December 14, 1998

CLO WOULD LIKE PRELIMINARY TALKS BETWEEN PRESIDENT AND SYLVESTER

President Wijdenbosch has again invited the leaders of the clo for discussions. The President has stated in his invitation that discussions with this group is important to the but that he still did not want to have Ronald Hooghart present. This was seen as an open confrontation by Hooghart. In an answer to this new development the CLO would first like a preliminary meeting between the President and Hendrik Sylvester leader of the CLO to iron out their differences before begining dialogue discussions.
 
 

CENTRAL BANK BORROWS US$ 63,5 MILLION AGAINST COUNTRY'S GOLD RESERVE

Andre Telting ex director of the CBvS has announced at a meeting in the NPS Centrum Grun Djari that the CBvS has a forign debt of US$ 63,5 million which when added to that of the country's foreign debt totals US$ 535 million. With a population of 400,000,00 this comes down to approximately US$ 1200 per head. Suriname's debt is a lot more than its national income. According to Telting the total amount in debts for 1998 is estimated to be about SF 176,9 billion.
 
 

MINOV'S ATTITUDE WILL DETERMINE WHAT ACTIONS FOLS WILL TAKE

The Joint Forces Group has instructed its members to return to their jobs and each day at 10 or 11 to report ill. Teachers returing to their jobs today are worried about letters that they may have to sign stating that they will remain on the job. Should this be the case then the teachers will hold a meeting tomorrow to discuss this matter. There is a possibility that no more lessons will be given. It will also be quite sometime before the teachers are once more before the class.
 
 

WEDNESDAY VERDICT IN CASE CLO VERSUS STATE SURINAME

The judge John von Nissewand has decided that on wednesday the verdict will be announced in the case CLO versus State Suriname. The CLO has dragged the government to court because they were of the opinion that the State was wrong to cut the salaries of the government workers because they were carrying out actions. According to the CLO, it is registered in the personel law that they have the right to carryout actions. The State is represented by Mr C Ooft and the workers by Mr M Vos. From reports inside the CLO , it is expected that the judge will rule in favor of the workers.