In the wake of the devastating family tragedy in Richelieu, Commewijne district, Suriname has established a temporary relief fund to provide comprehensive aftercare support for three severely affected families. The initiative was spearheaded by Assembly member Ann Sadi (NDP), who collaborated with two others to create the Community Service Commewijne fund.

Sadi, a Commewijne resident with personal connections to the impacted families, explained the fund emerged from overwhelming public demand. “I received countless calls from both within Suriname and abroad from people desperate to help but lacking proper channels,” Sadi stated. Accepting personal donations directly was not an option—transparency and accountability were paramount.

In coordination with banking authorities, the fund established three separate accounts denominated in SRD, USD, and EUR. The structure incorporates stringent financial controls: none of the three authorized signatories can independently withdraw funds. All transactions require unanimous consent among all three parties with direct bank supervision, ensuring complete transparency for donors.

The authorized signatories include Melanie Drakenstein (family representative), Ann Sadi, and Gloria Bottse of Tra Fas De. Sadi emphasized her involvement is separate from her political role: “This transcends politics—it’s about humanity. These families have been completely shattered and require sustained support.”

Fund resources are exclusively dedicated to aftercare services including psychosocial counseling, social support, medical and therapeutic care, child guidance, and potential school transition assistance when necessary. The fund will publish weekly financial reports for two months to maintain public accountability.

While the Surinamese government is covering funeral expenses, the fund specifically addresses the long-term emotional and practical challenges families face. Among the affected are the immediate family of the deceased children’s mother, relatives of two elderly victims, and the family of a temporary Suriname resident. Sadi noted one family member remains in critical condition at a local hospital.

Within hours of account activation, the fund received initial donations including SRD 1,000 and €50, demonstrating strong community solidarity. “People want to help immediately,” Sadi observed. “This fund complements government commitments.”

The temporary nature of the fund underscores its focused mission. “This is about care, dignity, and trust,” Sadi concluded. “And trust can only be earned through absolute transparency.”

Community Service Commewijne fund account details at Godo Bank:
SRD: 2002595607
EUR: 2002595615
USD: 2002595623

In a heartwarming ceremony marking Firm Engineering’s annual scholarship lottery, 20-year-old Janille Kardi became this year’s fortunate recipient, securing full funding for her studies at Suriname’s Anton de Kom University. The emotional moment unfolded as Education, Science, and Culture Minister Dirk Currie drew the winning ticket during the company’s Owru Yari Konmakandra event.

The scholarship program targets exceptional first-year students enrolled in the comprehensive Infrastructure program, which comprises thirteen distinct subjects. Participants qualify automatically by achieving the highest score in any course, with multiple top grades increasing their chances through additional lottery entries. This year’s selection process featured ten accomplished candidates, all of whom gained access to Firm Engineering’s educational initiatives despite only one securing the grand prize.

Kardi distinguished herself academically with outstanding performances across four courses: a perfect 9 in Practical Orientation, 8.8 in Academic Skills, 8.6 in Technical Drawing, and 8.3 in Design. Her achievement continues a thirteen-year tradition interrupted only by the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

Company Director Guido Koorndijk emphasized the program’s broader significance, noting that past recipients—dubbed Firm Performers—have excelled professionally. “Most pursue advanced studies while others join our ranks, work with competitors, or serve clients,” Koorndijk observed. “We intentionally invest in young talent because it benefits Suriname’s development. With emerging industries on the horizon, cultivating local expertise through strategic investment becomes imperative rather than optional.”

The celebration incorporated traditional elements, including the scholarship winner igniting an extended pagara firecracker, symbolizing the bright future awaiting Suriname’s next generation of engineering professionals.

In response to the devastating violence that unfolded on December 28th in Richelieu, Commewijne district, the Surinamese government has committed to implementing comprehensive reforms to strengthen child protection and psychosocial care systems. The tragic incident resulted in nine fatalities, including four children of the perpetrator, Dennis Aroma, who subsequently took his own life in police custody. Two additional victims remain hospitalized with injuries.

Government ministers Harish Monorath of Justice and Police and Diana Pokie of Social Affairs and Housing visited the affected community on Sunday, conveying official condolences to bereaved families, local residents, and the broader society. President Jennifer Simons has declared state sponsorship for all funeral expenses and initiated psychological support services for those impacted.

Minister Pokie acknowledged the profound trauma inflicted upon the community and emphasized the government’s dual responsibility to both empathize with victims and implement systemic improvements. She highlighted critical needs for enhanced social protection mechanisms, early problem detection protocols, and efficient referral systems between Social Affairs, Justice, Police, and Health departments.

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing has deployed social services to provide comprehensive support to affected families, including basic care, insurance assistance, aftercare, and community guidance. Additional support is being organized for schools and students emotionally impacted by the tragedy, according to Suriname’s Communication Service.

Minister Monorath expressed profound grief and helplessness while detailing coordinated victim support services through the Suriname Police Corps and trauma care collaborations with the Health Ministry. Beyond funeral arrangements, the government will designate a central location for national condolences and has called for unity and solidarity throughout this difficult period.

Suriname has documented its inaugural firework-related incident of the year, prompting urgent safety warnings from emergency services. A 24-year-old male presented at the Academic Hospital Paramaribo’s Emergency Department on Sunday evening at approximately 10:00 PM, sustaining significant incense-related trauma to his right eye. The patient has been scheduled for follow-up consultation with an ophthalmologist today.

The emergency medical staff and Suriname Fire Brigade Corps have intensified their campaign for stringent safety protocols during firework celebrations. Authorities emphasize that adult supervision of minors remains absolutely critical during these activities. While acknowledging the entertainment value of fireworks, the fire brigade underscores that enjoyment must be balanced with serious responsibility.

Official guidelines mandate comprehensive eye protection through certified safety goggles and strictly prohibit hand-launched ignition of fireworks. The utilization of extended ignition sticks or incense cones is compulsory to minimize severe injury risks. The fire brigade has specifically advised against purchasing or activating so-called ‘bang fireworks’ known for their explosive properties.

Dangerous stunts involving pyrotechnics must be avoided at all times, according to the safety directive. Tampering with fireworks or attempting to relight dud devices that failed to ignite constitutes particularly hazardous behavior. Additionally, targeting animals with fireworks constitutes prohibited conduct due to risks of grave physical harm and psychological distress.

Special precautions apply to rocket-type fireworks, with recommendations to secure all windows and doors when neighborhood displays occur. Age-specific regulations establish that children under 7 years must have zero contact with fireworks, while those aged 7-16 may only participate under direct adult supervision.

Finally, authorities urge public vigilance regarding surroundings, particularly near vulnerable establishments including places of worship, healthcare facilities, and residential areas.

In the wake of a devastating domestic violence incident in Commewijne that claimed multiple lives including children, the Women’s Rights Centre (WRC) has issued an urgent call for comprehensive societal examination of the underlying factors that precipitate extreme violence within families and communities.

The organization expressed profound shock and extended condolences to families who lost loved ones in what it described as a tragedy revealing critical gaps in institutional understanding of pre-violence indicators. “This incident confronts us with uncomfortable questions about our collective failure to recognize escalating danger,” the WRC stated.

Central to the WRC’s analysis is the need to examine power dynamics, vulnerability, and victim positioning within relationships. The organization emphasizes that severe domestic violence typically targets individuals with dependent status, limited physical or social resilience, and strong relational ties to perpetrators—a combination that complicates early intervention.

The tragedy underscores the necessity for enhanced understanding of power dynamics and relational dependencies to prevent violence at earlier stages. According to the WRC, effective prevention requires improved inter-agency collaboration and knowledge sharing among government entities, healthcare providers, judicial systems, educational institutions, and community organizations.

The organization maintains that violence can be recognized and interrupted through continuous learning, attentive listening, and proactive intervention. It calls for strengthening professional competencies and improving coordination mechanisms to better respond to complex, high-risk situations.

WRC Director Carla Bakboord emphasized that collective commitment and structural cooperation are essential to safeguarding society’s most vulnerable members. The Commewijne tragedy should serve not merely as a source of outrage but as catalyst for deeper analysis and concrete action toward systemic change in addressing domestic violence prevention.

A horrific domestic violence incident has shaken Suriname to its core, leaving nine people dead in the early hours of Sunday morning. The tragedy unfolded when a mentally unstable father fatally stabbed his five children and four neighbors who attempted to intervene, exposing critical gaps in the nation’s mental health support systems and domestic violence prevention measures.

This devastating event represents yet another preventable tragedy that has forced Surinamese society to confront its inadequate handling of mental health crises and family violence. While initial shock and horror grip the community, meaningful action and sustained attention to underlying causes consistently fade until the next tragedy strikes.

Mental health professionals emphasize that proper mental wellness encompasses emotional resilience, stress management capabilities, and effective daily functioning—all essential components for preventing such catastrophic outcomes. Despite this understanding, societal stigma continues to prevent many from seeking psychological help, with those visiting mental health professionals often facing discrimination rather than support.

The article highlights systemic failures in domestic violence response protocols, where reports are frequently dismissed until situations turn fatal. It questions the responsibility of leaving five young children in the care of a known mentally unstable parent without adequate safeguards or support mechanisms.

Beyond government accountability, the piece calls for collective societal action—urging neighbors, friends, and family members to actively support those struggling with mental health challenges. The author stresses that investing in mental health infrastructure is not a luxury but a fundamental duty of policymakers and community members alike.

As Suriname prepares to celebrate the new year, the article challenges citizens and authorities to transform momentary outrage into lasting change through stigma reduction, improved access to mental health resources, and proactive community support networks before another preventable tragedy occurs.