Minister of Planning Waldi Nain member of a group of former Pendawalima members resigned.
According to the party leader mr. Jamin his resignations was conform a decision his party made.
The major reason for this being the accusation of Mr. Bouterse that the current government was
full of corrupt en incompetent persons. Jamin indicated that by doing so his party gives the
president the occasion to correct matters. According to Bouterse the following minister should be
removed : Mr. D. de Bie (Transport and Communication), E. Snijders (Foreign Affairs), E. Alibux
(Natural resources), W. Nain (Planning) and Mr. R. Dragman (Commerce and Iindustry).
Members of the National Army are looking forward to the Presidents visit to the Memre Buku
Camp that is scheduled to take place today. From inside reports we learn that the members are
not happy with the conditions they have been having to put up with for some time now. Apart
from this the loan correction that was approved of has not yet found it's way to the members pay
checks. Members are hoping that the Presidents visit will bring some good tidings for this all
together frustrating situation.
The up coming trial of Ronnie Brunswijk, the former leader of the Jungle Commando, is to take
place on December 10 in Haarlem. Brunswijk , who has been accused of smuggling drugs on at
least three occasions to Holland is not expected to attend the trial.Last year Holland had issued an
International Wanted notice on Brunswijk.
At present Suriname's Minister of Transport, Dick de Bie, the under director of SLM , Henk
Jessurun, The director of ALM, Valdemar Marcha and the Antillian Minister of Aviation, Goeloe
are examining possibilities for a joint venture in the near future. Talks of a partnership became
possible when Suriname received the category 1 classification from the United States. Both than
SLM and the ALM would like to find other routes where together they can carry out more
frequent stops. According to Minister De Bie the two companies can strengthen each other. Both
companies are working with MD type planes.Suriname has installed the Civil Aviation and Safety
Authority Suriname (CASAS). The plans are that both planes be inspected together. In
November a delegation is expected from the Antillian and Aruban aviation department to
Suriname to see what could be worked out together with CASAS.The Suriname Minister also
pointed out that together with the ICAO the safety of the aviation objects shall be repaired, and
that foreign experts are expected to come to Suriname to give advise in this matter.It is also
expected that Aruba and the Antilles will send representatives to follow the courses the experts
are expected to give. This whole programme is set to reduce the high costs on one side and to
increase income on the other.
The OBS Chairman Kenneth Themen stated that the OBS did not receive the amount of money
due them in August and that further neglect by the Government to pay the outstanding balance
will result in a total close down of the school transportation. He pointed out the prices for tires
and oil products have drastically increased and that without the necessary repairs the future of the
school transportation will be unsafe. The ball is now by the Government who has been givem two
weeks to make the back payments. The OBS goal is to carry out safe transportation for kids in
busses that are fit for this purpose. Themen stated further that this problem is not a political one
and hopes that a recurrence of 1994 should not take place when the the streets around the
Governments building were blocked with busses.
Armand van der San is soon expected to be installed as the second Solicitor General next to
Subhas Punwasi. The Board of Ministers has given their blessings to this appointment. Van Der
San is expected to work as new A.G together with Heloise Rozenblad the new Attorney
General.This could prove very interesting since these two did not see eye to eye when Van der
San was attached to the Public Ministry and because of the friction between them the latter pulled
out of the Ministry and started his own practice. For the good of the Judiciary it is hoped that
these two prominent people iron out their differences so that they can make a better show of it in
this round.
High school students are protesting about the bad conditions of the schools, the lack of school
books, furniture, the teachers who are often on strike, and the high costs of living are all factors
that are causing unrest to the student population and the results of this can be seen at the ending
of the semesters where the results are not at all promising. These problems were presented to
President Wijdenbosch, a part of the board of Ministers and the newly appointed youth steering
committee at a meeting held to discuss the possibility of holding a National congress that should
form a national youth board. The President and the Minister of Education promised the students
that with a little more patience from their side they will see results in the near future.
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