标签： Suriname

In a significant development, President Donald Trump signed a federal spending bill late Wednesday, marking the end of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The bill was passed by the House of Representatives just hours earlier, with a vote of 222 in favor and 209 against. The Senate had approved the measure on Monday with a 60-40 vote, ensuring government funding through January 30 and restoring pay for hundreds of thousands of federal employees after six grueling weeks. Trump emphasized that the government would now resume normal operations, and his administration would continue efforts to reduce living costs, restore public safety, and grow the economy. However, the agreement failed to address a key issue: healthcare subsidies for 24 million Americans under the Affordable Care Act, which the Trump administration had planned to cut. The shutdown, which began 42 days ago, paralyzed all non-essential government services. The breakthrough came after weekend negotiations, with seven Democrats and one independent agreeing to the revised spending package. House Speaker Mike Johnson accused Democrats of using American citizens as ‘leverage’ in their ‘political game,’ while Democrats argued the bill was necessary to address rising healthcare costs for low-income Americans. The deal also sparked frustration among Democrats, with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker calling it a ‘hollow promise.’ Experts warn that without a new agreement, the government could face another shutdown in January.

In a formal open letter to President Jennifer Simons, National Assembly member Jennifer Vreedzaam has called for immediate clarification regarding the alleged theft of gold at the state-owned company N.V. Grassalco. Reports of discrepancies in the company’s gold reserves have raised significant concerns about transparency and accountability. Vreedzaam, representing the Para district where Grassalco is headquartered, emphasized the company’s critical role in the economic and social development of the region, particularly for the indigenous communities in the Maripaston area, where gold mining operations are conducted. She highlighted the initial promise of ‘fair benefit sharing’ and sustainable, mercury-free mining, which has yet to materialize in meaningful community participation. Vreedzaam stressed the need for a thorough investigation into the alleged theft, citing potential systemic failures in Grassalco’s management and internal controls. She referenced Article 13 of the Anti-Corruption Act, which prohibits actions causing financial harm to state institutions, and posed a series of critical questions. These included inquiries into contractual transparency, financial oversight, governance protocols, and the handling of the incident. Additionally, she questioned the application of FPIC (Free, Prior, and Informed Consent) protocols to ensure the rights of indigenous communities. Vreedzaam urged prompt and comprehensive responses to these issues, underscoring the public’s right to accountability and integrity in state operations.

Robert Vishnudatt, a prominent Surinamese politician and founder of the political organization Volkspartij Leefbaar Suriname, has dismissed recent reports in Dutch media alleging his conviction for tax evasion as “unnecessary fuss.” The reports claimed that Vishnudatt was sentenced to ten months in prison for failing to pay turnover tax on his former security company, Care Events, in the Netherlands between 2018 and 2023. The initial reported amount of €420,000 was later corrected to €180,000. Vishnudatt refuted the allegations, stating that any tax arrears could be resolved through a payment arrangement with the Dutch tax authorities. He emphasized that he has not fled Suriname and maintains regular contact with the Dutch embassy, having last spoken with them in August. Vishnudatt also highlighted that such accusations are not new, recalling previous unfounded claims linking him to money laundering involving VHP leader Chan Santokhi. He plans to investigate the matter thoroughly before issuing a formal statement, noting the impact on his family and community.

During the trial of Danielle Veira, former director of the Directorate of National Security (DNV), her defense attorneys, Derrick Veira and Cedric Meijnaar, repeatedly pointed out inconsistencies in the testimony of the victim, Rodney Cairo, on Tuesday. Cairo claimed that on the evening before his abduction, he had brought three women to his home ‘because of the lockdown and their inability to return home on time.’ He stated that the women served him alcohol, yet in another statement, he mentioned drinking from a single glass with one of the women. Cairo, who asserted he does not drink alcohol, could not adequately explain why he participated in a toast that evening when questioned by the president of the Military Court, Cynthia Valstein-Montnor. He also alleged that after a few sips, he felt drugged, vomited, and remained in his room. Security footage from his home reportedly disappeared shortly after the abduction, though there are allegedly self-recorded videos by the women showing a party with loud music, alcohol, and sexual activity. These videos were not accessible to the media. Notably, despite Valstein-Montnor’s declaration that the case would be handled publicly despite sensitivities, much of Cairo’s interrogation and the viewing of the footage occurred behind closed doors, justified by the need to protect Cairo’s privacy. Journalists were only permitted to view external footage, which showed Cairo picking up the women at the corner of his street and walking them to his home. Around 2 a.m., a van stopped at his house, reversed slightly, and remained parked for half an hour before several men entered the property through an empty lot. It is unclear if the men were armed. The footage also captured the arrival and departure of the police. Cairo provided extensive testimony about his collaboration with Veira, former president Desi Bouterse, and other security officials, suggesting his abduction was linked to his intention to present evidence that day about Veira’s distribution of weapons to civilians. Meijnaar countered by citing a state decree allowing the head of the Security Service to arm civilians in special cases. The Military Court will verify this information. The prosecution’s closing arguments are scheduled for November 18, though further proceedings remain unclear as the press was excluded from the session.