(de Ware Tijd) THE HAGUE — Lower House legislators regret being constantly confronted with hostile actions by the Bouterse administration. They communicated their concerns to Nieuw Front legislator Chandrikapersad Santokhi, who had a meeting with the Lower House committees on Foreign Affairs and Education.
Santokhi explained that for now the Dutch legislature has a wait-and-see attitude to see which way Bouterse is heading. However, they consider adoption of the Amnesty Act as very hostile towards surviving relatives. Although the political scene is Suriname was high on the agenda, the legislators did not specifically discuss President Bouterse, but rather his policy. Suriname’s foreign policy seems to cause conflicts in the relation between the two countries.
Dutch legislators want to avoid the Surinamese society become the victim of the deteriorating relations. Santhoki seized the opportunity to present his Diaspora policy, which aims at engaging Dutch of Surinamese descent for the development of Suriname. The Lower House legislators will include Santhoki’s vision in debates on the relation with Suriname.
The legislature is waiting for the new Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs to present his policy towards Suriname. Santokhi has been promised support by Dutch legislators, including Tanja Jadnanansing, who has promised support in establishing an agriculture college in the District of Nickerie. The Nieuw Front legislator is an ardent supporter of continuing the Twinning agreement between Suriname and the Netherlands. The agreement covers mutual cooperation between social organizations for projects in Suriname.
