标签： Suriname

A groundbreaking collaboration between the National Museum Commission of Suriname (NMS) and the Netherlands Cultural Heritage Agency (RCE) has culminated in the launch of an extensive museum training program. The initiative, which commenced on Monday, October 13, and will run until October 31, is being held at the National Archives of Suriname. This training follows the announcement made to Surinamese stakeholders in January and the signing of a final agreement with the RCE on April 10, 2025, in the Netherlands.

Roseline Daan, Chairperson of the NMS, expressed her enthusiasm for this significant milestone, emphasizing the months of preparation that led to this point. Alongside NMS Vice-Chairperson Rita Tjien Fooh and Secretary Tanya Sitaram, Daan engaged in discussions with Dutch educators, who are now paired with Surinamese experts, referred to as ‘buddies,’ to co-facilitate the training sessions.

The program is structured into three modules, covering critical areas such as collection management and registration, conflicting value systems, organization of the museum sector, sustainability, and preventive conservation. Daan highlighted the importance of preventive conservation, noting that the training aims to enhance knowledge and skills in museum heritage, education, and presentation. This, she believes, will lay a stronger foundation for the development of Suriname’s museum sector, particularly in light of the NMS’s plans to establish a National Museum. The initiative includes the rehabilitation of Building 1790 under the PURP program and the restoration of the Zeelandiaweg building, known as ‘Devil,’ which will serve as a depot for the new museum.

‘We are building capacity now so that when the museum is ready, the expertise will already be in place to get started,’ Daan explained. She also stressed the importance of deepening the careers of museum professionals and fostering a broader understanding of operational and strategic tasks within Suriname’s cultural institutions.

The training aims to achieve several key outcomes, including broadening knowledge and skills in collection management and conservation, developing interactive and educational visitor programs, improving practical skills in exhibition design and execution, and strengthening leadership and teamwork abilities for successful collaboration within museum institutions.

The Dutch trainers include Emmy Steenhoek, Vivian van Saaze, Bente Bergmans, Marc Stappers, and Nadia Wilting, while the Surinamese trainers are Audrey Hofwijks, Irene Meulenberg, and Rinaldo Klas. Participants in the training represent a wide range of institutions, including the National Herbarium of Suriname, the National Zoological Collection of Suriname, the Koto Museum, the Commewijne Story Museum, Villa Zapakara, the Bakkie Museum, the Diitabiki Museum Fositen Gudu, the National Army Museum, VHJI, the Suriname Museum Foundation, VIDS, the Suriname Nature Conservation Foundation, and staff from the Directorate of Culture.

A nation with a shared past and a shared future also bears a shared responsibility. This is not merely an ideal but an indispensable necessity. The choices we make, the leaders we elect, and the way we interact with each other and our environment shape not only our lives but also the lives of future generations. Surinamers, we are collectively responsible for the direction our country takes. This responsibility extends beyond the political arena to our daily interactions with our elders, the care we give to our natural environment, and the nurturing of our youth. These are all pieces of a larger mosaic in which each of us plays a role. Avoiding this responsibility means undermining the very foundation of our society. Leadership is a shared duty. We choose our leaders, but they act on our behalf. Therefore, we cannot merely point fingers at politicians; we must also look inward. Are we the examples we expect from our leaders? Do we listen to each other, even when opinions differ? Do we make space for the voices of the vulnerable? Do we cherish the earth that sustains us and protect the heritage that has shaped us? This responsibility is especially palpable as our country reflects on 50 years of independence. Fifty years of building together, of struggle and progress, but also of lessons and challenges. This anniversary is a moment of reflection: what have we endured together, what have we achieved together, and what legacy are we leaving for those who follow us? It is a reminder that our future is not guaranteed but is the result of our collective efforts. This is particularly relevant as a new economic future dawns with the promise of an oil boom. While this development could bring prosperity and growth, its success depends on our collective care and responsibility. It requires sustainable thinking, fair distribution, and the preservation of our natural resources. Only by acting together, with consideration for both people and the environment, can we ensure that this new source of wealth becomes a blessing for everyone, now and in the future. Shared responsibility also means not turning a blind eye to the problems that affect us but tackling them together. Whether it’s social inequality, climate change, or raising children in an increasingly complex world, these challenges can only be overcome if we find common ground in our shared duty. Every individual, every community, every institution has a role to play. And it starts close to home. How do we treat our elders? With respect and care, or do we too often leave them to their fate? What do we do with the nature around us? Do we see it as an inexhaustible resource, or do we realize that our future depends on how we treat it? And most importantly, what values are we passing on to our children, who will carry our society forward? Shared responsibility is the glue that binds us. It is the understanding that we are stronger together, that our future is not the sum of separate individuals but of a collective that supports and challenges each other. It is a call to actively contribute to a society where everyone matters, where we learn from the past to create a just future. Without this shared responsibility, a nation loses its cohesion and, with it, its future. Therefore, let us not wait for others to act but start today—with small steps, with conscious choices. Together, we are the architects of tomorrow.

The Foundation for Forest Management and Supervision (SBB) has declined a request from Suriname’s Energy Companies (EBS) to lift the seizure of a large batch of brownheart timber. The decision was communicated in a letter from SBB Director Ruben Ravenberg to EBS General Director Leo Brunswijk, which was obtained by Starnieuws. The investigation into the allegedly illegally obtained timber is ongoing, and SBB has emphasized its legal obligation to inform the Attorney General of suspected violations. The first interim report was submitted to the Attorney General and the government last Wednesday. SBB continues its work, meticulously inspecting each piece of timber. As of October 6, 508 seizures had been made after inspecting 1,444 pieces of timber, bringing the total number of seizures to nearly 1,000. In the letter, Ravenberg referenced EBS’s October 3 request, which cited ‘public interest’ as the reason for lifting the seizure. However, SBB rejected the request, stating that all citizens, including state-owned enterprises like EBS, must adhere to the law and cooperate in combating illegal activities that cause irreparable damage to forests. SBB also highlighted that previous cases of illegally harvested brownheart timber at EBS’s landing site have already been transferred to the Public Prosecutor’s Office. Additionally, SBB inspectors were denied access to the EBS site on Bethesdaweg multiple times. When it was discovered that more allegedly illegal brownheart timber was brought to the site on September 29, SBB sought assistance from the Environmental Crime Unit. SBB is working to conclude the investigation swiftly, after which the full dossier will be handed over to the Public Prosecutor’s Office. Only then can EBS submit its request to the Attorney General. SBB reiterated its willingness to advise EBS on future purchases and verify information regarding brownheart timber offerings in advance.