The unrest in Suriname was already great, but last Friday’s looting and destruction of parliament are a new low. “People even say that the Dutch should come back,” Suriname experts describe the desperation. But they also see solutions.
Whether you are at the gas station or in the local supermarket, there is a crisis everywhere in Suriname. “I wanted to pay for my groceries, but found out at the checkout that I didn’t have enough money,” says Roy Khemradj. “The value of the money had dropped so much a year after my last visit that I could buy much less.”
The Suriname expert was in the South American country last January and saw the impact of more than 54 percent inflation. “People who return a loaf of bread at the checkout because it is too expensive. Or can only fill up with a few liters. There is no longer a middle class in Suriname. Either you are incredibly rich or poor.”
The biggest cause of the economic problems is the national debt of 4 billion dollars. In order to pay them back, the government implemented far-reaching cutbacks. For example, subsidies on petrol and energy rates were released. “Life is getting more expensive, but people don’t see their salary increase, which puts them in a pinch,” says Khemradj.
Protest possibly hijacked by supporters of former president
The dissatisfaction with the situation became clearly visible last Friday. Thousands of people took to the streets in the capital Paramaribo to protest against the government. The demonstrators see how the cuts hit poorer people hard, while rich Surinamese continue to live their luxurious life.
What started as a peaceful protest ended in looting and destruction of parliament. It was assumed that it was a desperate attempt by Surinamese who see no other way out. But according to Roy Khemradj there is more to it.
“There are indications that the looters with face masks and machetes were part of a preconceived plan to sow unrest and panic. The fear is that they are supporters of former president Desi Bouterse. They may have wanted to show their teeth in the run-up to his lawsuit.”
Khemradj is referring to the ruling in Bouterse’s appeal. The Surinamese judiciary has demanded twenty years in prison against Bouterse as the main suspect in the December murders. If the judge agrees later this year, the former president will be immediately imprisoned.
Attempted arson at state broadcaster
Surinamist Hans Ramshoedh also has indications that it was a preconceived plan. “For example, an attempt was made to set fire to the state broadcaster. I do not have the impression that that was the goal of the organizers of the demonstration. Something the protest leader himself denies.”
This social unrest comes on top of all the economic and financial problems the country already has. That while residents still had hopes of improvement in 2020. President Chan Santokhi took over from Bouterse that year. Among other things, he promised to tackle corruption.
Residents were therefore surprised when Santokhi’s wife joined the supervisory board of the state oil company. According to Ramshoedh, favoritism was anything but tackled. “Just this month, Vice President Brunswijk’s brother was appointed director of the national energy company.”
According to Suriname expert Khemradj, dissatisfaction is growing due to these kinds of actions. “The president asks the people to tighten their belts, but he himself celebrates life with long journeys that include his wife. And in the meantime, the people have not seen any improvement for 2.5 years. That causes tension.”
2:11The lack of progress makes people desperate
Recent finds of oil wells off the coast of Suriname seemed like a welcome boost. But oil companies are sticking to test drilling for the time being, so the big money is not coming in yet. Nevertheless, according to Khemradj, there are ways to ease the burden of Surinamese in the short term.
“Improve the collection of taxes, for example. Come up with a wealth tax and a property tax on all capital villas. Then you generate a lot of money to cover domestic costs. Now that tax burden is on wage earners such as the military, civil servants and teachers.”
According to the experts, it is also due to the development of their own economy. “Entire forests are destroyed to export logs for a low price,” Khemradj sighs. “Make sure you can process that wood yourself for your own market and to increase your export value.”
According to Khemradj, the lack of progress makes Surinamese despondent. “The desperation is so great that I even heard people say that the Dutch should come back. Only then will things go well again.”
“Take taxes, for example. A Surinamese director has twenty family members and turns a blind eye. But a Dutch tax expert simply says: these are the rules and you have to pay for this, period.”
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