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‘Suriname’s path to international acceptability’ does not ‘run through Vlissengen Road’

Dec 10, 2010 Letters

Dear Editor,
“Suriname’s path to international acceptability” does not “run through Vlissengen Road.” (SN, Sep. 30, 2010). Suriname’s economic and political development does not depend on Guyana, nor does President Desi Bouterse need Geogetown to enter the global political arena. Since taking office in August 2010, Suriname’s new President, Desi Bouterse is keen to expand ties with the Islamic world, China, India, Indonesia, Brazil and Turkey.  In fact, he initiated and cultivated these ties when his party was in power in the 1990s.
Suriname Arab ties will be enhanced via the forum of the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Conference), the Arab South American Summit and through bilaterally agreements. He recently met with the OIC Secretary General, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu during a mini-summit with Guyana’s President Jagdeo.
Both Guyana and Suriname are OIC members. The OIC secretary general promise to visit both Guyana and Suriname. Bouterse will travel to Peru in February for the Arab South America Summit and to Egypt in March for the Islamic Heads of Government Summit.  He is welcomed in Brasilia, New Delhi, Abu Dhabi and Beijing.
The mechanisms for expansion of Suriname/China ties are in place through various bilateral agreements. Only a few days ago Suriname, Minister of Public Works, Mr. Ramon Abraham Minister signed  three memoranda of understanding (MOU) with two major Chinese firms: Cheng International and China Harbour concerning  the financing and execution of mega projects totaling  of US$6 billion. Chinese with cash to invest are given citizenship on arrival in Suriname.
Paramaribo, last week saw the arrival of, Sheikh Khaled Ahmed Moosa, of CEO Spirito Investment Ltd, a Dubai, and United Arab Emirates-based investment company seeking investment in the oil, timber, gold and housing sectors of Suriname. The Emarati company, two weeks ago signed a memorandum with the Surinamese entrepreneur Andre Roy Royce of N.V Orie.  Yes, Emirate investors are discovering Suriname. This is part of the Bouterse push.
India last month offered Suriname a credit of US$500 million to be repaid after 15 years at 1.7 percent interest per year. This money the government of Suriname wants to spend on infrastructure in coming years according to Mr. Rashid Dookhie. Rashid Dookhie visited India on behalf of President Bouterse to secure this line of credit. Bouterse hopes to travel to India, China, Brazil and the Middle East in the near future.
It was Bouterse, the shadow president during the presidency of Jules Wijdenbosh in the 1990s who oversaw Suriname joining the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Conference). The two-time coup leader and now democratically elected President of Suriname, Bouterse; in the early 1990s looked East in an effort to attract investors and tap capital after ties with the Netherlands became severely strained. The Bouterse Foreign Policy Initiative emphasis strong ties with India, Indonesia, Turkey, Brazil, the Middle East and the Caribbean. The tourists are increasing in numbers to Suriname. Marriot and Best Western have entered the Surinamese market and Wydham International will soon open a hotel, shopping centre and health club in downtown Paramaribo. Local franchise, Torarica Hotels, opened another hotel, the Royal Torarica a few years ago. The Turks are also investing in the hotel industry there. Tourists bring Euros from Cayenne, Amsterdam, Brussels and Germany. Tourists enjoy the law and order in the streets of Paramaribo and can be seen riding bikes across the country. The police in the streets of Suriname don’t expect bribes.
Ray Chickrie

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