De Ware Tijd
April 12, 1999
BOUTERSE EXTENDS HAND TO WIJDENBOSCH
Contrary to what most, de Ware Tijd even NDP Assembly Members, believed, NDP chairman Desi Bouterse extended a hand to President Wijdenbosch. This in spite of the fact that Bouterse was fired by the President as Advisor of State. During a meeting in Ocer on Saturday, Bouterse was given a mandate to do all that is necessary to implement the development goals and to protect the sovereignty of the nation. Bouterse said that he understands that friend and foe were waiting for him to pick up the hatchet. He had to disappoint all because, he said that no one would divide and conquer the NDP. According to him, the NDP is the only light in the darkness that seems to have enveloped Suriname. However, he does stick to his view that the situation in the country is bad and that the promises made to the electorate have not been kept. The government under the leadership of Wijdenbosch shows little decisiveness, and participation from the population is minimal. According to Bouterse, one man cannot do everything. Criticism from the party leadership on the government has been mounting. One and a half year ago, Bouterse had already started his criticism behind closed doors. When it did not work, he came out in the open. According to Bouterse, Wijdenbosch never took that criticism seriously. On the contrary, he got mad and fired Bouterse as Advisor of State. Bouterse said that the President is in his right to do so, and he is glad since he does not want to be part of the government's policy. However, Bouterse still believes that Wijdenbosch is on the right side. He is still an advocate of decolonization and he does not believe in re-colonization. Therefore, he should be given the chance to discuss problems within the party. At the mass meeting, eleven of the sixteen Assembly Members were present as well as Minister of Regional Development Yvonne Ravales. After Bouterse's speech, a motion was passed to support Bouterse in all and to heed his call for a calm and constructive approach of problems caused by the President. The motion was carried by all twelve sub-constituencies and signed by more than one thousand attendants.
ROAD TO BRAZIL WILL SOON BE COMPLETED
Last Saturday, Minister Dick de Bie of Transport Communication and Tourism said, during the tourism conference in the Torarica Hotel, that soon the road to Brazil via Guyana will be completed. The road will make it possible to travel by car from Suriname all the way to Amapa, a city in the north of Brazil. According to the Minister, the road, which is finished for 90% and connects all three Guyanas (French Guyana, Suriname, and Guyana) with Brazil, is very important for the development of tourism in Suriname. It will give the three countries a chance to work together at getting tourists interested in the region. Although the three countries have almost the same tourist attractions, the Minister does not think that this will mean competition. He points out that the tourist market is very large. Eco-tourism is not able to house all the tourists, guaranteeing Suriname, as well as its neighbors, a certain amount of tourists. The policy is, therefore, focused on cooperation between the three Guyanas. French Guyana, Suriname, Guyana, and Northern Brazil will be promoted as a destiny. De Bie admits that this will be difficult and expensive, but, with a good cooperation, can be realized. Tomorrow, representatives of Suriname and its neighbors will have talks in Paramaribo to discuss the mutual tourist attractions.
INTERIOR POPULATION WANT THEIR SHARE OF TOURISM INCOME
Up till now, tourism in Suriname has been concentrated around the population of the interior, their culture, and their way of living. The Maroons and Indigenous claim to have always been exploited by third parties. Now, they demand to be involved in the tourists activities and want their fair share of the income from this sector. During the second day of the CTO- conference in the Torarica Hotel, it became clear that the interior population wants a different view on eco-tourism. They pointed out to participants of the conference that Maroons and Indigenous have their own culture and way of thinking, and that these things should be respected. Raymond Landveld, economist, admits that, on the one hand, there should be a balance between nature and tourism. On the other hand, the balance between tourism and economy is equally important. To explain the way the profits are shared at the moment, he points to the fact that none of the tour operators are from the interior, while all tours are focused on the interior and its population. Landveld is of the opinion that the interior population deserves the major share of profits since they are the 'main course' of the tours. He called upon the communities in the interior to develop themselves economically. He was thinking about education, health, infrastructure, financing, credit lines, and vocational training. Landveld, who is from the interior, said that if the Maroons receive a larger share of the profits, it will enable them to get more involved in the tourism sector.
Due to the strike of prison guards, the tension amongst prisoners in Santo Boma, Duisburglaan, and Hazard (Nickerie) has been growing steadily. Visiting family members were denied access to the prison grounds and food had to be left with the guards at the front gate. The decision to deny visitors is a harshening of the actions of the prison guards which started on Thursday. The decision caused resentment and irritation among both visiting family members and prisoners. After fierce protests, the visitors finally had no choice but to give in and leave their goods with the guards at the gate. The situation with the prisoners was different since they look forward to their weekly visit from home. It is a way for them to keep in touch with the outside world. Union chairperson, Paulus Pinas, is aware of the tension but says that the action models are not meant to agitate the prisoners but to change the mind of the Minister. He hopes that it will not come to an outburst. Consequences of eventual prison riots will be the government's responsibility.
SURINAME HOPES FOR MUCH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FROM INDIA
Shortly after Minister Errol Snijders and his Indian counterpart Vasundhara Raje had signed protocols yesterday, permanent secretary of Foreign Affairs Henk Alimohamed said that the cooperation committee had identified priority areas. Those areas are health care, transport, communication, the private sector, and tourism. Suriname hopes to receive a lot of technical assistance from India in these fields. It is the intention that cooperation agreements will be signed sometime in the coming weeks and months. These agreements will involve investments, financing, cooperation between the Chambers of Commerce of both countries, technical exchange, and agriculture. It has been learned that when the President visits India in August, a delegation from the Chamber of Commerce will accompany him to sign the agreement with its partner. Through this agreement, the private sector will be enabled to seek cooperation possibilities with Indian companies. Suriname expects much help from India in the agricultural and animal husbandry fields. Alimohamed said that there are plans to can vegetables and fruits. The export of cut flowers is also one of the government's goals. Belwaarde in Commewijne will become an export processing zone. India can teach Suriname a lot about agriculture. In this respect, cooperation between the CELOS (Centre for Agricultural Research in Suriname) and Indian institutes is considered. The private sector in India must be made interested in possibilities in Suriname. A representative of the Surinamese private sector said that India is very strong in developing small industries and Suriname should learn from them. The Indian delegation left Suriname after three days of talks.
During the mass meeting on Saturday, Desi Bouterse made a tactical move. Instead of going in the offensive against his dismissal as Advisor of State, he extended a conciliatory hand toward President Wijdenbosch, also a prominent member of the NDP. Bouterse explained that people are not important, since their stay on earth is only temporary. It is about the execution of goals and ideals. Bouterse can count on the support of the majority of the NDP. Almost all speakers who preceded him were enraged by his dismissal. If it were up to them, Wijdenbosch could go. Bouterse almost played the role of martyr. On Good Friday, at exactly three o'clock he received his dismissal letter from director of the President's office Ivan Graanoogst. This while he was in the interior. On that day, at that time, Jesus Christ was crucified. Bouterse said that he too would resurrect. He had not expected this slap in the face, least of all from Wijdenbosch. The politician stressed that he did not depend on people but on God. More than ever, Bouterse involved the church and the Almighty in his speech and thanked the church leaders for their prayers for peace in the country. Due to his calm speech, Bouterse achieved that the differences of opinion within the party did not lead to an immediate split. That there is no unity in the NDP has become clear through recent publications. Bouterse said that the party could only be divided if he were to leave. Everybody else leaving would only mean a scratch in the face. With his attitude that problems should be discussed behind closed doors, and by forcing Wijdenbosch to constructive communication, Bouterse has been able to close ranks. If Wijdenbosch and his followers persist in their current policy, Bouterse has a free hand to take measures. The NDP members have also placed the sovereignty of the nation in the hands of Bouterse. Although Wijdenbosch is constitutionally only responsible to the rule of law, he has been pushed forward as President by the NDP. He was not directly elected by the people. Members of the NDP voted for him as one. As part of the NDP, Wijdenbosch made promises to the people, which he did not keep. It is not surprising that the party is now calling him to order. The ball is now in Wijdenbosch's court. Bouterse again proved that he is able to play and control emotions in the party. The extended hand to Wijdenbosch is not without conditions. Bouterse wants to know which way Wijdenbosch is going. He wants to know whether he still stands behind the visions of the party and the formulated development goals. Bouterse still places Wijdenbosch among the group of people who do not want to be re-colonized but choose for decolonization. The problems will arise when the President decides to choose another path. Than there will be no way back. Bouterse has, in fact, placed the sword of Damocles above Wijdenbosch's head. The President has been ordered by the motion to return to Ocer for constructive communication. Armed with party ideals and goals, he will function better as President. The mass meeting was not the final stop in the battle, but the beginning. The cards have not been dealt yet and the tide has not turned either.
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