PARAMARIBO, Suriname – President Chandrikapersad “Chan” Santokhi has given government ministers a week deadline to reverse policies where lands reserved for agricultural projects were being given to people.
President Santokhi at a public meeting of his ruling VHP party in Nickerie on Saturday nightAddressing a meeting of his Progressive Reform Party (VHP) in Nickerie on the country’s north-west coast on Saturday night, Santokhi told supporters “enough is enough” and that he had already explained his position on the issue to Vice President Ronnie Brunswijk during a government meeting.
Santokhi noted that the lands that the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (LVV) has reserved for agricultural projects are suddenly being parceled out and that the interim Minister of Land Policy and Forest Management (GBB), Gracia Emanuël,had been instructed last Friday to reverse everything within a week
Santokhi said that he would act if the measures are not reversed.
“She has received written instructions from me to reverse the decision taken by GBB within one week. If it does not happen within a week, you can see what I will do. You only have to see within a week what I will do, if it doesn’t happen. It’s enough! The country has had enough of the land problems,” Santokhi said.
He told supporters that the HHP will officially launch its campaign for the 2025 general election on May 25, five years to the date when it defeated the government of then president Desi Bouterse.
During his address, Santokhi said that the first oil will be extracted from the sea in 2028 and that this could amount to US$20 billion over 20 years.
He insisted that the VHP has a vision for the country telling supporters “Nickerie is just a trailer”.
The head of state also announced several major projects to be implemented in the rice district. He said students will be able to follow distance learning in a modern building, financed by India, without having to travel to Paramaribo.
