VHP parliamentarian Asis Gajadien has spoken out strongly against recent missives from President Chan Santokhi authorizing cabinet members, including the president himself, to take over service vehicles at only 25 percent of their appraised value. The leaked documents have led to fierce public criticism. Gajadien concurs, stressing that principles are more important than privileges even when it comes to party colleagues.
Consistency over loyalty
Gajadien's statements show that political loyalty should never be above moral integrity. His criticism is a consistent moral stand. "We agreed earlier that these kinds of acts would stop. Then we should stick to it," he argues. During consideration of the Political Officers Financial Provisions Act, it was agreed that acquisition of state resources, such as official cars, would no longer be acceptable. Although that law is not retroactive, the intent was clear: to end old practices that undermine trust in government. If a facility is not in the interest of the country, you should not claim it, even if the law allows it," Gajadien said.
A principled stance in uncertain times
Gajadien calls on the government to reverse the decision and still act according to agreed principles. His appeal is clear: political credibility begins with abiding by one's own rules. He emphasizes that it is not appropriate to undermine the moral authority one claims as a governing party with actions that are inconsistent with those same values. His statements offer a rare but powerful example of political integrity within the coalition: a parliamentarian guided by the interests of society.
Context of broader decisions
The leaked missives contained more than just the regulation around service vehicles. They also included approval for the payment of substantial arrears to contractors and landlords. One example is monthly rent of USD 8,000 for a government building in Nickerie, and a payment of SRD 23 million for sewer work by a contractor. While these payments may fall within legal frameworks, their speed and magnitude raise questions. In this context, Gajadien's call sounds all the more relevant: governance must not only be legally correct, but also morally sound.
Asis Gajadien shows that politics can also be about principles, even if that means criticizing a decision made by your own party colleague and president. His appeal is not political, but moral: agreements are there to be kept. His stance underscores that credibility in governance is built not by words, but by deeds. Especially at a time when citizen confidence is thin on the ground, such public corrections are essential to restoring trust and political hygiene.
