PARAMARIBO--As Suriname celebrated its 41st Independence Day on Friday, November 25, with a crippling economic crisis, President Desi Bouterse called on the community to “work together to take this country to higher heights” and “not be deterred dumb people.”
The President was speaking in the village of Tamanredjo in District Commewijne, where Government centralised the independence celebrations this year. Several thousand people had descended upon the village for the festivities. The traditionally sleepy Tamanredjo that is located at a 45-minute drive eastward from Paramaribo, had been spruced up and sparked to life for the occasion.
Upon arrival, Bouterse inspected the honour guard. Dignitaries and an impressed crowd looked on as units of the country’s armed forces marched in the annual Independence Day parade. From sharply dressed Customs officers in white uniforms to grim looking Police SWAT teams and Army commandos in camouflage and full riot gear, participants filed by with their patrol cars, boats and other equipment in tow.
Also taking part in the parade were a contingent of the 9th Marine Infantry Regiment 9e RIMa, a regiment of overseas French Army troops and a unit of the Pioneers of the Foreign Legion, both stationed in French Guiana. The latter unit with its members wearing large beards and dressed in their remarkable uniform, including apron, gloves and large axe, drew a lot of attention.
Suriname Air Force helicopters hovered above – an impressive show of force that is dusted up and presented anew every year, as it never fails to leave the crowds in awe.
Addressing the crowd shortly after, Bouterse expressed appreciation for the people “who did not pay attention to the naysayers” but still attended the festivities in Tamanredjo.
He admitted that there are problems, but stressed that there are countries in the world who face difficulties that are far more difficult. He said, “We should work together to face our problems” as “this country will never be poor if we put our hands together.”
He mentioned the US $550 million bond that Government secured in October with “massive interest from international investors.” “We are being looked at as an economic wonder. There are people who are baffled that a country that is facing inflation could still enter the capital market. We are an extraordinary country blessed by God. We will never be poor,” he said.
He called on his audience to not pay attention to “dumb people who think in old political ways and are not able to see” that his Government is “putting Suriname on the right track.” Shaking his head, the President mocked: “Now they are saying that we are selling Telesur [the Government-owned Telecommunications Company Suriname – Ed.]. They are saying one insanity after the other, even in Parliament,” he said.
The President was referring to allegations raised on Tuesday, November 22, by parliamentarian Marinus Bee (ABOP), who said that he was in possession of documents that showed that Telesur was in the process of being sold to Chinese telecoms giant Huawei. “It is unbelievable,” Bouterse jeered.
He said people should be able to see reality from the achievements of late, like the Merian industrial gold mine in District Marowijne of US multinational Newmont. “They were also saying all sorts of negativity when we announced that we were acquiring a 25 per cent stake in Merian, but now the gold mine has opened. You know how good it felt for me to hold a bar of gold worth a million dollars in my hands?” The President urged the community to keep believing in the country’s potential, as Merian guarantees the export of 1,000 kilograms of gold every month.
Still, while his speech was met with applause and cheers, not everybody in the audience approved of his Government. A small group of protestors had also taken to Tamanredjo. They stood quietly in the crowd, holding up anti-Government placards. “So there is money for this?”; “Where is the anti-corruption law?”; “Where is the money?” and “Where is the enemy of the state you mentioned a few months ago?” they read. The protestors kept their demonstration peaceful, but made sure the President could see their placards by raising them up high when he walked past them. Bouterse did not acknowledge them.
