Son of Suriname's President Santokhi, Richano Santokhi, Suspended From Position Following Remarks Made on Dutch Radio Station
PARAMARIBO, Suriname – The son of President Chandrikapersad “Chan” Santokhi has been suspended with immediate effect from his position at the Surinamese Consulate General in Miami, following statements he made during an interview with a radio station in the Netherlands.
Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation Minister, Albert Ramdin, confirmed that Richano Santokhi, had disobeyed instructions when he appeared on the radio programme last Friday against the instructions of the ministry.
In the interview he is reported to have made far-reaching statements and accusations against President Santokhi, the Attorney General, the president of the Court of Justice and other high-ranking officials and government institutions.
Ramdin said that Santokhi has been “immediately suspended” and that he will be asked to defend himself within two days, after which it will be decided which measures will be taken depending.
Ramdin said last Thursday, Santokhi received a letter from the ministry in which he was informed that he did not have permission to do the interview with Radio Awaaz that had been announced earlier.
Albert Ramdin (File Photo)
“He has received that warning. He has received the information that he is not allowed to give such an interview because he did not follow the procedure, Ramdin said, adding that Embassy official was told that if he continued with the interview without the express permission of his direct superior, the consul general in Miami, he would be acting in violation of the Personnel Act.
He would also be acting in violation of the code of conduct that he signed upon his appointment in Miami. Santokhi is a civil servant at the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
“He received that warning. He received the information that he did not have permission to give such an interview, because he did not follow the procedure,” said Ramdin, adding that it is not allowed that matters of the State of Suriname are expressed at that level and the code of conduct also extends to private matters of those involved.
In the interview with Radio Awaaz, Santokhi stated that he no longer works at the consulate, is no longer employed by the government, but is an employee of a private company in New York.
Ramdin said the statements Santokhi made regarding the head of state are “absolutely unacceptable, and besides the truth, not part of his job to make these kinds of statements”.
He said it is “regrettable” given the fact that the person concerned is also the president’s son. “But that doesn’t matter at all in this case. We will take the steps that need to be taken”. Santokhi is therefore suspended and his defense is awaited.
