On the sidelines of the 80th UN meeting, President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons discussed with Saudi Arabia how to structurally deepen the relationship. The president congratulated the kingdom on its 95th National Day and listed economic opportunities, from oil and gas to renewable energy and agricultural exports. Suriname reiterated its commitment to open an embassy in Riyadh and pushed a visa waiver agreement to the working table. Saudi experience with diversification beyond oil was emphatically named as a learning path, just in time for Staatsolie's Open Door Offering to be launched in November 2025.
Simons and Prime Minister Dick Schoof noted that the filing of the remaining treaty funds has been completed, eight million euros went to the health sector and 5.3 million euros to the Production Incentive Fund. The Makandra program, accounting for fifty-two projects worth ten million euros, was concluded and serves as a stepping stone for a possible sequel. The Hague pledged political and economic support, from EU files to education and tourism, with a symbolic anchor point on Nov. 25 when Schoof plans to attend fifty years of Srefidensi.
The Minister and Sean Sobers discussed with Trinidad and Tobago closer coordination within Caricom and the OAS and laid out the idea for a bilateral Chamber of Commerce. This should accelerate trade missions and share expertise in energy, agroprocessing, technology and tourism, while better logistics for the oil and gas sector was explicitly marked as an investment requirement.
VHP president Chandrikapersad Santokhi called for prayer and togetherness during Navratri in Wanica, with passages from the Devi Bhagavata Purana translated into contemporary values of respect, equality and moral backbone.
The Planning Office visited the Ministry of Regional Development on September 23, identifying the vastness of areas, high flight costs and lack of reliable data as core bottlenecks. Trainings for district commissioners and for the Institute of Administrative Officers are underway, a statistics unit within RO should lay the groundwork for customized rural programs. In aviation, the working group with IDB experts pulled off a third workshop on finance and sustainability, part of a US$25 million project scope. The desired model separates policy, regulation, operations and accident investigation, the first steps must be taken within six months, procurement and installation of equipment require an additional three to six months, with the goal of being re-assessed within two years.
The AZP reported only 10 operational beds in Intensive Care where a minimum of 20 are required and pointed to shortages of quality equipment. Acting President Gregory Russia and Minister André Misiekaba received an urgent request for resources during a tour, with the hospital pointing out that some of the equipment can be sourced from China at a lower cost. The promise followed to come to a quick solution with relevant agencies, because with capacity in the ICU, lives are directly saved.
The Dismissal Commission of Health, Welfare and Labor rejected the dismissal request against EBS employee and union leader Marciano Hellings, the grounds raised proved insufficient and union activities and expression enjoy extra protection. The case underscores that public companies must carefully handle conflicts in which the role of employee representatives is central.
The KFC Suriname Night - Dance Edition filled the Assuria Event Center with over seven hundred visitors. The Dance Walkers won the grand prize of SRD 15,000, Twin Flame was second with 263 points and Satrangi third with 238 points. Young talent, from The Minions to the cabaret group The Boys, showed how broad the creative base is.
