BOUTERSE ADMITS TO PROBLEMS WITHIN NDP
During a radio interview Desi Bouterse, Leader of the NDP admitted that
there were internal problems within the NDP. Bouterse stated however that
the problems were not personal. He explained that there was a lot of disharmony
and disappointment over the manner in which the government is carrying
out its policy. Apart from the estranged relationship between Bouterse
and President Wijdenbosch certain top party officials would also like to
see that Bouterse be replaced as party leader. Chas Mijnals has already
laid down his executive functions because he disagrees with Bouterse's
manner of leadership. Earlier it was Badrisein Sital who had also had heavy
arguments with Bouterse. According to Bouterse the NDP as foundation of
the coalition has its responsibility towards the proper running of the
country. When matters are amiss or not carried out as was planned he saw
it as the duty of the party to sound the alarm. Bouterse stated that decisions
were being made that has led to discontent within the party. On the other
hand some decisions were deliberately being pushed aside. He gave as an
example the delay in appointing a new director for Suriname Airways. He
said it was not right that our National Carrier should be without a director
for over one and a half years. He also revealed that at the formation of
the present government certain agreements that were made have not yet been
fulfilled. Rumors that Bouterse was using the NDP-Parliamentary group against
the government were denied by the NDP leader. He explained that no founder
of a government would deliberately try to topple it. There will always
be criticizm where and when necessary. The NDP-Parliamentary group will
not blindly support the government in its decisions. Bouterse admitted
that there were differences of opinions between himself and the President
over business matters but denied that all was not well between them otherwise.
HOLLAND STOPS DEVELOPMENT AID CASH FLOW
The Dutch Minister of Development and Joint Ventures, E. Herfkens will
no longer continue to put money into Surinameprojects that are struggling
to start. The Dutch Parliament has the blessings of the Minister to stop
the cash flow for the following projects: The waste project - the government
took until the last day in December last year to find a location at Ornamibo
for this, and the new law concerning waste matter has not been accepted
by the assembly. Herfkens surprised Minister Rudolff Mangal with the news
that Holland will no longer make over the 4 million Dutch guilders that
was necessary for the completion of this project. Herfkens also threatened
to stop financing the the Sea Wall project at Nickerie if this project
was not back on schedule. The problem with the Sea Wall is that the cost
prove to be much higher than the 25 million Dutch Guilders that was stated
in the budget. Another project that is in danger is the renovation of the
landing strip at the J.A Pengel Airport. The implementation of this plan
is also experiencing some set backs. From the 15 million that was reserved
for this only 1 million was used. The majority of the 70 projects that
are in the begin stage will no longer be financed by Holland because of
the local government's decision to postpone policy-discussions meetings
with the donor country. Now that Herfkens has also stopped the flow of
cash for the projects that are a bit behind schedue it is beginning to
look as though the the total development joint venture will soon come to
a stand still. In the Dutch Parliament the mjority of its members are of
the opinion that Herfkens has taken the right decision against Suriname.
The members find that the criteria that is used for other countries should
also count for Suriname. This decision will have an enormous impact on
the country's capital. Projects that are half finished will not be completed.
The Dutch financial aid for Suriname dropped from 160 million in 1996 to
around 40 million for this year which will probably be less after Herfkin's
decision.
POSSIBILITIES FOR SURINAME TO EXPORT TO GULF STATES
By forming new diplomatic relations with the Saudi Arabia it is possible
that Suriname will be able to export its products to that country and to
others in the Gulf in the future. There is also a possibility to attract
capital investors for the different Suriname sectors. From a report from
the President's Cabinet we learn that Suriname and Saudi Arabia have signed
a diplomatic agreement on February 26 in New York. This was done by Ambassador
Subhas Mungra for Suriname and Bandar Al-Saud for Saudi Arabia. According
to the report Saudi Arabia is a very large country, about 11 times the
size of Suriname, with a population of over 20 million people. It is the
largest oil producing country in the world. It is also the most influential
member of the OIC and the largest share holder of the Islamitic Development
Bank. The private sector in the Middle East has about US$ 800 billion at
its disposal and is the largest development donor in the world.