December 3, 1998
After an early morning gathering under the Mama Bon, the protesting group of civil workers,
teachers and leaders and members of opposition parties marched on to Hotel Torarica where the
two days FTAA conference is being held to inform those participating in this event of the bad
situation the country is in at the moment. The group easily managed to break through the police
barricades and ignorning all orders from the men-of-law continued on to gather before Torarica.
The FTAA meeting had already begun and could not be interrupted. Seeing that no one from the
FTAA were able to greet them the leaders then send them a letter about the present situation.
According to Arnold Kruisland the group did not expect the FTAA participants to read the letter
directly but at least they know of the situation in the country. It was rather obvious to those who
went to town yesterday that the majority of shops were not closed. Some large shops including
Kirpalani and all the banks however were closed to the public. The desired wish of the joint-force
group to close down Paramaribo was not to be fulfilled. Danny Lo Fo Sang (VSB) stated that an
inquiry will be made as to why the shops have defied the order of the group to close and have
kept their stores and shops open. Today, the second day of the strike, all members of the group
have been instructed to gather at the SPA building for further activity instructions.
President Wijdenbosch has begun his national dialogue by holding his first meeting with leaders of
the different Christian Organization. Today he is expected to meet with members of the labor
union, the political leaders and members of the economic sector. The government realizes its
resposibility towards all groups of the Suriname society and sees the many protests from the
community as matters that cannot be ignored. According to reports from the President's cabinet
many members of society are positive about the National Dialogue. The organizations are all of
the same opion that the dialogue was necessary.
C. Kersten and Company has sold its shares in the Parbo brewery to the Dutch beer brewery
Heineken. This transaction that involves a sum of 5 million Dutch Guilders has given Heineken
who already had more than half the shares of Parbo a holding of almost 100 percent. The few
shares that are left belong to a few private investors. From reports we gather that Kersten has
decided to sell out his shares after having a difference of opinion with Heineken. Parbo has made
a large investment to modernize the company. Since the share holders could not come up with the
millions of dollars that was needed it was suggested that new shares should be sold. Over this
matter Heineken and Kersten could not reach an agreement and so Kersten had decided to sell out
its shares to Heineken. Parbo is the only brewery in Suriname and its parbo djogo has made it
very popular .
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