We seek the contributions of trade unions, individual citizens, social groups, political parties and the business community to amend policy, as expressed by the President before the National Assembly (Parliament).
The head of state confirmed that two weeks would be allocated for these dialogues, and if necessary, the period would be extended, after which two major groups refused to participate in the consultations.
The Association of Surinamese Journalists was received by Santokhi, and through the exchange, the importance of freedom of the press and the right to freedom of expression was highlighted.
The media organization indicated that it is unacceptable, under the pretext of ensuring security, for the government to restrict the basic right of citizens to demonstrate freely.
Consortium C-47 and the League of Economists of Suriname (VES), for their part, expressed their disagreement with the application of the previous proposals submitted to the highest management.
“Before you come to talk about the national dialogue, start by responding to our demands. “We don’t even know where this process should lead,” said the leader of the first group, Robbie Berenstein.
VES gave similar reasons for not participating in the dialogue, although it stated that it would be available to provide concrete support in order to clean up the country’s economy.
A letter from the organization to the President indicated that advice given as of June 2020 and in other consultations had not been put into practice.
The riots that broke out here on Friday 17 February were against the backdrop of hyperinflation and rejection of austerity measures imposed by the executive branch, such as stopping basic subsidies on the recommendation of the International Monetary Fund.
It urgently urged CARICOM the next day to restore calm and to “make every effort to maintain public safety” throughout the territory.
Suriname returned to normal last Monday with the reopening of schools, shops and petrol stations, in compliance with the signal given by the President. However, traffic diversions around the National Assembly and the Office of the Head of State are still in effect.
And after acts of looting, arson, theft, vandalism and other crimes, the Criminal Police Investigation arrived at 19 places to conduct investigations, and as a result, the security forces arrested more than a hundred people.
ode/znc
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