Protesters in Suriname blank request to meet with President Santokhi

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC – A request by President Chandrikapersad Santokhi to meet with protesters demanding that his government changes its socio-economic policies or resign has been rebuffed with plans to take to the streets again on Tuesday.

In a statement on Monday night, Santokhi, who was forced to cancel a trip to Paraguay to attend the Mercosur and Prosur summits, said the protesters should form a delegation in order to meet with him to discuss their grouses.

“What is wrong must be fixed. No blaming others. What can we do better? We will make even more effort to communicate even better, more clearly and more often. That applies to the entire government,” Santokhi said.

“I also ask all right-minded Surinamese, some of whom are still on the side, what can you do, what can you contribute to set things straight again. We must work together because the government …cannot do everything alone. I do not want that either. And I have stated that many times.

“The dialogue I am calling for will help us to be clearer and also honest with each other about what is and what is not realistic. Let's keep the peace and talk to each other. That's also why I've decided to cancel a foreign commitment …to be here with you now,” he added.

Santokhi said that economic growth in the Duitch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country after so many years “is once again on the horizon.

“This indicates that we have successfully implemented the recovery. We have treasures of riches, which we Srananmans must manage well together, in order to make Suriname a thriving nation again. As a government, we are open to all suggestions that contribute to that bright future.

“Let's not let ourselves be divided as a society! Once again, I invite those who mean well to our country to enter into a dialogue with us. We can only make Suriname great if we pull together,” he added.

But the protesters, through their grouping, Team Organic, say they had no desire “to enter into conclave with you privately or in a small context.

“In retrospect, we do not want to be accused of colluding with the government for our own personal gain. A national dialogue, on the other hand, in which all media houses and relevant experts will be present, sounds better,” Team organic said in a statement on Monday night.

“We and the Surinamese society have noticed that the tone and the spirit of it are different from the arrogant attitude that we are used to from you,” it said regarding Santokhi's statement.

Team Organic said Santokhi's statement did not specify which of the group's demands he's willing to discuss, adding “moreover, we do not feel like woven together of fictions and we have no use for fine words. We have had to hear these things for two years now.”

The protesters said they will continue their actions on Tuesday and will gather at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation.

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