October 26, 1998
At a meeting that was held on Saturday by members of the Government, the Farmers
Organizations, and the Organization of Rice Exporters (VRE) to come to an agreement in the
padi-price dispute, it is reported that the farmers have come up with four demands, the concession
of which would save the rice sector from being wiped out. The farmers are demanding that the
dollars earned in the rice sector should be reserved for this sector, that the interest for the up
coming season be brought down to 7.5 percent, that the old debts at all banks be either
reevaluated or frozen until after January 1 1999, also that a possibility for extending the credit
facilities at the various banks should be looked into. The meeting will continue tonight at the
Ministry of Finance. When questioned about the events at Saturday's meeting , Dayanand Dwarka
of the FAL would not reveal any information about this but stated that the sphere was
constructive and informal. This however was not enough to put an end to the actions though it is
believed that after to nights meeting it will be determined whether or not to end, continue or
intensify the actions. The farmers are some what impatient since this matter has been allowed to
drag for more than a month now and the two farmers on hunger-strike are at it for 31 days
already. The FAL has informed the farmers of the meeting on Saturday and has asked them to
bare a little more patience until after tonight when it is expected that an agreement will be
reached. Reports from other sources state that the dollar question is the hot issue here, one which
the farmers would like to have settled at once. It has been reported that in Guyana and other rice
exporting countries the dollars are reserved for those who bring it in through a sort of
registration-duty system. Minister of Agriculture, Saimin Redjosentono's comment on this was
that Suriname was working towards such a regulation but that it has not reached it as yet, he
suggested that the farmers wait until the reformation plan be enforced. Reactions from the other
side of the table were that an X-change-rate compensation should be considered in that case. The
rice farmers and exporters are selling their dollars to the Central Bank for 396 but have to pay the
parallel market price to purchase their requirements. This loss they would like to have compensated while the Government is busy enforcing their reformation plan. The Government is trying to
reach a realistic X-change rate. The Minister would like to wait but the farmers would prefer a
direct decision in the dollar question. The Government delegation will hold discussions with the
Central bank and it is expected that a member of this bank will be present at the meeting to night.
The other points will be studied by the delegation. In its earlier package the Government had
talked of lowering the interest rates to 12 - 15 percent but the farmers would like to see a further
reduction and suggested that the rates be dropped to 7.5 percent. They also demanded that the
freezing of the loans should be at all banks which would then give a better view of the economic
situation.
According to the Minister of Internal Affairs Sonny Kertoidjojo the Government will not agree to
the 100 percent increase that the CLO is demanding for the Government workers. This would
only bring about a further drop in purchase power. The Minister referred to the answer that
President Wijdenbosch had given about the Governments views on this demand. The President did
not find it correct of the CLO to use the fact that the Ministers, Directors and the Army have had
recent increases as an excuse to demand 100 percent loan increases for the workers. According to
the President it would have been better if the CLO had talked about the high prices which the
Government had promised to drop and at which the Government is very busy working on to keep
its promise. According to the President an increase at the moment will only trigger a further drop
in purchase power and would not have any other results.
The Suriname Government has alloted the Haitian Community a ground lease of 45 hectares for
the duration of 40 years.This piece of ground that will be used for the milk and cattle project lies
in the district Para.Both organizations of Haitians in Suriname are pleased with this project and
have organized a special mass of thanks at the Evangilist Church SHEKINAH.The first Haitians
have come to Suriname 21 years ago and the amount of Haitians in Suriname to date is over
7.000. The Haitians will have to deposit an amount of F600,000 at the Central Bank otherwise the
lease will be withdrawn.
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