PARAMARIBO, Suriname – President Chandrikapersad Santokhi, under pressure from opposition forces in recent months, has singled out the Association of Indigenous Villagers (VIDS) as an example of how society or parts of it stand up for their rights and obligations within the rules of law.
President Chan Santokhi receives the results of the three-day VIDS conference from the new president Muriël Fernandes. (SCS Photo)Santokhi is also promising the VIDS that his administration will pay attention to the resolutions adopted by the association following its three-day conference where the first female president, Muriël Fernandes, village head of Cassipora, was elected to lead the organization.
“You notice that through presidential commissions, I value and encourage positive citizen participation to bring development in any form. You have been here for three days in conclave, coming from far and wide, to jointly consider your future and the problems you are experiencing to make this future prosperous for yourself and your descendants,” Santokhi said as he received the resolutions from the VIDS on Monday.
He said when sections of the population, descendants of the original inhabitants of Suriname, come together in an orderly and positive way to talk about their future that is very much to be welcomed.
Santokhi said he therefore considered it necessary to personally receive the results of their deliberations.
In July, a request by President Santokhi to meet with protesters demanding that his government changes its socio-economic policies or resign had been rebuffed with the organizers planning more street demonstrations.
“Let’s not let ourselves be divided as a society! Once again, I invite those who mean well to our country to enter into a dialogue with us. We can only make Suriname great if we pull together,” he added.
But the protesters, through their grouping, Team Organic, say they had no desire “to enter into conclave with you privately or in a small context”.
