De Ware Tijd

January 20, 1999

Chas Mijnals is very dissatisfied about the manner in which Desi Bouterse is leading the NDP. Because of this dissatisfaction, and to protest, Mijnals resigned from all his posts in the party as of December 30. He will remain a party member, as he still has faith in the NDP's goals. Mijnals does not have faith in the party's leadership anymore, as he does not believe they will correct their mistakes. He believes the leadership, namely Desi Bouterse, should be replaced. Mijnals is one of the five men who have been at the forefront of the process that led to the coup of 1980. He has been at the cradle of the revolutionary process since 1980. In an interview with DWT, Mijnals says he has had the idea of resigning for some years now. However, his ideals of working for a better Suriname have prevented him from doing this. Mijnals has written a long, harsh and emotional letter to Desi Bouterse, in which he goes back to the beginning of the revolution. "Now, our ideals have turned out to be hollow phrases," he writes. Bouterse has not replied to the letter yet. Mijnals believes the NDP has sufficient members who can lead the party in the right way. Says he, "Whoever will lead the party must work with the support of the cadres." This is currently not the case. Mijnals believes it would be a catastrophe for the NDP if it turns out that no one but Bouterse can lead it. There are others who want to assume leading roles. In any case, until that moment, Mijnals has resigned as the party's head of international relations, and head of education and training. Mijnals accuses Bouterse of destroying all revolutionary organizations, and concludes, "Then the revolution must fail." All party faithful and workers have left. Many do not have faith in the party, Bouterse and Suriname. Mijnals calls Bouterse a manipulator who plays both ends against the middle. He says he does not want to put pressure on the NDP with his step, but the party must decide what it wants. Mijnals has spoken with most of the NDP's Assembly Members, and expects the fraction to take some initiatives. He bases this expectation on the fact that the fraction has started talks with the party's cadres, as it has seen that some problems are not dealt with correctly by the party's leadership. Mijnals says he is very disappointed, yet adds, "I am not so bitter yet as to say, I am getting out." When asked how long he has had his doubts, Mijnals replies, "Since 1980." He points out that he had been locked up for eight months from August of that year, as he had been accused of involvement in a contra-coup. Mijnals says he, and some others, had to be removed because Bouterse wanted total control. He points out that Bouterse had stated publicly on March 5, 1980 that he was the 'leader' of a 'socialist coup.' Mijnals now reveals that the group had never picked a leader. This information about Bouterse's 'coup' on his comrades has never been made public before. "We had higher ideals, so no one said anything about this," Mijnals says now. He is of the opinion that Bouterse could have become one of the Caribbean's greatest leaders. However, the cadre that supported him is gone now. The NDP cannot count anymore on the cadre that it had in the past. Mijnals has not resigned as advisor to President Jules Wijdenbosch, as he does not have any problems with the President. He says, "Personally, I do not have anything against Bouterse. It is about the manner in which he is leading the party."

NO AGREEMENT ON BUSINESS HOURS STORES

There is no agreement within the Inter-Departmental Commission to Evaluate Business Hours of Stores about the business hours for stores. Representatives of the Suriname Trade and Industry Association (VSB), the Chamber of Commerce (KKF) and the Labor Ministry are of the opinion that stores selling other goods than provisions may be open from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., while those of the Ministries of Trade and Industry (HI) and Transport, Communications and Tourism (TCT) believe closing time should be at 8:00 p.m. There is agreement on the business hours for provision stores, namely 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. When asked for comment, Sham Binda, one of the KKF representatives in the Commission, says the KKF and VSB have argued that businesses will be open for fourteen hours between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Seven-hour shifts must be organized then. If opening hours are between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., each shift will last only six hours. Business that now pay their employees for an eight-hour workday are willing to give up one hour per worker per shift, but they think two hours are too much. Several matters are also unclear. It is not known to which category supermarkets, that stay open until 10:00 p.m., belong. There are also stores that are mostly shopping centers. Binda wonders whether in the case of City Mall and the H.J. de Vries Mall, that have several stores selling different kinds of goods, some can be allowed to stay open until 10:00 p.m., while others must close earlier. This would only cause confusion. Besides, there are now gas stations with supermarkets that stay open until 10:00 p.m. Binda calls this "unfair competition." That problem is avoided when business hours are set from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., leaving businesses free to open later and close earlier between these times. The category of 'provision stores,' and which stores to include in it, was also a problem. Originally, this category included small "Chinese corner shops," but these have virtually disappeared. They sold, among other things, baked goods, stimulants, foodstuffs, clothing, drugstore items and bicycle and motorcycle parts. Another problem is that the law does not state anywhere that a store is not a provision store if it sells one or more of these goods. The KKF realizes there is a need for businesses to stay open until 10:00 p.m, as it has conducted research into this matter. It points to one of the dangers of allowing stores to stay open only until 8:00 p.m.; many stores that want to stay open longer will apply for a provisions license then. The Commission issued a complete report to HI Minister Robby Dragman on January 14. Besides, the representatives of HI and TCT have not stated their reasons for wanting to keep the 8:00 p.m. closing time to the other Commission members.

REGIONAL HOSPITAL WILL NOT ACCEPT LOWER TARIFF

Although the Nickerie Regional Hospital (SZN) has always had to use lower tariffs than the other regional hospitals, it will not accept this anymore. The SZN cannot compete with the Academic Hospital (AZ) in Paramaribo, because it does not have the same facilities, and because the government pays it much less. SZN Director Lita Oemraw said this on January 15 on the occasion of the hospital's 40^th anniversary. During the negotiations for new tariffs, the government again assigned the SZN a lower tariff, but Oemraw believes this tariff will be adjusted soon, so there will be a better balance between revenue and expenditures. The SZN has many plans, but does not have the funds, because of, among other things, the increasing operating costs and relatively low revenues; 75% of the patients are financially disadvantaged. Therefore, Oemraw urged the Ministry of Social Affairs, which registers and pays for these financially disadvantaged patients, to make its payments on time, so she can pay her employees. After all, the SZN does not turn away patients, but it seems like it must beg for money. Oemraw asked Nickerie's community to understand the tariff adjustments, as these must be implemented because of increased costs. She said she was glad with the government's intentions to privatize the hospital. In this way, costs can be managed more effectively. The SZN attempts to provide quality care under all circumstances, but Oemraw concludes that, unfortunately, too much energy is being spent on waiting for payment. She also pointed out that it is difficult to run the hospital without a foundation board. The SZN has been without one for nearly a year now. Oemraw hopes the promise of the authorities to appoint one will be kept.

SURINAME DOES NOT NEED CUBAN DOCTORS

Suriname absolutely does not need general practitioners from abroad, as the need for those is being met already. With his statement that 52 Cuban doctors will come to Suriname soon, President Jules Wijdenbosch has caused a stir among the University's Board and Medical Faculty, which have never been informed of these plans. After Wijdenbosch's announcement that the government will provide the Cuban doctors with "minimal facilities," the Medical Faculty, headed by Dean Ernie Brunings, the University Board headed by Wilfred Roseval and the Student Committee held a meeting, during which they deplored this government plan. When asked for comment, Jerrel Pawiroredjo of the Student Committee and Ruben del Prado of the Medical Faculty Board say that in this matter, the President has gone at it alone, and is way off. According to Pawiroredjo and Del Prado, the Faculty and health care in Suriname do not need doctors from abroad, but lecturers to help strengthen the Faculty. They are pleased with the President's promise that three Cuban lecturers for physiology, physiotherapy and pharmacology will come to Suriname soon, yet they point out that the Faculty currently graduates sufficient doctors to meet Suriname's need. Del Prado wonders how the President has come up with this plan, as he has never asked the Medical Faculty and the University Board to see what the need is. "Perhaps the President's plan is just a test to see how the Faculty would react. We will say then that with 20 doctors graduating each year, this number is sufficient to meet the need in Paramaribo, the districts and the interior, and that the coming of 52 Cuban doctors is unnecessary."

DWT EDITORIAL

There seems to be less need for general practitioners than President Jules Wijdenbosch has apparently thought. In Cuba, he has reached an agreement to send 52 doctors to Suriname. This plan has caused a stir among the University, particularly among the Medical Faculty. Wijdenbosch has received bad advice about Suriname's need for doctors. He is even accused of going at it alone, so he is way off in this matter. It is unclear whether the President had been informed about the state of health care in Suriname before he left for Cuba. It is strange that the Health Minister was not part of the delegation, while an important part of his visit involved health care. Parts of the results have been welcomed, such as the hiring of lecturers and specialists. Most segments of the health care sector do not approve of the agreement about the general practitioners. This agreement may be rescinded, so the funds that would have been spent on it can be put to better use. Health care is getting more and more expensive, and out of reach for many. The interior faces a health care crisis because of the possible closing of the Medical Mission. Health care in the interior and districts has never been optimal. And now that it turns out that local workers can be used, the agreements Wijdenbosch has made in his zeal can be rescinded. The funds that become available can be put to better use in health care then. It has been clear for a long time that there are problems within the NDP. These are also becoming more apparent. Many faithful are leaving the party. After Badresein Sital, Chas Mijnals has also left the NDP. Both men were at the cradle of something that was to become a revolution and are among the NDP's founders. In any case, they have left the party for the time being. Mijnals' criticism of the leadership of Suriname's biggest political party is nearly similar to Sital's. In fact, they accuse NDP chairman Desi Bouterse of leading the party in an undemocratic manner and of going his own way. In fact, Mijnals' accusation means that the NDP has degenerated from a party with vision and ideology to one in which opportunism and personal interests are paramount. Although Bouterse and Mijnals deny the NDP is divided in fractions, the opposite is becoming more and more apparent. Mijnals resigns his party posts and is bitter about the way things are going in the party and the treatment he has received as a founder. However, he will remain advisor to President Jules Wijdenbosch, and he recently made preparations for the visit to Cuba.

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