Following protests against his government’s policies Surinamese President Chandrikapersad Santokhi yesterday cancelled a planned trip to Paraguay where he was expected to participate in the Mercosur summit, according to the waterkant.net news agency.
Several news agencies yesterday reported that hundreds of people took to the streets of Paramaribo and they had reportedly planned to storm the Johan Adolf Pengel airport to prevent the president’s departure.
According to reports the citizens took to the streets and first went to The National Assembly (DNA) and then to the President’s Office as they demanded drastic changes to the government’s policies or for the entire government to resign.
The waterkant.net reported that in response President Santokhi announced that he had been elected for five years and he will remain in office until the end of his government.
The Suriname Herald reported that the protestors attempted to enter the President’s Office but were stopped by the presidential security. The report said citizens are dissatisfied and they called on the government to inform the nation about it many policies which are unclear as they are tired of scandals. Reference was made to a receipt scam and to the many positions being held by First Lady Mellisa Santokhi-Seenacherry, a lawyer by profession. The report stated that to facilitate the positions held by the First Lady the statutes of Staatsolie Maatschappij Suriname had to be changed.
According to the document on the statutes online the “Staatsolie is a vertically integrated energy company with a balanced portfolio including gold investments and we aspire to be a trusted corporate citizen and an employer of choice by creating a positive and supportive working environment where all employees, including employees of the subsidiaries, adhere to the Code of Conduct.”
According to the Suriname Herald as well there is dissatisfaction with the appointment policy whereby friends and family are being hired and the protestors said they are also tired of broken promises and the ever rising prices of products, utilities and house rent.
“Look what’s happening now. Look what’s happening now. There is no money for medicines. Babies are dying in this country. But there is money to go to Dubai for a million!”, the translated version of a quote in the dwtonline.com said as they addressed the crowd in front of the Parliament building where a cordon of police had gathered,
Activist Curtis Hofwijks was also on the protest line to have his voice heard. Up to yesterday afternoon the protestors were still on the streets.