标签： Suriname

President Jennifer Simons delivered a comprehensive update on the government’s agenda and priorities during a press conference on Friday. Emphasizing the administration’s focus on reducing the national debt, increasing state revenues, and bolstering key sectors such as agriculture, tourism, and climate policy, Simons outlined a roadmap for the coming months. She highlighted efforts to narrow the budget deficit relative to GDP, stating, ‘We are collaborating with various sectors to explore ways to enhance state revenues. While challenging, improvements in tax collection and customs efficiency are beginning to yield results.’ Simons assured that these measures would not impose additional burdens on citizens but rather optimize the collection of existing taxes like VAT and customs duties.

To enhance transparency and efficiency, audits are being conducted across state-owned enterprises. Additionally, task forces for tourism and agriculture will be formally established in the coming weeks, with the goal of elevating both sectors to higher productivity levels within two years. ‘These task forces will engage with the president, ministers, and the private sector to achieve their objectives,’ Simons explained. She also announced initiatives to stabilize the prices of essential goods, ensuring affordability through a transparent pricing system.

A significant portion of the president’s address focused on climate financing and forest conservation. Simons cautioned that international climate funds often consist of commercial loans that offer limited benefits to developing nations. ‘We aim to preserve our forests, but this requires adequate compensation,’ she stated. She referenced discussions with carbon-negative countries like Bhutan and Panama, as well as climate-neutral Madagascar, to explore opportunities such as debt-for-nature swaps and carbon credits. However, Simons stressed the need for caution, advising, ‘Countries must carefully evaluate agreements labeled as climate financing. Not all proposals are advantageous for forest-rich nations.’ The government is committed to ensuring that international resources directly benefit inland communities, demonstrating the tangible advantages of forest conservation.

The Court of Justice in Suriname has ruled that the 2020 decision by the National Assembly (DNA) to place former Minister Gillmore Hoefdraad under formal accusation was lawful. This decision, made after nearly five years of legal battles, renders Hoefdraad’s civil lawsuit against the State, the National Assembly, and the Public Prosecution Service (OM) inadmissible. Hoefdraad, who remains a fugitive, had contested his prosecution, which stemmed from his alleged involvement in the high-profile case concerning the Central Bank of Suriname (CBvS).

Hoefdraad and his legal team argued that the National Assembly’s decision was unlawful, as the parliament, then led by Jennifer Simons, had previously decided not to prosecute him during the second term of the NDP government. However, following the May 2020 elections, then Attorney General Roy Baidjnath Panday resubmitted a request to prosecute Hoefdraad. The new parliament, led by Marinus Bee and comprising a coalition of VHP, ABOP, NPS, and Pertjajah Luhur, approved the prosecution. Hoefdraad claimed this decision was politically influenced, asserting that the parliament could not revisit a prior decision unless new evidence emerged—a condition not met in this case.

In 2023, Hoefdraad was convicted in absentia, alongside other key figures, including former CBvS Governor Robert van Trikt and legal director Faranaaz Hausil. All defendants appealed their convictions, while Hoefdraad continued his civil case to challenge the legitimacy of his prosecution. The court handling the criminal appeal has completed its investigation but awaits the outcome of this civil case, which has been delayed multiple times.

Hoefdraad’s lawyer, Murwin Dubois, argued that a favorable ruling in the civil case could have impacted the criminal proceedings. Notably, Interpol refused to extradite Hoefdraad to Suriname, removing him from its wanted list and barring Suriname from using its channels, citing the prosecution as politically motivated. With the Court’s ruling affirming the legitimacy of the prosecution, the path is now clear for a final verdict in the criminal appeal.

In a recent press conference, President Jennifer Simons of Suriname addressed the ongoing discussions surrounding the December case, clarifying that she has not received an official pardon request from the four men convicted in the trial. She emphasized that her office has only received a letter from their lawyer, Irvin Kanhai, and not a signed petition from the individuals themselves.

President Simons underscored that a pardon request must be a personal act, requiring the direct involvement and signature of the convicted individuals. This principle aligns with the nearly 1,000 pardon requests submitted in anticipation of Suriname’s 50th anniversary of independence. ‘A pardon is a request from the detainee themselves. As long as that is not on my desk, I know nothing about it,’ she stated. She further clarified that unsigned letters do not qualify as formal pardon requests.

The President noted that she has received numerous pardon requests from other detainees, all of which were processed through the Ministry of Justice & Police and met all necessary requirements, including the signatures of the applicants.

Regarding the December case, President Simons declared it legally closed. ‘What I personally think, or what you personally think, no longer matters. The judge has made the decision; the case is over,’ she responded to a question. She assured that the human rights of all detainees, including the four convicted individuals, are being respected but reiterated that she sees no reason to reopen the matter.

‘We forget no one, including these four individuals. But neither you nor anyone else will get me to reopen this drama,’ she firmly stated. President Simons concluded by emphasizing her focus on the future of Suriname, stating, ‘I carry an entire country on my shoulders. The situation is not easy, but I continue to work to provide a better life for all Surinamese people.’

The National Party of Suriname (NPS) has vehemently denied allegations that it has agreed within the coalition to grant pardons to those convicted in the December murders case. In a formal statement, the party labeled such claims as ‘utterly false.’ The NPS clarified that it has taken note of media reports suggesting its support for clemency but firmly rejected these assertions. The party reiterated its stance that the convictions not only upheld the rule of law but also delivered justice to the victims’ families and society at large. The NPS emphasized that granting pardons is not under consideration. Instead, the party remains focused on Suriname’s development and the welfare of its citizens, pledging to uphold a robust legal system where the protection of citizens is paramount.

The proposed name change of the Progressive Reform Party (VHP) has not been widely discussed within the party, according to Deputy Chairman Asis Gajadien. He emphasized that, as far as known, the idea stems from party leader Chan Santokhi and does not represent an official stance or decision by the party’s governing bodies. Santokhi mentioned the proposal during a radio interview on ABC. Gajadien stated that the VHP does not need a new name but rather genuine reform. ‘If the party wants to maintain its role as a broad people’s movement, it must stop focusing on symbolic changes and instead prioritize structural reforms: more internal democracy, honest leadership, and credible renewal,’ he told Starnieuws. The deputy chairman warned that without a course correction, any name change would remain an empty gesture—a façade that fails to address underlying challenges. ‘The VHP has a rich history, but its future depends on its willingness to regain the people’s trust. Not by changing names, but through actions and leadership that serve the people,’ Gajadien stressed.