Yesterday we had a tip for the annual speech given from the entrepreneurs pov, in the article https://kowchecking.com/het-bedrijfsleven-van-suriname-en-de-power-van-de-jaarrede/ And today was the day, the annual address.
President Jennifer Simons' first annual address set a cohesive course that seeks to regain trust, organize finances and accelerate tangible improvements in healthcare, education and non-mining. The president began with a look back at the election campaign, then on nation-building, the promise of fiscal discipline without additional tax burdens and a government that counters abuse with modern law, digital openness and visible results; any investment must also strengthen human capital, her keynote phrase said, making the line economically and socially credible.
Describing a legacy of weakened institutions and slipping fiscal space, the president then opted for an austere route where realistic spending, increased revenues through better collection and strict cash control should keep the interest burden of the coming years manageable. There will be no generic burden increases, taxpayers in arrears will have another defined window to come clean, and the emphasis shifts to the middle side of the budget, where processes and controls can unleash additional revenue without stifling the economy. That financial framework is coupled with a broad program for rule of law and security, with investments in courts, prosecutor's office and digital administrations, strengthening of Constitutional Court and Court of Auditors, whistleblower protection and a public portal for procurement, grants and spending that reads along with citizens in real time; at the same time, neighborhood-oriented prevention is stepped up and the fight against drugs, cybercrime and border crimes gets more equipment and more intelligence.
Primary care and prevention will be structurally strengthened by electronic records, telecare and e-prescriptions should make the system faster and more affordable, and the SZF will be reformed toward transparency and risk sharing so that premiums and performance are better balanced. BGVS will get backing for a more reliable medicine chain, mental health and mother and child care will be elevated, regional hospitals in Albina, Wanica and Atjoni will be delivered in phases, and a framework for temporary deployment of foreign healthcare personnel will be established without displacing local professionals. Education is about order and quality, the school year starts on a fixed date from now on, a national education conference provides the outlines for a modern education law and better funding, school nutrition is being vetted and improved and vocational education is growing with strong links to oil and gas, agriculture, healthcare and ICT; teachers will receive continuing education and a multi-year remuneration framework so that the profession remains attractive.
Economic acceleration must be earned primarily outside of mining, agriculture, construction and tourism will be prioritized, the Suriname Tourism Authority will be structurally funded with tourism taxes, among other things, and the ambition is to noticeably increase the share of tourism in the economy, good for thousands of jobs and a broader foreign exchange base. In oil and gas, a modern local content framework with a national training and certification program and regional trade hubs in Nickerie, Commewijne and Brokopondo will be established, revenues will be anchored in a savings and stabilization fund with clear rules, and the reduction of power costs will receive support through gas to land, so that industry and households benefit from affordable energy. In the gold sector, the wheel goes back to healthy royalties and export contributions and in bauxite, bulk exports are undesirable, local processing to at least alumina is the norm. Aviation security is upgraded with IDB support, a modernized civil aviation law goes to parliament, there will be an open approach to airspace and better regional connectivity, and government digitizes broadly with attention to cybersecurity, privacy and digital inclusion so that citizens and businesses participate without friction.
Infrastructure emphasis is on the East-West connection and access to agricultural areas with transparent procurement and where appropriate public-private partnerships. SWM is redoubling its focus on production capacity, service area and reducing leakage losses and working toward laboratory accreditation, water tariffs are being rationally revised with targeted support for vulnerable groups, grid management in energy is accelerating and tariff transparency should prevent shocks. In the environmental domain, forest management, biodiversity and enforcement will be strengthened, collective land rights will be regulated without delay, conservation rules will be modernized and the energy regulator will regain its independent status, while carbon credits will be developed as a long-term leg without losing sight of the cornerstone of physical protection. As an umbrella over all this, the president presented nation-building as an annual safeguarded event in a Heritage Month that connects provenance, remembrance and future while positioning the country internationally.
Business owners' tip: For all this to happen in practice, the implementation will also have to be done by professionals, otherwise it will not be feasible.
