De Ware Tijd
February 6, 1999
ENERGY COMPANY SHOULD INCREASE POWER WITHIN TEN MONTHS
The Energie Bedrijven in Suriname (EBS, power company) increase its power within ten months to 85 megawatt, if it wants to keep on providing the service area. Up till this moment, its own power capacity is under 56 megawatt. Soon, the Suralco will provide 35 megawatt. The electricity rate should also be increased if the company wants to continue. This announcement was done yesterday by manager Henri Wormer at the start of the electrification of De Hulp and surroundings in Commewijne. Wormer stated that if the company does not get the opportunity to execute its plans, there will be serious problems. He explained that yearly an increased 10% is needed for the growing demand. This makes that the company should increase its power capacity. 206 Families are provided with electricity at De Hulp, La Solitude, Sinabo and Mariendaal. Wormer does not agree with the macro economic project. If, however, the policy for infrastructure is the clue for development, then this is a good project. This electrification should bring development. At this moment, 95 % of Commewijne has electricity. Different speakers spoke of electrification of Tamansari and its neighboring areas where 350 families live. Then, Commewijne will be provided for the full 100%. The project " De Hulp" cost 80 million guilders. To provide the remainder of Commewijne with electricity, the EBS submitted a request to Japan for a gift project. A consultant agency had to look into this matter and according to Wormer the results were positive. He thinks that by February the subscriptions will be completed. Minister Wonny Ravales highly approves of these activities and announced that the decentralization will be completed shortly. The districts will have their own budget and will not included in the central budget. This piece of autonomy is a way to gain more income. The regions will develop individually and will, therefore, contribute to the national development.
DOCTOR'S ASSOCIATION WANTS GUARANTEE BACK-PAY
Medical doctors demand an absolute guarantee from the government in the back-pay. The announcement that the Ministry of Finance has already made arrangements for the State Security Fund (SZF), does not prove satisfactory for the Association of Medical Doctors (VMS). The doctors still doubt the announcement of the government in this matter. " If ever bitten by a snake, one is even afraid for a mere wurm, " says Satiesh Nannan Panday, chairperson of the VMS. He says that the association will only believe in the back-pay if the accounts are credited. Nannan Panday says this because the government has often made such promises, only for the SZF to receive part of the requested sum. Now, the association demands the guarantee that the government and the SZF to pay the entire sum within one term. The Ministry of Finance must pay before February 12, because the VMS will have a general members meeting at this date to discuss the matter. The VMS chairperson fears complete chaos if the funds are not paid before afore mentioned date. Without going into details, it was clear that Nannan Panday meant that SZF clients will once more be the victim.
CHAIRPERSON COALITION PARTY DA DISSATISFIED
Djagendre Ramkhelawan, chairperson of the coalition party DA, is not satisfied about the developments in the country. He was absent at the public session of the National Assemblee during the discussion of the MOP. The day before the sitting he did attend the domestic meeting, which is usually preceded by open debates. Only 24 Coalition members and Lachmiperkash Tewarie of the opposition were present which caused the meeting not to continue. The absence of Ramkhelawan aroused much criticism among some who see this as a sign that there is discontentment within the government. Before his departure for Commewijne, Ramkhelawan stated not to agree with some matters, and that these should be taken care of first. He did not want to reveal what these matters are. Yesterday he would have a meeting with the government and the parliament.
OPPOSITION SEES DANGEROUS TENDENCY IN PARLIAMENT
Opposition leaders claim that they cannot function well because matters concerning only the opposition are violated, which makes the functioning of the opposition very difficult. Otmar Rodgers, fraction leader of the Nieuw Front says that when the opposition nominates people for hearings in parliamentary committees or points out people who have to attend meetings abroad, these nominations are out voted by the coalition. Other members, who are pro-coalition, take their places. Opposition member Fred Derby called Ram Sardjoe as an example of one who was nominated to participate in the ACP-EU meeting, but had to switch places with Frank Playfair. "The coalition is of the opinion that because they have the majority, they are entitled to dominate the opposition anytime. And this does not only regard political, legislative or organizational matters, but matters of the opposition," says Rodgers. He states that time and time again a situation is created in which the coalition uses its majority and therefore forces the opposition to make amends. "This is a dangerous tendency, because you know where it starts but not where it ends." Rodgers says that this way of handling things is a violation of all structures in a neatly functioning democracy.
DUTCH EXAMINING JUDGE DECIDES TO TAKE ZEEUW IN TEMPORARY CUSTODY
The Hague's Examining Judge (RC) in Holland has decided to keep Marcel Zeeuw in temporary custody. He is accused of participation in recent cocaine transports and participation in a criminal organization which dealt in the transport of 300 kilograms cocaine to Holland in December of last year. The drugs were confiscated in Great Britain. He is also accused of another drug transport of which details cannot be given yet. Zeeuw is very angry about his arrest, because he went to Holland to do his judicial duty. He left on January 25 with a visa which is valid until February 23. Last week, he testified in Desi Bouterse's favor. Zeeuw was arrested twice in 1994 in Suriname for his participation in a cocaine deal. In the second arrest Dino Bouterse was also taken into custody by the Surinamese police. Due to a lack of evidence they never made it to trial. Meanwhile, the action committee "Handen af van Suriname" (Keep Your Hands Off Suriname), had a meeting yesterday to show its disapproval of Zeeuw's arrest. The committee thinks that this case has caused some commotion among the Surinamers in Holland. They think that this arrest is a sign to the Surinamers in Holland. The committee states that the Dutch government is not consequent in its matters.
DE BIE APPOINTS COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE TELEPHONE RATES
The committee " Local telephone rates 1999" has been installed by Minister Dick de Bie of Transport Communication and Tourism (TCT). This committee will have to advise him in determining the local telephone rates. The present situation of Telesur and ICMS telecom must be analyzed and the cost structure for the local telecommunication must be determined as well. Furthermore, the normal cost price for the local telephone calls must be calculated. To determine the level of the rate adjustment, the committee will have talks with all relevant organizations and persons. All information which will be gathered by the committee will be reported to De Bie only. In this way, TCT wants to fulfill the policy plans and wants to have the rates for national telephone calls. The committee consists of Edward Naarendorp (chairperson), Narpath Bissumbar and Dirk Currie. Their duties and advise to the Minister must be completed no later than February 19.
NO AGREEMENT BETWEEN CIVIL SERVANTS' UNION AND GOVERNMENT
Civil servants' unions and the cluster ministers had not yet reached an agreement yesterday. The talks were postponed to today. The government is still calculating the adjustments which will be made to the salaries of the civil servants. The CLO, BVL and FOLS had expected that the talks would have finished yesterday. They stated that the government argues that it is not up to the the unions demands. According to the unions, the actions will be intensified next week if an agreement is not reached by then. The ministers, however, are optimistic. Minister Soewarto Moestadja of Social Affairs was hopeful, while Minister Karan Ramsundersingh of Education says that the result of the talks will determine whether or not the school year can be saved.
The problems of the EBS will have to be solved soon if the company wants to meet the growing demand for energy. If , even now, the relatively low demand for energy cannot be met, then industrial development will be history. Without energy, development is not possible. The agreement with Suriname Power Generating Company (SPGC) of Dilip Sardjoe is not the solution. Several reports have shown that Suriname would not profit from such a deal, because the costs for energy would be much higher. After all, the agreement was surrounded by secrecy, which is in itself not healthy. Only later some of the more obscure details of the agreement became known. The importance of the EBS for the community makes it important that the solution to the problem should be looked for in all honesty. At this moment the energy supply is somewhat unsure, which is not healthy for the country. Every small set back of the EBS results in a hindrance of power supply. The attitude of National Assemblee member Ramkhelawan shows how easy it is to blackmail the government. The coalition member is not satisfied with the matters in the country and makes it possible for the domestic meeting to have a quorum, but not the public meeting. He thinks that agreements made within the coalition should be kept. Certain matters should be dealt with first before continuance is possible. Because the opposition cannot be counted on, the continuation of assemblee meetings depend on a single person, Ramkhelawan. Later it will be someone else. This situation is not healthy. The assemblee member should bring matters into the open, so that the people, who have chosen him, know why he does not attend meetings. By staying away because of the unsatisfactory matters in the country, Ramkhelawan behaves just like the opposition. This, while he has always been one of the biggest critics of this behavior. Ramkhelawan makes it now impossible for himself to criticize the opposition.
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