The General Assembly of the Suriname Police Federation (SPB) on Thursday unanimously approved the nomination of Secretary Superintendent Revelino Eijk as its new president. The switch of power follows the departure of Poetini Atompai, who is giving up his position now that he has been elected as an NPS member of parliament.
Atompai, who has been publicly declaring a political career since 2021, won 6,530 preferential votes in the May 25 elections and will officially take office in The National Assembly next Sunday. "You can't be a union and a representative of the people at the same time," he explained his decision. Under his leadership - first four years as president, before that five years as secretary - the SPB realized, among other things, successful housing projects, professional training programs for young agents, and the establishment of its own support fund for members.
In his farewell address, Atompai praised the intended continuity: "I leave with a good feeling; the successes of recent years speak for themselves. With Revelino Eijk at the helm, the league will undoubtedly stay on course."
According to the bylaws, Revelino Eijk will lead the SPB until June 2026, when new board elections will take place. In his initial reaction, he highlighted the extensive accomplishments of the incumbent board: an optimized service structure, the renovation of the union office, the introduction of a separate salary scale for police personnel, and the upgrading of health insurance to a "premium" package.
A milestone within the renewed policy is the introduction of the 'one man, one vote' voting system. Where previously only officers made decisions, now all corps members may vote on important issues. "This increases democratic legitimacy within our organization and strengthens the legal status of every police officer," Eijk said.
The formal transfer of the presidency is scheduled during a special members' meeting in the Prince Ballroom, to which the press is also invited. In addition to the results achieved, a detailed account of the union's financial position will then be given. Atompai expressed pride in the SPB's willingness to go public as possibly the only union with an annual report approved by an external auditor.
