标签： Suriname

苏里南

Derde helft WK 2026: Marokko schakelt Nederland uit na strafschoppen in WK-thriller

The 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 32 delivered another stunning upset on Tuesday, as Morocco eliminated European powerhouse Netherlands in a dramatic penalty shootout after 120 minutes of tense, end-to-end football ended in a 1-1 draw. The North African side held their nerve from 12 yards to secure a 3-2 win on penalties, booking their spot in the round of 16 where they will face Canada.

For long stretches of the 90-minute regulation, it appeared the Dutch side would cruise through to the next stage. The Netherlands grabbed an early first-half lead, then controlled possession and territory for most of the match, looking comfortable heading into the final minutes. But Morocco refused to let the odds dictate the outcome, pressing high aggressively, fighting for every 50-50 challenge with relentless intensity, and playing with the quiet confidence that one single moment could turn the game on its head.

That pivotal moment arrived late in the second half. As the Netherlands looked to see out the game and seal their progression, Morocco struck to level the score at 1-1. The equalizer hit the Dutch squad like a physical blow, while sparking wild celebrations among Moroccan players and fans, who sensed a historic upset was within reach.

Neither side could find a decisive goal in extra time, with both teams showing clear signs of fatigue after two hours of nonstop physical battle. The Netherlands pushed to reassert their control, while Morocco looked to hit on the counter for a game-winning break. With no additional goals, the clash went all the way to penalties, where the fairytale upset was completed. The Dutch missed several spot kicks, while Morocco showed clinical composure to convert enough chances to seal the win. This elimination marks the second major European side to exit the tournament via penalty shootout in a single evening, following Germany’s earlier exit.

For Morocco, the result cements another historic night on world football’s biggest stage. The performance confirms their 2022 World Cup semi-final run was no fluke, proving the North African nation can compete consistently with the world’s top teams through a combination of tactical discipline, unwavering passion, and relentless determination that has become their trademark.

For the Netherlands, the early exit leaves only heartbreak and disbelief. They held the lead, controlled large portions of the match, and had every chance to lock in a spot in the next round. But the World Cup has long taught that beautiful football does not always decide results. Sometimes, matches are won by sheer strength of character. Sometimes, they are decided by 12 yards. On this historic night, Morocco had what it took to advance, while the Netherlands packed their bags for an early flight home.

30 6 月, 2026
Column: Comité-generaal: uitzondering of nieuwe regel?

A heated debate over parliamentary transparency has emerged in Suriname, centered on plans to discuss two high-profile public cases — the disappearance of more than 300 kilograms of mercury from the Geyersvlijt police station and the theft of gold from Grassalco’s vault — behind closed doors in a special committee-general session. Justice and Police Minister Harish Monorath has announced his intention to share details on the stolen mercury during the closed meeting, while the sensitive cross-border Tigri dispute, a matter touching on national security and diplomatic interests, is also set for the closed-door committee-general discussion, a mechanism built into Suriname’s National Assembly for handling exceptional, confidential matters where open debate would compromise state interests. But this move to hold the stolen mercury and gold case discussions in secret has sparked principled pushback from across the political spectrum, raising fundamental questions about the core values of parliamentary democracy and the public’s right to information.

During recent budget debates, assembly member Raymond Sapoen correctly emphasized that parliament’s core function is to exercise public oversight over the government. The disappearance of hundreds of kilograms of mercury is no routine administrative incident; it is a major public concern that gives society a clear right to know key details of the case, Sapoen argued. This does not mean releasing sensitive investigative details that could derail an ongoing criminal probe, but rather that the public is owed a clear update on the state of the case: what steps authorities have already taken, what new security measures have been implemented, and how the government plans to prevent a similar incident from happening again. These are all legitimate, public governance questions that do not require secrecy.

Acting National Assembly Speaker Ronnie Brunswijk has also publicly questioned the need for a closed session for these cases, noting that not every issue demands secret discussion. His comment cuts to the very heart of Suriname’s parliamentary system: open debate is the rule, and closed-door proceedings are supposed to be the rare exception, not the new normal.

Beyond transparency concerns, the push for closed hearings also raises critical constitutional questions about the separation of powers and the independence of the Public Prosecution Service (OM), which leads all criminal investigations. First, it is unclear whether the Minister of Justice and Police actually has full access to all ongoing investigative information, and second, it is unresolved whether sharing that information with assembly members in a closed session would compromise the OM’s constitutionally protected independent status. Parliament exercises oversight over the executive branch (the government), not over the independent Public Prosecution Service. That means the justice minister is under no obligation to share details of active criminal investigations such as witness testimony, persons of interest, or investigative strategies. But the minister is fully required to account for his ministry’s administrative actions: when he was first informed of the missing mercury, what immediate measures his ministry put in place, whether security protocols have been updated, whether internal administrative probes have been launched, and what steps are being taken to prevent recurrence. None of these administrative questions require a closed committee-general session.

Critics warn that accepting the logic that any ongoing investigation justifies a closed hearing sets a dangerous precedent for democratic governance. Nearly every major public case is in the investigation stage at some point, if this becomes the new standard, parliamentary oversight will increasingly be pushed out of public view. There is an additional critical risk: committee-general proceedings are bound by strict secrecy rules, meaning assembly members cannot disclose any information shared during the session to the public. If a minister provides incomplete or even inaccurate information in the closed meeting, representatives can barely push back publicly without violating their own secrecy obligations. This effectively shuts down public debate entirely. Because of this far-reaching impact, the committee-general is a heavy, extraordinary parliamentary tool that should only be used with extreme caution, advocates for transparency argue.

No one disputes that closed proceedings are necessary for certain truly sensitive matters: military strategy, national security threats, and high-stakes diplomatic negotiations are appropriately held out of public view. But cases like missing mercury, stolen gold, and other dossiers that center primarily on administrative accountability should, as a matter of principle, be subject to public reporting.

At its core, the debate boils down to a fundamental question about the purpose of parliamentary democracy. Parliaments are not created to guard government secrets; they exist to hold the executive branch accountable on behalf of the public. The question facing Suriname’s political leaders is not whether a committee-general is permitted by the rules, but whether the nation should accept that secrecy is replacing transparency when transparency is the foundation of a functioning parliamentary democracy. Ultimately, all information about government action — unless there is clear, proven evidence that public disclosure would harm the national interest — belongs not to the government or to parliament, but to the people of Suriname.

30 6 月, 2026
Regering kiest voor eigen financiering Corantijnbrug: Het wordt een Surinaamse brug

In a major policy shift announced to Suriname’s national legislature, the South American nation’s government has abandoned its original joint development framework with neighboring Guyana and will now build and fully finance the long-planned Corantijn River bridge on its own.

Public Works and Spatial Planning Minister Stephen Tsang confirmed the new direction during a budget debate for his department on Monday evening, responding to questions from opposition VHP party leader Asis Gajadien about the cross-border infrastructure project’s current status. “The government has decided to 100 percent finance the bridge itself,” Tsang told the National Assembly, stressing that the completed infrastructure will be unequivocally a Surinamese project. “Fact is that it must and will be a Surinamese bridge,” he added.

The Corantijn River forms the natural border between Suriname and Guyana, and the proposed bridge has long been framed as a landmark initiative to boost regional economic integration across the Guiana Shield and broader South America. It is designed to replace the existing ferry connection between South Drain in Suriname and Moleson Creek in Guyana, cutting transit times and significantly streamlining the movement of goods and people between the two neighboring countries.

Minister Tsang noted that multiple financing models for the fully domestically led project are currently under active review alongside Suriname’s Ministry of Finance, with the option of toll collection being among the options still on the table. “Everything is still open. All models are being examined together with the finance ministry,” Tsang said. Depending on which financing structure the government ultimately selects, a new tender process will almost certainly be required, he added.

Gajadien pressed the minister for clarity on the status of the tender process launched by the previous administration, as well as details of updated agreements with Guyana following the policy shift. While Tsang confirmed a new tender is likely, he offered no timeline for when the new bidding process would open. He also declined to comment on how the decision to take full control of the project will alter existing bilateral agreements with Guyana that were negotiated under the prior joint development plan.

For years, the bridge project advanced as a collaborative cross-border undertaking, with planning work carried out jointly by the two countries under Suriname’s previous administration. The new unilateral approach marks a sharp break from that earlier cooperation framework, though the full implications for bilateral infrastructure ties have not yet been disclosed by the Surinamese government.

30 6 月, 2026
Kinderpsycholoog Barrow: Veel kinderen krijgen te laat hulp door hoge kosten

Across Suriname, thousands of families face a crippling barrier when seeking mental health support for their children and adolescents: prohibitive treatment costs that put life-changing care out of reach. This gap in access does not just leave needs unmet — it often forces families to abandon ongoing treatment early, or delay seeking help until mild mental health or developmental concerns escalate into severe, harder-to-treat issues. Leading local child and youth psychologist Janine Barrow, affiliated with Suriname’s Diakonessenhuis, is calling for urgent systemic change to address this crisis, pushing for expanded insurance coverage, greater investment in school-based mental health services, and widespread public education to reduce lingering stigma.

Barrow’s work centers on supporting patients from infancy through age 19, providing a full spectrum of care that includes one-on-one therapy, developmental and psychological assessments — such as IQ testing, autism screenings, ADHD evaluations, and in-school behavioral observations — alongside psychoeducation for families and guided counseling for parents navigating their child’s challenges. In her clinical practice, the most common concerns she sees include developmental delays, neurodivergence such as autism and ADHD, learning difficulties, persistent behavioral challenges, symptoms of depression, trauma stemming from parental divorce, and anxiety disorders triggered by chronic bullying.

Barrow emphasizes that early, targeted intervention is the most effective way to prevent small issues from escalating into long-term impairment. By involving parents and school staff in treatment where appropriate, she says, care teams can equip caregivers with practical, actionable strategies to support young people at home and in the classroom, reducing the severity of symptoms and often preventing issues from becoming chronic.
“Mental health shapes every part of a young person’s daily life, from their ability to learn to their long-term physical health,” Barrow explains. Chronic unaddressed stress, she notes, does not only impact emotional well-being — it can lead to persistent physical health complaints, disrupt academic progress, and create barriers to successful employment later in life. She also outlines key warning signs that parents should watch for that may indicate a child needs professional support: sudden, unexplained changes in behavior, persistent sleep or eating disturbances, dropping grades, excessive worrying, and any expression of suicidal thoughts.

Alongside access barriers, Barrow says persistent misinformation and stigma around mental health care still stop many families from reaching out for help early. Common misconceptions she encounters include the belief that only people with severe mental illness need to see a psychologist, or that mental health issues can be resolved in a single therapy session. “Psychological support requires time and active participation from the client,” she notes. “But it is not just for people facing severe conditions — it is for any young person or family that wants to build better coping skills for stress or invest in personal growth.”

Barrow identifies Suriname’s ongoing economic challenges as the single largest barrier to accessible youth mental health care. For most working families, the out-of-pocket cost of ongoing therapy is prohibitive, leading many to end treatment before it is complete. To address this, she is calling for policy changes to expand insurance reimbursement for psychological services, place more full-time mental health providers in primary and secondary schools, and expand access to specialized education for young people with mental health and developmental needs.

While Barrow has observed a gradual reduction in the cultural stigma around seeking mental health care in recent years, many families still hesitate to reach out for support when their child first shows signs of struggle. For this reason, she argues, widespread public outreach and education about mental health is an essential part of expanding access. Her core message to families across Suriname is clear: “Do not wait to seek help if you notice your child is struggling. Mental health is just as important as physical health, and getting support early makes all the difference.”

30 6 月, 2026
Derde helft WK 2026: Voetbalreus Duitsland uitgeschakeld na zenuwslopende strafschoppenserie

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has already delivered one of its most stunning upsets, as underdog Paraguay ousted four-time tournament champion Germany from the Round of 32 on Monday evening, securing a historic 4-3 penalty shootout win after 120 minutes of play ended in a 1-1 draw. The result sends the unheralded South American side through to the quarter-finals, while bringing an unexpectedly early tournament exit for one of men’s football’s most decorated powerhouses. Long after the final whistle, Paraguayan star Julio César Enciso, a player celebrated for his tireless work ethic, could not contain his tears of joy, a raw, unfiltered reaction to the achievement that will go down in World Cup folklore. This upset is exactly why the World Cup remains widely regarded as the most captivating sports tournament on the planet. Every four years, smaller footballing nations earn the chance to test themselves against the sport’s established heavyweights. On paper, Germany boasts far more individual quality, deeper squad depth, and a far richer footballing legacy than Paraguay. But 90 minutes, or in this case 120 minutes of regulation and extra time, does not care for historical prestige, budget size or established reputation. Out on the pitch, only effort, tactical discipline, collective belief, and a willingness to fight for every inch of grass count – and that is exactly what Paraguay demonstrated from the final whistle. From the opening kickoff, Paraguay made clear they had not traveled to Boston to simply make up the numbers. With a tightly organized defensive structure, relentless aggression in duels, and dangerous counter-attacking transitions, they grabbed a surprising 1-0 lead before halftime. Germany, which entered the knockout stage as Group E winners, struggled from the start to break down Paraguay’s compact defensive block. After halftime, Germany ramped up the pressure, keeping the ball almost exclusively on Paraguay’s half of the pitch for long stretches, and eventually earned an equalizer that leveled the score. The four-time champions sensed momentum and looked poised to turn the match around in their favor, but Paraguay held firm. The two sides remained deadlocked even after extra time, with the match hanging on a knife edge through both additional 15-minute halves. In the first period of extra time, Germany thought it had netted the go-ahead 2-1 goal, but their celebration was cut short when VAR intervened to disallow the strike. The decision kept Paraguay in the match, and the underdog drew new confidence from the call. After the first five penalty kicks for each side failed to produce a winner, with both teams converting three and missing two, the shootout moved to sudden death. It was there that fortune turned against Germany. A German player missed from the spot, and Paraguay’s next taker kept his cool to slot home the decisive penalty. At that moment, wild celebrations erupted for the Paraguayan camp, while the German players collapsed on the pitch, stunned by their early exit. For Paraguay, this victory means far more than just a spot in the next round. It once again proves that nations not traditionally counted among the global elite can defeat the biggest footballing powerhouses when they play as a cohesive unit, stick to their game plan, and refuse to quit. The World Cup remains the ultimate stage where underdog dreams can become reality, and the line between favorite and outsider can be surprisingly thin. For Germany, however, the early exit brings profound disappointment. The side fought back to level the match in the second half, and even had what looked like a winning goal in extra time before the VAR call, but ultimately saw a campaign that began with sky-high expectations end in heartbreak during a tense penalty shootout. Paraguay now prepares for its historic quarter-final, while Germany is left with the painful realization that even the most decorated football powerhouses are not immune to the magic of the underdog at a World Cup.

29 6 月, 2026
De hamer en de lat

A year after taking up the gavel as Speaker of the National Assembly of Suriname, Ashwin Adhin has delivered a comprehensive public assessment of his first term in office, outlining progress on legislative work, institutional modernization and preparations for the country’s upcoming oil and gas revenue era, while acknowledging ongoing challenges that remain to be addressed.

When Adhin assumed the speakership one year ago, his core pledge was to raise governance standards by enforcing strict adherence to the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure. Disrupting long-standing informal conventions that had muddied parliamentary order rather than supporting it, he notes, has been an uphill battle to rebuild basic discipline in the chamber.

Against the backdrop of Suriname’s impending arrival as an oil and gas producer, with first commercial production slated for 2028, Adhin argues that the central question facing the nation is not the size of its hydrocarbon reserves, but whether state institutions are strong enough to convert this new wealth into broad shared prosperity rather than waste and mismanagement. To lay the groundwork for responsible resource governance, he advocated for two key initiatives at the October 2025 Local Content Conference: a National Productivity and Diversification Plan, and a Parliamentary Forum for Economic Transition. This permanent multi-stakeholder platform brings together lawmakers, government officials, business leaders and academic experts to draft upcoming legislation on oil, gas, energy management and local content requirements.

Adhin emphasizes that local content cannot remain an empty buzzword: it must be translated into measurable mandatory requirements that embed local investors and businesses in the value chain ahead of 2028 first oil. In line with this agenda, the Assembly is awaiting the government’s October 2026 submission of the 2027-2031 Development Plan, paired with the 2027 national budget. As the body tasked with executive oversight and budget scrutiny, Adhin notes, parliament is the first line of defense against public resource waste.

In his first 12 months in office, the Assembly held more than 40 plenary public sessions and over 130 committee meetings. Six pieces of legislation have been finalized and enacted, including the 2025 national state budget, amendments to the State Debt Plan Act, the Labor Advisory Council Act, the Customs Act, the Suriname Fire Department Act, and the Funeral Services Act. The 2026 national budget is currently in its final stages of approval.

Meanwhile, heavier foundational legislation is working its way through committee processes. Key bills include the new Accounting Act, judicial branch modernization legislation, the Working Conditions Act, the Freedom of Information Act, and the Act establishing the Center for Innovation and Productivity. Public committee hearings have also been launched, with the first held in the high-profile case of three former public officials facing criminal indictment.

Beyond lawmaking, the National Assembly has stepped up its oversight function, Adhin says, demonstrating its authority in holding the executive to account. Work to enforce transparency around the state health insurance fund and other pressing public issues is advancing steadily.

In addition to legislative and oversight work, the speaker’s office has invested in strengthening the Assembly as an institution. A multi-year parliamentary program has been launched to drive organizational and institutional modernization of the body. Proposals are also on the table to fund additional parking capacity near the parliamentary complex, designed to reduce vehicle congestion in the city center and improve downtown livability.

A major ongoing digital transformation project is also underway: the digitization of all Surinamese legislation dating back to 1900. This work is not just for archival purposes; it will serve as the foundation for an artificial intelligence tool that will give faster, more open access to legal resources for the entire legal profession – from judges and prosecutors to lawyers, notaries, bailiffs and law students. A permanent standing committee on national security has also been established to strengthen the country’s security governance.

Parliament has also expanded its international engagement over the past year, coinciding with Suriname’s golden jubilee of independence. The Assembly hosted high-profile foreign visitors including the Dutch King and Queen, and the Asantehene of the Ashanti Kingdom. Lawmakers held bilateral talks with counterparts from the Dutch House of Representatives, India, the United States, Cuba, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Parliamentary delegations also participated in major international forums including the Inter-Parliamentary Union, strengthening Suriname’s parliamentary diplomacy over the past term.

Adhin takes a pragmatic approach to unfinished work, openly naming areas that still require improvement. A revised Rules of Procedure, designed to raise parliamentary order and debate standards, is still in preparation and has not been finalized. Quorum discipline, a longstanding chronic challenge for many parliaments, has shown improvement but still does not meet required standards.

To address these gaps, the Assembly will now start publicly tracking performance metrics to make its work measurable: quorum attendance rates, the share of scheduled sessions that actually proceed, the number of enacted laws, and progress on institutional transformation projects.

Political differences between the governing coalition and opposition are a normal and expected part of a functional democracy, Adhin notes. Meaningful progress is possible when all members prioritize national and community interest over partisan advantage. This frames the real test of the coming second year: progress will not be measured by how often the speaker’s gavel falls, but by how many completed laws leave the chamber, and whether promised reforms move beyond good intentions to tangible action.

When revising legislation, Adhin favors comprehensive, integrated reforms over incremental minimal changes. He has committed to three measurable core goals for the coming term: a fully updated Rules of Procedure by the end of the current sitting, a regular public half-yearly progress report to allow public scrutiny of parliamentary work, and finalization of legislation that directly impacts citizens, starting with bills supporting economic transition.

Adhin’s assessment of the first year is balanced: the National Assembly has maintained a busy legislative schedule and delivered tangible results in lawmaking and regulation. At the same time, organizational transformation is still ongoing, and the full impact of these changes now needs to be made clear and demonstrable to the Surinamese public.

This commentary was delivered by Michael Ashwin Adhin, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Suriname, on 29 June.

29 6 月, 2026
Derde helft WK 2026: Brazilië krijgt moedig Japan op de valreep op de knieën

HOUSTON – In a tense knockout-stage clash at Houston Stadium, five-time World Cup champions Brazil booked their place in the next round of the tournament with a dramatic 2-1 extra-time victory over Japan, ending the Asian side’s campaign with a late winner deep into stoppage time.

The fixture pitted tournament record holders Brazil, who finished top of their group to advance, against Japan, who secured a second-place finish in their group to qualify for the knockout round. With only one team able to progress from this stage of the competition, both sides entered the match under pressure to deliver a win, with pre-match buildup filled with tactical mind games and confident claims from both camps that had fans and pundits predicting a hard-fought, physical encounter. Leading out the teams under the Houston sky was Italian referee Maurizio Mariani, as Brazil chased a historic sixth world title, while Japan looked to claim an unprecedented first crown of their own.

Brazil started the match as expected, throwing men forward in their signature high-tempo attacking style, but Japan’s organized defense held firm, turning away wave after wave of South American attacks and leaving Brazil without a single clear opening in the opening 10 minutes. Gradually, Japan grew into the game, lifting the tempo and turning the contest into an end-to-end spectacle, though their early forays forward lacked cutting edge, leaving Brazil’s defense largely untroubled.

The shock lead came in the 29th minute, when Kaishū Sano latched onto a through ball and broke free one-on-one with Brazil goalkeeper Allison Becker. Before the Brazilian number one could react, Sano slotted the ball into the far corner, putting Japan up 1-0. The early setback completely threw Brazil off their rhythm, and the five-time champions failed to find a response for the remainder of the first half. Japan held onto their advantage, sitting deep to protect their lead without taking unnecessary risks, going into halftime with a well-earned one-goal advantage.

Brazil made a key substitution at the break, bringing young star Endrick on in place of Lucas Paqueta, and the change immediately shifted momentum in the South Americans’ favor. In the 52nd minute, Bruno Guimaraes produced a spectacular header on goal from a deep cross, but Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki made a sharp reflex save to keep his sheet clean. Two minutes later, Japan survived another scare when Casemiro’s diving header hit a three-player defensive wall on the goal line and bounced clear. It was not long after that Casemiro found the breakthrough, powering a header past Suzuki from a Gabriel Magalhães cross to level the score at 1-1 in the 56th minute.

After the equalizer, Brazil continued to pile on pressure, but after a string of wasted chances, their momentum faded, allowing Japan to regain more possession. Rather than pushing forward for a winner, Japan dropped back into a deep defensive block and abandoned attacking play, letting Brazil take control of possession. The South Americans grew rushed in their finishing, with Vinícius Júnior often cutting isolated on solo runs that led to nothing, squandering multiple late chances to take the lead. Even when a shot deflected off a Japanese defender over the line in the 74th minute, the goal was ruled out for offside against the Brazilian attacker. As the match ticked into stoppage time and extra time looked inevitable, substitute Gabriel Martinelli netted the winner in the 96th minute, finishing off a well-placed pass from Bruno Guimarães to secure Brazil’s 2-1 victory.

29 6 月, 2026
Caricom introduceert derde versie Tienpuntenprogramma voor Reparaties

In late June, a high-stakes international consultative conference focused on advancing reparatory action for the transatlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans kicked off in Accra, the capital of Ghana. Convened as a follow-up to a landmark March 2025 United Nations General Assembly resolution that formally classified the transatlantic slave trade and chattel slavery as crimes against humanity, the event drew top regional leaders, including Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, senior government representatives from Caribbean and African Union member states, and leading subject-matter experts. Suriname, one of the core CARICOM member states participating in the reparations movement, was represented at the gathering by Fidelia Gran Galon, Suriname’s ambassador to Ghana.

During the Accra conference, Prime Minister Mottley, who chairs CARICOM’s Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on Reparations, officially presented the updated third edition of the CARICOM Ten Point Plan for Reparatory Justice. Fully titled *The CARICOM Ten Point Plan for Reparatory Justice: A Manifesto for the Coming Enlightenment*, this revised document represents over a decade of collaborative policy development across the Caribbean community.

The push for formal reparatory justice traces its institutional roots back to 2013, when CARICOM leaders at their 34th plenary meeting voted to add the issues of Indigenous genocide and the legacies of transatlantic slavery to their core policy agenda. That same year, two key governing bodies were established: the Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee (PMSC), led by Barbados with representation from heads of government of Barbados, Guyana, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Haiti, and the CARICOM Reparations Commission (CRC), made up of chairs of national reparations commissions from 13 CARICOM member states. A dedicated research institute affiliated with the University of the West Indies was also launched to support archival work and evidence-building for the reparations claim. While differing perspectives have emerged across these bodies over the years, final decision-making authority rests with the PMSC and full CARICOM heads of government.

The first iteration of the Ten Point Plan was originally launched by CARICOM leaders in 2014, with an initial revision completed in 2018. The third edition, unveiled in Accra, marks the most significant expansion of the framework to date, reflecting the movement’s growth from a regional advocacy effort to a global movement for racial and economic justice. The updated 52-page document expands coverage of gender-based harms from slavery, includes greater input from the African diaspora, and integrates new analysis of how historical exploitation exacerbates contemporary climate vulnerability for small island CARICOM states. It also adds two extensive annexes with supporting research and policy guidance.

The revised 10 core priorities of the plan, updated to reflect contemporary realities, are as follows: 1) Full and formal official apologies from former slave-trading and slave-owning nations; 2) A targeted development plan for Indigenous peoples whose communities were decimated by colonial genocide; 3) Support for voluntary repatriation and resettlement of descendant communities in Africa; 4) Restitution of stolen cultural heritage and support for cultural reconnection for diaspora communities; 5) Targeted action to address ongoing racial health disparities rooted in the legacies of slavery; 6) Capacity-building and development through expanded education and skills training; 7) Reparation for gender-based violence and the destruction of enslaved family structures; 8) Support for psychological rehabilitation for intergenerational trauma from slavery; 9) Advancing sovereign development rights through access to technology, innovation support and entrepreneurship development; 10) Debt cancellation, financial reparations and formal completion of decolonization for formerly enslaved nations.

Three new inclusions stand out as particularly notable in the revised framework. First, at a CARICOM heads of government meeting held in Guyana in March 2025, leaders voted to formally add indentured contract labor—primarily of South Asian people brought to replace enslaved workers after abolition—to the list of crimes against humanity addressed by the plan. Second, the third edition integrates climate change as a core reparations issue, noting that low-lying CARICOM states, which contributed almost nothing to historical greenhouse gas emissions, now face existential climate risk rooted in their colonial history of resource extraction. Third, the framework explicitly references a 2023 research report from U.S.-based economic consultants The Brattle Group, which calculated that reparations for the harms of transatlantic slavery alone amount to tens of trillions of dollars in damages.

Across the updated document, CARICOM leaders emphasize that the systemic harms of chattel slavery and colonialism continue to shape economic, social and racial inequities across the Caribbean and African diaspora today. The final takeaway of the new manifesto is clear: after more than a decade of institutional work, the global movement for reparatory justice still has a long road ahead to achieve full redress for centuries of systemic exploitation.

29 6 月, 2026
Derde helft WK 2026: Droom of drama? Brazilië, Duitsland en Oranje in actie

The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup enters its first day of Round of 32 action on Monday, June 29, with three high-stakes matches on the schedule headlined by global powerhouses Brazil, Germany, and the Netherlands, while off the pitch, Canada celebrates a landmark milestone in its men’s soccer history, and other nations grapple with heartbreak and organizational upheaval following early tournament exits.

Five more spots in the Round of 16 will be claimed by the end of the day, joining Canada, which already locked in its place in the knockout stage over the weekend. Today’s fixture list kicks off at 14:00 local time at Houston’s NRG Stadium in Texas, where five-time World Cup champions Brazil face an up-and-coming Japan side. The second match of the day kicks off at 17:30 local time at Boston Stadium in Massachusetts, where Germany meets Paraguay, with Die Mannschaft desperate to end their streak of early World Cup exits dating back to their 2014 title win. The day’s action closes at 22:00 local time at Monterrey Stadium in host nation Mexico, where the Netherlands takes on North African side Morocco.

Heading into their matchup with Japan, Brazil hold a clear historical upper hand over the Blue Samurai: across 14 previous meetings, Brazil have claimed 11 wins and suffered just one loss. The pair’s only prior World Cup meeting came 20 years ago, when Brazil secured a convincing 4-1 victory en route to their fifth title. However, Japan enters Monday’s clash with a boost of confidence, having overturned a 2-0 deficit to beat Brazil 3-2 in a friendly in Tokyo last October, snapping Brazil’s long unbeaten streak in head-to-head matchups between the two sides. Even with that upset in recent memory, Brazil remain the heavy favorites to advance to the next round.

For Germany, their matchup against Paraguay marks just their third meeting across all competitions, and their first in a World Cup since the 2002 Round of 16. The most recent encounter between the two sides was a thrilling 3-3 draw in a friendly match back in 2013. Having failed to make it out of the group stage in both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, Germany is hungry to end its drought of early exits and secure a place in the Round of 16, and is widely expected to get the win against Paraguay on Monday.

The final match of the day between Netherlands and Morocco marks just the second ever World Cup meeting between the two nations, with their only prior tournament matchup coming in the 1994 group stage, where the Dutch claimed a 2-1 win behind goals from Dennis Bergkamp and Bryan Roy. Historically, the Netherlands has an unbeatable record against African opponents at the World Cup, remaining undefeated across six previous matches, with every win coming by a margin of at least two goals. Monday’s clash will however mark the Netherlands’ first ever knockout stage match against an African side. Morocco, for its part, enters the match full of confidence after a win over Scotland in the final group stage match, and is targeting back-to-back World Cup wins against European opposition to pull off an upset.

Beyond the three matches scheduled for Monday, multiple key storylines unfolded across the tournament over the final days of group stage play. Leading off the off-field developments, Canada made men’s World Cup history, securing its first ever knockout stage win with a dramatic stoppage-time victory over South Africa that booked their spot in the Round of 16.

The late match-winning goal from midfielder Stephen Eustaquio sparked wild celebrations across the Canadian camp, with co-host nation Canada celebrating the biggest milestone in the country’s men’s soccer history to date. Canadian head coach Jesse Marsch hailed his players, saying they had earned the title of “Canadian heroes” and already inspired a new generation of domestic soccer players across the country. Celebrations were made even more emotional by the presence of injured midfielder Ismael Kone, who was forced to withdraw from the tournament earlier after suffering a broken leg, but joined his teammates on crutches to celebrate the historic moment.

In contrast to Canada’s joy, Iran’s World Cup campaign ended in devastating heartbreak, after the side missed out on a knockout stage spot by the narrowest of margins, becoming the first team in World Cup history to have three goals disallowed via VAR decisions. The dramatic late elimination sparked widespread emotional reactions across Iran and global soccer circles. Iranian head coach Amir Ghalenoei described his side’s bad luck as extraordinary. State media commentators in Iran also publicly questioned the circumstances of the elimination, while Austria head coach Ralf Rangnick rejected any suggestions of match fixing, noting that only “someone completely crazy” would believe the result was manipulated.

In the wake of their own group stage elimination, South Korea has been thrown into soccer turmoil after head coach Hong Myung-bo stepped down from his role, facing heavy public and political criticism following the team’s underperforming campaign. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung launched a full investigation into the country’s national team program, calling the team’s early exit “deeply baffling” and openly questioning both the national team’s organizational structure and Hong’s appointment. Lee emphasized that personnel decisions ultimately determine on-pitch results, stating: “When loyalty and cronyism count for more than competence, and an unqualified person is put in a leadership position, the outcome is as predictable as fire.”

29 6 月, 2026
Wijngaarde: Excuses moeten leiden tot kennis en bewustwording

As the Feydrasi fu Afrikan Srananman (Federation of Afro-Surinamese People) marks its 30th anniversary, its founding president Iwan Wijngaarde reflects on three decades of advocacy for addressing the intergenerational harms of the transatlantic slave trade, arguing that official apologies for historical slavery are a critical starting point — but never an endpoint.

The federation was founded in 1996, when a coalition of Afro-Surinamese community groups and individual activists came together out of shared deep concern: for generations, the Afro-Surinamese community had faced systemic social, economic, and political marginalization that traced directly back to the legacy of slavery. Organizing a cohesive leadership structure proved challenging in the early days, with no volunteers stepping forward to lead the new coalition before an elder member nominated Wijngaarde to take on the role.

The early years were defined by grassroots pioneering. To keep the organization financially stable, members ran fundraising events and sold homemade food to cover operating costs. Over time, the federation grew into Suriname’s leading organizer of public commemoration events, educational lectures, and cultural programming centered on Afro-Surinamese identity, historical awareness, and equity, rather than solely focusing on past trauma.

One of the federation’s earliest milestones was hosting prominent American activist Louis Farrakhan just months after its founding. It also established enduring annual community traditions, most notably Blakaman Dey, later renamed Black Civilization Day, held every first Sunday of January. The holiday is designed to let the community start each new year by centering their own cultural heritage, carrying that identity and traditions forward through the rest of the year.

Wijngaarde has been clear that apologies from institutions and governments for slavery must be paired with sustained action, not treated as a solution in themselves. He emphasizes that apologies must include clear explanation of why they are necessary, and points to the harmful framing of emancipation in 1863, when formerly enslaved people were pressured to thank their former enslavers and colonial authorities during post-emancipation thanksgiving services. He also notes that abolition was only achieved through widespread resistance by enslaved people, a history that has often been erased from mainstream narratives.

Wijngaarde argues that religious institutions, particularly the Christian church, have a unique responsibility to participate in the healing process. The church played an active role in erasing Afro-Surinamese cultural identity during the colonial and slavery eras, he says, and now must contribute to the rehumanization of the Afro-Surinamese community by acknowledging this historical role.

Over 30 years, the federation has expanded its programming to honor the full spectrum of Afro-Surinamese and Black resistance history. It leads annual commemorations of freedom fighters Kodjo, Mentor, and Present; honors 18th-century Maroon warrior Boni on Boni Dey; and holds public remembrances of the 1757 Tempati Uprising, the 1791 Haitian Revolution, and M’ma Seri, an enslaved woman tortured and killed by her enslaver in 1743. Every December, it organizes the national Switiwatra ritual cleansing herbal bath, a traditional practice adapted from small-scale plantation and family ceremonies that has grown into a major public event since the federation took over its organization in 2014. The federation also hosts an annual remembrance for the approximately 700 African people who died in the 1738 sinking of the slave ship Leusden.

Wijngaarde acknowledges the federation has faced significant challenges across its three decades. It has faced opposition from hostile groups, struggled to retain long-term volunteer engagement, and navigated internal tensions driven by clashing egos, differing strategic visions, and power imbalances. These challenges, he says, are themselves a legacy of the colonial system of division and dehumanization that the federation works against. To counter that, the organization centers a collective “we philosophy” rather than individualism, a core principle that has kept it moving forward.

This 30th anniversary year marks a new milestone for the federation: for the first time, it will co-host July 1 emancipation commemorations alongside Indigenous Surinamese organizations, following months of collaborative planning. Wijngaarde says the partnership is designed to build collective power, and the next phase of the federation’s work will focus on collaborative development beyond remembrance — leveraging the spiritual and economic strengths of both marginalized communities, and seeking international partnerships when local knowledge and resources are insufficient.

Wijngaarde welcomes the 2023 formal apology for Dutch slavery issued by King Willem-Alexander, calling it an important foundational step for future work. However, he criticizes the king’s 2025 visit to Suriname for falling short on substantive engagement, arguing that the wreath-laying ceremony at the Mama Sranan national slavery monument remained overly symbolic with little concrete discussion of ongoing harms. He notes that the Kwakoe statue remains the only small-scale public monument to slavery in Suriname, highlighting how much work remains to embed this history in public consciousness.

Looking back on 30 years of organizing, Wijngaarde identifies three core values that have sustained the federation through challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic, when the organization refused to pause its programming: patience, love, and mutual respect. Healing the intergenerational harm of dehumanization cannot happen overnight, he explains, so sustained patience is essential. The work also requires mutual love within the community, and respect for one’s culture and all community members.

On July 1, the federation will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a full schedule of public events, including a historical exhibition, cultural performances, the launch of a commemorative book, a public community reception, and the annual wreath-laying at the Kwakoe statue.

29 6 月, 2026