Tensions rise in Suriname’s governing coalition

Three months ago, one of the main partners in Suriname’s governing multi party coalition walked away from government saying it is not impressed with the competence of the cabinet and was dissatisfied with its diminished role as a partner.

The National Party of Suriname (NPS), which up to the early 2000s was one of the largest in the Dutch-speaking CARICOM nation representing the middle and professional classes, said it prefers to be out of government rather than have its name sullied forever as discontent over inflation, tough IMF austerity measures and growing poverty rises in the republic.

Taking away its three seats did not hurt the coalition which is now left with 30 of the 51 assembly seats but critics say it gave clear signals to the country that all is not well in the grouping as labor unions and political parties urge Surinamese to take to the streets in numbers to protest a stark decline in living standards. Nearly every major grouping in Suriname, be it teachers, students and others have either taken to the streets or have threatened to do so in recent months, all worried about rapidly declining living standards. In mid February, protests boiled over into full scale riots as shops were looted, the parliament invaded by demonstrators and other state and private facilities were damaged.

And since mid-2022 when the administration of President Chan Santokhi took power, the local dollar has plunged from US7-1 to nearly $40-1 taking up the price of imports, contributing to inflation and making life miserable for state and other workers whose wages have either been frozen at the behest of the IMF or have eroded significantly because of rising prices.

Now, The General Liberation and Development Party (ABOP) , the second largest in the coalition with 8 seats, is publicly and emphatically signaling similar dissatisfaction, as has the NPS, as the country begins to prepare for general elections in May of 2025. The ABOP represents mostly Maroons or descendants of runaway Dutch era slaves. Its presence in government is crucial. Leader and Vice President Ronnie Brunswijk, says the only reason it is staying with Santokhi and his Hindu-dominated VHP party is to ensure Maroons and others it represents have a seat at the table and benefit from political largesse. It is, however, angry with a string of unkept development promises and open sabotage of ministers and ministries assigned to ABOP in the coalition.

Addressing supporters at the weekend, Brunswijk, a former guerilla fighter during Suriname’s bush war in the 80s, said he will no longer remain passive and watch the situation deteriorate in Suriname. He accused the VHP with its 20 of the 51 seats of working to ensure ABOP ministers do not thrive so as to ensure the party does not grow even bigger by 2025. Brunswijk has vowed to become president by the next polls, contending that it is time a Maroon runs the country of about 600,000.

“I am not resigning, I will be there to counterbalance. From today I will make my voice heard,” he said. Giving an example, he pointed to a recently established presidential sports commission even though there is a sports ministry under ABOP. Projects are approved, he argued, and then officials are told there is no money to go forward.

He thinks this is deliberate to cramp the growth of ABOP. If ABOP walks away like the NPS, the coalition will collapse as it needs a majority of 26 to govern. Still, the main reason for remaining is that “development would only benefit a very small group of people,” meaning VHP friends and families he has said.