Published on October 13 at 04:55, this daily weather forecast outlines highly variable conditions across the day, marked by high humidity, extreme peak heat, and scattered chances of rain and thunderstorms. The day kicks off with extensive cloud cover and a moderate chance of light rain, building a warm, muggy atmospheric profile from the earliest hours. Early morning temperatures hover around 29°C, with high relative humidity creating a stuffy, uncomfortable feel even before the peak heat sets in. While most of the morning will bring gradual clearing of cloud cover, a passing shower is possible by late morning, with precipitation probabilities reaching 40% during this window. The afternoon brings the most extreme conditions of the day, as temperatures surge to a peak of 37°C, making it the hottest period of the 24-hour cycle. Though early afternoon may bring periods of bright sunshine, the unstable warm atmosphere creates a 45% chance of scattered rain or thunderstorms moving through the region. Solar intensity is classified as very strong for this day, so health officials remind residents that adequate sun protection – including sunscreen, hats, and limited exposure during peak heat hours – is a critical precaution, not an unnecessary measure. As evening approaches, temperatures will gradually cool down to around 28°C, bringing much-needed relief from the afternoon heat. The evening weather pattern will remain variable, with patches of broken cloud cover, but conditions are expected to stay mostly dry across most of the region through the end of the day.
标签： Suriname
苏里南
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Abiamofo gekozen in internationaal EITI-bestuur namens regio
At the recent EITI Global Conference held in Brussels on October 8 and 9, Suriname’s Minister of Natural Resources David Abiamofo secured a historic election as alternate board member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) for the 2026–2029 term, marking a major milestone for the South American nation as it prepares to launch large-scale offshore oil production.
Abiamofo will serve alongside Guyana’s Minister Vickram Bharrat, who takes on the role of full regional board member, to represent all EITI-implementing countries across Latin America and the Caribbean. Crucially, the election is not a personal appointment: Abiamofo was selected to represent the entire regional bloc of EITI participating nations, and the pair will collectively advance the region’s priorities in global decision-making focused on transparency and accountability across the oil, gas, and mining sectors.
The EITI operates as a global multi-stakeholder partnership dedicated to opening up the extractive industries. To ensure fair and regional representation on its international governing board, EITI divides all implementing member countries into six regional blocs, each entitled to one full board member and one alternate. The initiative brings together national governments, private extractive companies, and civil society organizations to build public trust by disclosing complete data on natural resource revenues and how those funds are managed.
For Suriname, Abiamofo’s new position carries particularly strategic significance. The country is currently in the final stages of preparation for large-scale commercial offshore oil extraction, and the board role creates unique opportunities to share regional experiences, advocate for Caribbean and Latin American interests on the global stage, and access best practices for transparent resource governance. Abiamofo already serves as Suriname’s national EITI Champion, leading domestic implementation of the initiative’s global transparency standards.
The Brussels conference also marked a broader leadership transition for EITI. Former Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs Maria van der Hoeven was elected as the initiative’s new board chair, succeeding Helen Clark, who stepped down from the role after her term concluded. Leadership elections and board formation were held in pre-conference working sessions ahead of the main global gathering.
In additional recognition for Suriname’s EITI work, national EITI coordinator Novella Alcantra-Majana received an Honourable Mention at the EITI Chair Awards, honoring her relentless efforts to advance EITI implementation across the country. Outgoing chair Helen Clark personally presented the special recognition.
Suriname’s full delegation to the Brussels conference included Abiamofo, Alcantra-Majana, Dimitri Tjon Sie Fat (representing civil society group Projekta on the national Multi-Stakeholder Group), Michiel Raafenberg (representing Rosebel Gold Mines and the national private sector on the Multi-Stakeholder Group), and Clyde Griffith.
Looking ahead to the 2026–2029 term, Abiamofo’s election secures Suriname a seat at the table for regional representation in EITI’s global governing structure for the next three years. The new role is expected to deepen international cooperation for Suriname and strengthen national implementation of global extractive transparency commitments.
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China sanctioneert ministers Paraguay en Belize om banden met Taiwan
In a new escalation of diplomatic tensions over the Taiwan issue, China announced sanctions on Monday targeting senior government officials from Paraguay and Belize, two nations that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taipei. The sanctioned individuals are Gustavo Villate, Paraguay’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, and Francis Fonseca, Belize’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. Beijing accuses the two officials of actively promoting diplomatic ties between their respective countries and Taiwan, a move China says undermines its core sovereignty and national security interests.
The punitive measures, which took effect immediately on Monday, include three main components: freezing any assets the officials hold within China’s jurisdiction, imposing a full entry ban that covers mainland China, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macau Special Administrative Region, and barring all Chinese companies and individuals from conducting business transactions or entering cooperative projects with the two ministers.
In a formal statement, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that the sanctions were enacted because the two officials have violated China’s core interests by openly backing their countries’ diplomatic relations with Taiwan, advancing Taiwan’s position on the international stage, and eroding China’s sovereignty claims over the island.
The sanctions have drawn immediate, unified condemnation from the three affected parties: Paraguay, Belize and Taiwan. All three have rejected the measures as unjustified and reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining existing bilateral ties.
Paraguay’s government issued a swift rebuke, arguing that the sanctions unnecessarily inflate regional tensions and do not align with the norms of international diplomacy. The country made clear it has no plans to reverse its longstanding policy of recognizing Taiwan. In an interview with local media, Villate noted that the sanctions were not unexpected, given the ongoing collaborative projects between Paraguay and Taiwan, including a jointly developed data center. He emphasized that cooperation between the two sides will continue uninterrupted, and Asunción will not back down in the face of Chinese pressure.
Belize echoed Paraguay’s position, calling the sanctions targeting Fonseca — who was only carrying out his official government duties — completely unjustifiable. Belize’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the punitive measures will not alter the country’s longstanding foreign policy, and it will continue to deepen its formal diplomatic relations with Taipei.
Taipei’s foreign ministry also issued a strong protest, framing the sanctions as a blatant violation of national sovereignty and interference in the independent foreign policy of other sovereign states. Taiwan’s government stressed that China has no legal or legitimate right to dictate how other countries conduct their diplomatic relations, or to undermine Taipei’s partnerships with the international community.
To contextualize the move, Paraguay and Belize are among the 12 remaining United Nations member states that still maintain full formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. China has long held the position that Taiwan is an inalienable part of its territory, and has pursued a sustained diplomatic campaign to pressure countries that recognize Taipei to switch their recognition to Beijing. Over the past two years alone, multiple countries have cut ties with Taiwan: Honduras severed relations in 2023, followed by Nauru in 2024.
At the same time, Taiwan has actively worked to strengthen its diplomatic bonds with its remaining formal partners in recent months. Just last month, Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung completed an official visit to Belize to boost bilateral cooperation. Back in June, Villate met with Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi during the latter’s visit to Paraguay to discuss expanding joint projects.
Analysts and international news outlets including Reuters point out that the sanctions are largely a symbolic diplomatic signal, with limited practical impact. Senior officials from countries that maintain formal ties with Taiwan rarely have official or personal reasons to travel to China, so the entry ban is unlikely to disrupt their official work significantly.
The latest diplomatic move comes against a backdrop of persistent heightened tensions across the Taiwan Strait. Beijing has repeatedly opposed any step it views as advancing formal Taiwanese independence, while the self-governing Taiwanese government has consistently stated it is committed to protecting its autonomy, democratic system and right to participate in international affairs.
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Dode man op bedrijfsterrein in Houttuin blijkt vermiste 84-jarige
In the early hours of Monday, a grim discovery unfolded on an industrial site located along Sir Winston Churchillweg in Houttuin, where an 84-year-old local resident identified as Raghoenath Roepnarain, who had previously been reported missing, was found with blood on his body. Initial investigative findings suggest the elderly man suffered fatal injuries after a fall on the premises, though the official cause of death has not yet been definitively confirmed.
Local law enforcement received the alert of the discovery at approximately 9:05 a.m. via the national police command center. The report was filed by a site employee who spotted the unresponsive man while carrying out routine work duties before immediately notifying authorities.
Upon arriving at the scene, investigators confirmed that the deceased matched the description of Roepnarain, who was listed as a missing person prior to the find. Roepnarain resided in the immediate neighborhood surrounding the industrial property. Investigators’ preliminary assessments indicate he likely accessed the site through Ramnagarweg before falling onto a pile of wooden slats and reinforced steel bars, which authorities believe caused his fatal injuries.
A forensic physician was called to the scene to officially pronounce Roepnarain’s death. As of the latest update, investigators have not closed the case and are still working to verify whether the suspected fall is the actual cause of death, with further forensic examinations pending to confirm the conclusion.
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Column: OM telt arrestaties, de samenleving wacht op gerechtigheid
Public trust in the rule of law stands as one of the non-negotiable foundational pillars of any functioning democratic society. Citizens have a fundamental right to expect that criminal offenses will be thoroughly investigated, that suspects will receive fair and equal treatment, and that the justice system will deliver outcomes without favor or prejudice toward any individual. Crucially, this trust is not given freely—it must be consistently earned. It cannot be manufactured through impressive-looking statistics on arrests and case volumes, while high-profile public cases remain shrouded in ambiguity about the actual progress of investigations.
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Tourism First moet toerisme vóór olie-inkomsten tot economische pijler maken
Facing an economic outlook heavily tied to mining and upcoming oil and gas production, the South American nation of Suriname has launched an ambitious new development strategy aimed at accelerating the growth of its tourism sector to build a more balanced, resilient national economy. Unveiled during a press conference this Monday by John Goedschalk of the national Project Preparation Unit (PPU) and Rachel Pinas, chair of the program’s steering committee, the *Tourism First* initiative seeks to lay the foundational groundwork for large-scale investment in sustainable tourism, though key details including funding structures, regulatory reforms and implementation agreements remain to be finalized. Currently, no dedicated funding scheme is available for local tourism entrepreneurs to access through the program.
The core mission of Tourism First is to align the efforts of government agencies, private sector stakeholders, financial institutions and local communities to position tourism as a fully-fledged, independent pillar of Suriname’s economy. Program backers emphasize that the country’s vast, untapped natural wealth and unique cultural heritage hold enormous untapped economic potential, and that this value can be unlocked without damaging Suriname’s old-growth forests, unique biodiversity, or local living environments. Goedschalk noted that the initiative directly follows the policy priority set by Suriname President Jennifer Simons, who has publicly stated that tourism development must be a top national focus. He added that the country can begin growing tourism revenue immediately, even before large-scale offshore oil production fully ramps up.
As a preparatory initiative, Tourism First is first focused on improving Suriname’s overall investment climate to attract larger tourism and conservation-focused projects. Key early priorities include updating outdated laws and regulations, streamlining burdensome permit approval procedures, upgrading critical infrastructure, and improving coordination across disjointed government agencies. Program organizers stress that attracting capital alone is not enough; investors need clear, consistent regulatory frameworks and well-functioning responsible institutions to feel confident committing to long-term projects.
Additional priorities set out in the program’s framework include improving national and international air and overland connectivity, expanding industry-specific vocational training for local workers, boosting international marketing of Suriname as a travel destination, and expanding access to affordable credit for small and medium-sized local tourism businesses. Unlike mass-market low-value tourism strategies, Tourism First targets high-quality, sustainable tourism, where success is measured not just by total visitor numbers, but by the quality of visitor experiences and the net economic benefit retained within Suriname.
Despite its focus on enabling large-scale investment, *Tourism First* has not yet finalized its own core funding arrangements. According to background information shared at the press conference, potential funding sources and eligibility terms are still under assessment, with no final funding amounts, formal commitments or support schemes publicly announced to date. At this stage, local entrepreneurs cannot yet submit applications for credit or other financial support through the program. Officials confirmed that eligibility criteria, selection processes and application procedures will only be published once concrete funding agreements are put in place.
Organizers also noted that agreements on regulatory amendments, nature conservation protections and implementation workflows are still in preparation, and that this week’s program launch does not mean these supporting measures have been formally adopted.
Plans are also underway to restructure Suriname’s national tourism governance: the term of the previous board of the national tourism authority has expired, and a new governing board is currently being assembled. The current steering committee is currently tasked with reviewing and aligning policy documents, and once the new board takes office, the tourism authority will be integrated into the development process and given a leading role in implementing national tourism policy.
A central equity principle of the program is that economic benefits from tourism development should not accrue exclusively to large external investors. Local Surinamese entrepreneurs, workers and domestic suppliers are guaranteed opportunities to participate, including transportation providers, tour guides, small-scale farmers, hospitality operators, artisans, and cultural activity organizers. In the country’s inland regions, indigenous and tribal communities will be actively included in tourism project development, with explicit commitments to respect their territorial rights, traditional knowledge, cultural practices, and living environments. Concrete agreements on community participation, institutional responsibilities, and benefit-sharing are still being negotiated directly with affected communities.
Nature conservation is embedded as a non-negotiable core component of the initiative. Program backers argue that Suriname can carve out a unique competitive advantage in the global sustainable tourism market through its combination of vast intact rainforests, exceptional biodiversity, and rich cultural heritage. However, the formal frameworks for protecting these natural assets, including monitoring and enforcement rules, have yet to be finalized.
Over the coming months, the program will move into a broad stakeholder consultation phase. Starting October 15, targeted discussions with all affected parties will be held across the country, followed by multi-sector roundtable meetings in November that will include representatives from government ministries and district-level authorities. Under the current timeline, the first consultation phase is scheduled to conclude by mid-December, after which proposals will be translated into concrete agreements, assigned responsibilities, and actionable implementation measures.
Ultimately, the core goal of Tourism First is to prevent Suriname from remaining over-reliant on the volatile oil and gas sector for its long-term economic growth. Whether the initiative will successfully deliver new private investment, job creation, and broad-based income growth for Surinamese communities will depend on the timely finalization of funding, coordinated decision-making across government, and consistent execution of the promised policy reforms.
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Wetgeving als wapen: de gelegaliseerde plundering van Suriname
By Karel Donk, published October 12 at 22:48
Across Suriname, the ruling government is moving forward on two parallel legislative tracks: one that shields state power and public assets from challenge, and another that clears the way for widespread seizure and expropriation of private citizens’ personal wealth. This system of stacked power is further reinforced by a judiciary that receives enormous, publicly funded payouts carved directly from the revenues generated by the state’s asset-grabbing practices.
One would expect this blatant, unapologetic expansion of state control to trigger widespread public outcry and urgent alarm. Instead, the essay argues, the Surinamese public has been lulled into such deep complacency that it fails to recognize the crisis approaching its door. This complacency does not surprise the author, who has observed this pattern for years. He points to a bitter irony: every year on July 1, the nation celebrates the formal abolition of chattel slavery, while most people fail to see that the current political system is simply a new form of enslavement – one that anti-colonial Surinamese thinker Anton de Kom already identified as harsher than the system it replaced.
Drawing on a parallel from 19th century abolitionist Frederick Douglass, a formerly enslaved American activist, the author notes that people who believe they are free while accepting daily exploitation as normal and even beneficial are the “ideal slaves” in the eyes of ruling power holders.
Among the political class, a small number of self-styled concerned parliamentarians have raised mild objections, but the author argues their protest is little more than performance. Like obedient house slaves who collect crumbs from their master’s table, these lawmakers will ultimately vote in line with the ruling establishment’s demands, he predicts. Even so, the author suggests a small sliver of doubt may linger in their consciences: they may dimly recognize the harm they are unleashing on the public, including their own children and grandchildren, and the karmic consequences of their complicity.
This is not a new warning from the author. Back in April 2012, he published an open letter to the then-head of government, copied to senior politicians Jennifer Simons and Adelien Wijnerman, laying out how income taxes function within what he frames as an exploitative, anti-social system of modern enslavement. Now, more than a decade later, the same politicians who claim to support systemic change are not only preserving the status quo – they are actively pushing policies that make the system even more oppressive for ordinary people.
The author says he understands their position: politicians have little room to defy the ruling order, and face consequences for breaking ranks. This reality, he notes, explains why Simons has repeatedly stated she simply wants to “continue living” without rocking the boat.
A critical open question remains for investigative journalists to answer, the author says: where exactly are the impulses for these new asset-seizure laws coming from? The consequences of the upcoming legislation, however, are already predictable – and were laid out in full in that 2012 open letter.
One sharp irony cuts through the current political discourse: while leaders claim to be tackling corruption, the author argues these new laws will actually fuel more corruption and enable far more abusive forms of graft. Facing what he frames as state-sponsored aggression against their property, ordinary people will logically seek out every possible workaround to protect their assets from government overreach, he says.
This pattern will steadily erode social trust and accelerate societal decline, the essay warns, eventually ending in full systemic collapse. This is a repeating cycle for political systems built on the fundamental violation of individuals’ universal right to life and property. Such systems carry an inherent contradiction: they claim to organize and protect society through law, while simultaneously violating the basic rights of the people who make up that society. This internal contradiction makes the system unsustainable over time.
History is full of examples of this collapse, and the pattern is already playing out in other countries including the Netherlands and Belgium, where growing numbers of people are relocating to escape what the author frames as state overreach and asset seizure. In these nations, the rule of law no longer works for ordinary people, not least because judges themselves profit from the legalized extortion and exploitation built into the system.
The question facing Suriname is not whether the bill for this systemic exploitation will come due, but who will be forced to pay it, and how much will be left to salvage when that day comes. Those who cooperate to deepen the subjugation and impoverishment of the public today are laying the groundwork for their own downfall tomorrow.
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Belastingsanering brengt ruim SRD 1,2 miljard op, meer dan dubbele van raming
A national tax debt cleanup initiative in Suriname has far outperformed initial government revenue forecasts, delivering preliminary proceeds that more than double the original target, Finance and Planning Minister Adelien Wijnerman has confirmed.
Wijnerman shared the updated figures during parliamentary debate on new tax collection legislation in Suriname’s National Assembly (DNA) on October 12, noting that the final tally for the initiative remains pending as outstanding administrative processes are wrapped up.
According to the minister’s official announcement, preliminary collections from the Belastingdienst tax sanitation project now stand at SRD 1.249 billion, compared to the original projection of just SRD 527.5 million. The initial forecast was built on the expectation that authorities would successfully collect 30% of all eligible outstanding tax debts incurred between 2020 and 2023, the original scope of the program.
Launched in September 2025 for an initial six-month term, the program was designed to encourage resolution of unpaid tax liabilities from the four preceding tax years. As the original end date approached in early 2026, the Surinamese government voted to extend the initiative by an additional three months and expand its eligibility to cover unpaid 2024 tax debts as well, opening the program to a larger pool of debtors.
Wijnerman emphasized that the final collection total has not yet been finalized, as multiple administrative processes remain open. Tax authorities are still completing ongoing payment arrangements negotiated with debtors and reviewing objections and applications submitted just before the extended program deadline. Once all pending cases are resolved, the Ministry of Finance will publish a full final financial statement and a comprehensive evaluation of the program’s outcomes and effectiveness.
The minister released the preliminary data during plenary consideration of two draft bills: the Collection of Tax Revenues Act and the Collection Costs Act for Tax Recovery. Parliamentary debate on the proposed tax legislation is scheduled to resume on the following Tuesday, with lawmakers set to continue deliberations ahead of a final vote.
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Vertrekkende Indiase ambassadeur blikt terug op voedselhulp, defensie- en ontwikkelingsprojecten
On October 12, outgoing Indian Ambassador to Suriname Subhash Prasad Gupta held a formal farewell meeting with Suriname’s President Jennifer Simons, where he reviewed key cooperative achievements during his tenure and outlined new pathways for deepening bilateral partnership between the two nations.
Gupta, who assumed his post as India’s top diplomat in Suriname in August 2024, called his tenure in the South American nation a deeply rewarding and welcoming experience during the meeting held at the President’s Cabinet. “It was a very pleasant and enriching experience. I have always felt here as if I was at home,” he told Simons.
Over the course of his mission, multiple collaborative initiatives have been delivered successfully, Gupta confirmed. These include targeted food aid shipments to Suriname, the handover of military equipment and uniforms for Suriname’s defense forces, and large-scale development projects implemented in remote communities including Kwamalasamutu and Pusugurunu. Four small-scale “quick impact” development projects were also rolled out to address immediate local needs, and preliminary discussions are already underway to launch additional new collaborative projects in the coming years.
Looking ahead to the future of India-Suriname relations, Gupta pointed to untapped potential for expanding cooperation in four high-priority areas: agriculture, agro-industry, advanced technology, and digital transformation. He noted that Suriname can draw meaningful benefits from India’s accumulated expertise and practical experience in agricultural processing and modern digital applications, adding that India already stands ready to provide specialized training in cutting-edge technologies for Surinamese professionals.
Gupta also emphasized the deep historical and cultural bonds that form the foundation of the bilateral relationship, crediting the large Indian diaspora community in Suriname for its irreplaceable role in sustaining and strengthening people-to-people ties. “The Indian diaspora forms a living bridge between India and Suriname. This is one of the most important pillars of our relationship, and that bond will only grow stronger over time,” he said.
In closing, the outgoing ambassador expressed his hope that the Surinamese government and civil society will continue to support existing bilateral cooperation frameworks. He added that he firmly expects relations between India and Suriname to deepen further in the coming years, delivering long-term, shared prosperity for the people of both nations.
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SAIL wil visverwerking uitbreiden en inkomsten verhogen via samenwerking met Deep Sea Atlantic
Two major players in the global seafood industry, SAIL and Deep Sea Atlantic, have solidified an expanded strategic partnership aimed at scaling up fish processing operations, boosting revenue, and strengthening long-term financial standing for both firms. The agreement, signed by SAIL director Ifuel Alberg and Rakesh Mohan on behalf of Deep Sea Atlantic, builds on a successful collaborative relationship first established between the two companies back in 2020.
The core goal of this deepened cooperation is to increase overall production volumes and expand the scope of joint commercial activities across the Surinamese seafood sector. Under the terms of the updated agreement, the partners will leverage SAIL’s existing state-of-the-art processing infrastructure and specialized industry expertise to unlock new growth. SAIL has confirmed that its processing facilities already meet all relevant international quality standards, positioning the firm to accommodate increased output without compromising product safety or quality. The expanded partnership will also include targeted development of red snapper processing operations, a high-value segment that both companies see significant untapped potential in.
For SAIL specifically, this strategic expansion aligns with the company’s broader organizational goal of boosting its own earning capacity. By increasing the volume of fish processed through its facilities and more efficiently utilizing existing infrastructure, SAIL projects it will generate higher revenue and support sustainable long-term development of its core business. Deep Sea Atlantic, which has served as a strategic partner to SAIL since 2020, brings complementary industry reach and market access to the collaboration, enabling both firms to capitalize on new growth opportunities that neither could pursue independently.
Beyond the direct benefits for the two private companies, the partnership is also expected to drive broader development across Suriname’s entire fishing and fish processing sector. By scaling up local processing capacity and improving operational efficiency, the collaboration sets a foundation for increased global competitiveness for Surinamese seafood products, opening new export opportunities and supporting sector-wide economic growth in the coming years.