De Ware Tijd
July 9, 1998
A non-political cabinet, as proposed by the Trade and Manufacturers' Association Suriname
(VSB) in a memorandum to President Jules Wijdenbosch, is not being considered by the latter.
According to Wijdenbosch, the right to form a government can only be attained through elections
and political activities. Wijdenbosch says that this should be made clear once and for all. At the
regular government press conference yesterday, Wijdenbosch said that a non- political cabinet is
intended to take care of matters at hand. According to him, such a government is installed when
there is trouble expected from outside the borders. Wijdenbosch said that certain terms should
only be used if their meaning is clear, referring to the names used by people for alternative
governments. Besides asking attention for problems experienced by its members, the VSB also
proposed a non political cabinet. This government should bring order and political calm. The
VSB also wants a change of policy. Wijdenbosch said the government has asked for time to
study the entire VSB memorandum. However, the VSB did set an ultimatum for a government
reaction, which expired yesterday. Concerning the memorandum by the Association of
Surinamese Manufacturers (ASFA), the President said that it contained some good ideas that
may certainly be implemented. The ASFA also wants a policy change and the resignation of the
Ministers. Wijdenbosch reiterated his position that his government's policies cannot be changed.
According to him, these policies have been approved by the National Assembly, and should be
changed there. Their implementation can be discussed. Wijdenbosch told the opposition and
labor organizations that a minority cannot decide for the majority. He pointed out that in a
democracy, there is a majority and a minority. They should complement each other, and mutual
respect is needed for that. However, the majority has the deciding vote, although they should
listen to the minority. Yet the minority cannot decide for the majority.
According to President Jules Wijdenbosch, more than Sf 130 billion in taxes has not been
collected. From 1993 on, the Tax Department developed a backlog, and this department hopes it
will be cleared by the end of this year. The Tax Department has made an inventory and will start
collecting the back taxes soon. This collection will be speeded up through, among other things,
incentives for the bailiffs. The President said one should not think that the entire amount will be
collected, but that every effort will be made so that the money that is owed will be paid. At the
end of the year, most of the back taxes should be in the treasury. The increased revenues should
be noticeable by the second half of the year. Some time ago, the President also claimed that Sf
100 billion in back taxes was owed at that time. However, the efforts to collect that amount
failed. DWT has learned that only Sf 5 billion could be collected. And now, an effort is being
made to collect more money through commissions for the bailiffs. Wijdenbosch thinks that all
this money in the community is also affecting the exchange rate, which has been at around
Sf 500 for one US dollar for some time now. He explained that money which is out of circulation
is exerting pressure on the exchange rate. Wijdenbosch also claimed that third parties are
intentionally increasing this pressure. This was already the case at the end of last year. The
government intervened then. There are reasons to believe that this pressure is being exerted
again. According to Wijdenbosch, another thing exerting pressure on the exchange rate is the
payment of increased wages. He claims he had warned about their inflationary effects
beforehand. In May and April of this year, at least Sf 7 billion was used to pay wages and their
retroactive increases. The increase of consumption has also increased the pressure on the
exchange rate.
After an appeal, the Supreme Court has dismissed the lawsuit of Wilfred Lionarons against the
State of Suriname and State Advisor Desi Bouterse. The ruling was delivered on July 3, when
judges John von Niessewand, Albert Ramnewash and Ewald Ombre upheld an earlier ruling by
judge Alfred Veldema. In his suit, Lionarons, through his lawyer Hugo Essed, sought nearly Sf
133 million in damages for destruction of property on the night of December 8, 1982. When
asked for comment, Essed says this ruling was made on the basis of a change of claim during the
trial. He points out that this does not mean that another suit will not be filed. The lawyer thinks
the ruling may have been based on legal technicalities, but that a favorable ruling is still possible.
A new suit with the same claim will be filed soon. However, the government's lawyer Alwin
Baarh says that the suit was dismissed because some elementary information, necessary in a suit,
was forgotten at the time of filing. He points out that the judge could not even consider the
material contents, as the suit was not filed according to the formal procedures. Bouterse's lawyer,
Ronald van Ritter, could not be reached for comment because he is abroad.
BOUTERSE ABROAD
Desi Bouterse is abroad. DWT has learned from unofficial sources that he is in Trinidad, but
sources who should know claim that this is a diversion and that Bouterse is in Brazil for
business. At a press conference yesterday, President Jules Wijdenbosch did not deny that
Bouterse is abroad. Yet he did not want to elaborate on where Bouterse went and why.
Journalists who want to know more should ask Bouterse himself. Bouterse allegedly left for
Trinidad at the beginning of this week. It is unlikely that, because of the international warrant
against him, Bouterse will be arrested in one of the Caricom countries. About a year ago,
Bouterse got away scot-free in Brazil after Dutch Foreign Minister Hans van Mierlo blocked a
request from his counterpart at Justice, Winnie Sorgdrager, to the Brazilian authorities to arrest
Bouterse. This caused a bitter conflict in Dutch political circles. Bouterse's trip to Brazil was his
last since the warrant.
Twelve villages in the interior have been selected by the Foundation for Home Care in Suriname
(STS) to participate in a project to improve primary health care and bring sustainable
development in these villages. Yesterday, representatives of the STS, village leaders and donors
signed an agreement for the first part of the project, the so-called RZG-Village Plan Suriname.
This plan focuses on improving primary health care. Regionale Zorgverzekeraar Groningen
(RZG), a health insurance company from Holland, is providing funds for the project; that is why
the project is called RZG-Village Plan. The costs for the project are estimated at Nf 300,000. The
starting date is September 1998. The villages selected are Tumaipa, Heikununu, Maisa, Malobi,
Lafanti (Pada), Dan, Kambalua (Köönöö), Botopasi, Futunaakaba, Bindikwai, Pikiseei and
Gaantatai. According to STS director Stanley Rensch, the village of Dan will be the center of
project activities. The project leader will be stationed there. The projects are set up under the
auspices of the village leaders, while the STS will be responsible. A Dutch expert, who will be
stationed in the interior for the project's duration, will assist the STS. The pilot project consists
of three projects in the villages, namely the efforts for primary health care under auspices of the
village leaders, sustainable micro-economic activities in the shape of private enterprises and
education and training. The experiences from this pilot project can be used for the sustainable
development of other Indigenous and Maroon communities in the interior.
NDP chairman and State Advisor Desi Bouterse is abroad. Although his trip was not publicized,
still many seem to know about it. No one, President Jules Wijdenbosch included, could or would
tell where Bouterse is exactly and what the purpose of his trip is. He is most likely in the region,
since he is in no danger of being arrested there. The warrant from Interpol against Bouterse is
still standing. While some countries, especially in the region, have indicated that they will not
cooperate in Bouterse's arrest, they have also stated that they do not appreciate a visit from him,
since they do not want to incur Holland's displeasure. Bouterse also played it safe, and has not
traveled abroad since he narrowly escaped arrest in Brazil nearly a year ago. It is not in
Bouterse's nature to quietly travel abroad. If nothing was wrong, he certainly would have
publicized his trip, if only to show Holland that they cannot touch him. The purpose of
Bouterse's trip is also unclear. Many conclusions can be drawn from the fact that he has been
able to leave Suriname. One of those conclusions may be that the warrant is not that serious, or
does not exist, as Bouterse claimed recently. Or that some countries, such as in the region, do not
care about the warrant, or that there is an international agreement that allows Bouterse to travel
abroad. Holland must come with an answer, especially now. As matters stand now, it has been
made a fool of and it does not seem to have a reply.
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