The eleven local chapters of the National Party Suriname (NPS) have just unanimously agreed to move forward with a coalition partnership. This decision was made during an urgently convened congress in Grun Dyari. Party chairman Gregory Russia expressed his appreciation for the trust that the party structures have placed in the board and emphasized that the core principles of the NPS remain undiminished in guiding the cooperation with the NDP and the other coalition partners.
According to the agreements made, the NPS will fill the post of vice president, as well as the position of first deputy to the vice president of The National Assembly. In addition, the party will provide the new governor of the Central Bank of Suriname and manage the Ministry of Oil, Gas and Environment to be established. The portfolios of Social Affairs & Housing and Education, Science & Culture will also come under the responsibility of the NPS.
Russia made it clear that regardless of individual voices within the party, final decisions always come from the official party structures. "This is not a new fact already in the days of Jopie Pengel, Henck Arron and honorary president Ronald Venetiaan this was agreed upon," Russia said. According to him, the party interest must come first in every decision.
Russia acknowledged that there are some sensitive files in the deal with the NDP. For example, it was explicitly made known to NDP chair Jennifer Simons that the NPS will oppose a reinstatement of Feb. 25 as a national day off a date that recalls the 1980 military coup in which the NPS was firmly pushed back. Nor will the NPS allow any concessions around the commemoration of December 8, 1982. An assurance has come from the NDP, according to Russia, that these issues will not be included in the governing program.
Allocation of ministries within new coalition
First, A20 was appointed to govern the Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation. Next, the BEP received the green light from the party leadership to hold further talks on its role in the coalition. The party has been proposed as the new administrator of Transport, Communications & Tourism. The Party Council of Pertjajah Luhur (PL) approved the appointment of its own candidates for Defense and Land Policy & Forest Management.
Finally, some important portfolios fall to the ABOP. The party will lead the ministries of Natural Resources (excluding the energy portfolio), Regional Development and Labor, Interior (excluding the director position) and Justice and Police. Party leader Ronnie Brunswijk made it clear that he himself does not aspire to a ministerial post; his seat in The National Assembly is sufficient for him.
