(De Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO – According to ex-Justice and Police minister Chandrikapersad Santokhi, the Special Security and Intelligence Service (SBID) was among others, trained by the CIA and the Dutch and French police. The SBID was established almost immediately after Santokhi’s taking office as he was threatened several times after Suriname announced it would deal both national and internationally with organized crime.
The SBID was composed of among others, members of the police force, the Arrest Team, the Central Intelligence and Security service (CIVD) and the Guarding and Security Service Suriname (BBS). The men were especially trained to protect Santokhi and not authorized to conduct other investigative work. Santokhi claims that current Justice and Police Minister Martin Misiedjan wanted to withdraw “all of his security”. Intervention of the government has fortunately prevented him from doing so as Santokhi’s current function of chairman of the CICAD grants him limited security.