“I’m not Bouterse, I’m myself,” says the first female president of Suriname

For the first time in history, Suriname gets a female president: former doctor and former parliamentary chairman Jennifer Simons (71). Her party, the National Democratic Party (NDP), who was still founded by Desi Bouterse, already won the parliamentary elections on 25 May. The president’s election, who is done by the Surinamese parliament, would take place on Sunday, July 6, but on Thursday there were no counter candidates. Simons could therefore immediately be chosen ‘per acclamation’.

“My whole life I have always had only one dream: to mean something for the community where I live and live,” says Simons about her political motives, during a recent conversation in her office in her house in southern Paramaribo.

Simons, who calls himself a social democrat, was introduced to her sense of politics and for social issues. She comes from a family with four children and grew up in the time that Suriname was still a colony of the Netherlands. Her mother was a social worker and her father was in the army and was head at the technical department of the Tris, the colonial army in Suriname. “My mother showed me how things can go wrong when people end up in poverty and if they are abandoned by the government,” she says. “At home a lot was talked about politics, and my parents were real floating voters and took me as a young girl to various political meetings in election time. That contributed to my training.”

Whether I am acceptable for the Netherlands? The Dutch government will have to determine that. We have enough friends in the world

It was mainly her mother who was involved in the upbringing of the daughters in the family. “My mother always said:” My sons will find a woman that they are doing well with, but my daughters must be able to take care of themselves. “That I became a doctor was something that my mother saw in me when I was young. One of my important goals as President, in addition to many other things, are to get health care and education again in recent years. These very important pillars have been taken back in the society.” ”” ”” ”” ”” ”” ”” ”” ”” “

Brain drain

Suriname has been suffering from a brain drain for some time: nurses and teachers leave en masse from Suriname to settle in the Caribbean and the Netherlands, where salaries are higher and the working conditions are often better. The situation has become more poignant under the departing President Chan Santokhi. To combat impoverishment and high inflation, Santokhi approached the International Monetary Fund. In exchange for support, substantial cuts had to be made and government subsidies were largely released on utilities and fuel, making daily life much more expensive.

Santokhi’s decision to go into the sea with the IMF was partly because there was 4 billion dollars in national debt on his plate. It was left by Simons’ party, the NDP, then under the leadership of the now deceased former President Bouterse. “I am not saying that no mistakes were made by the NDP in the period that we were in power, we must also be able to put our hand in our own bosom. But was it really necessary that Santokhi agreed with such a radical program with the IMF? In our region his several countries with such a program, but that of Suriname was one of the most terrible capital. I would not have the IMF that the population of property. pinars [gebrek lijden]. I will do everything to avoid that. “

Whether and especially how she will continue with the IMF, Simons cannot yet say, although, she says, conversations are already being held. She promises the Surinamese no golden mountains and asks people for patience. “We can’t go from a mud pool in one step to a glass of drinking water. That will cost a good number of steps. But what I want is that the population has to see that we are taking steps”.

Simons is known as a serious and calm politician. Also during the conversation she chooses her words carefully and thoughtfully. As perhaps the most experienced politician within her party, she is known as someone of the content. She argues for a new form of boards, in which she says she wants to tackle a many -headed monster in Surinamese politics: corruption. Surgeon Surinamese governments have been guilty of this. Within the current coalition of President Santokhi there was also a favoritism and the favor of family members. The current Vice President Ronnie Brunswijk, who will also take a seat with his party Abop in the new coalition of Simons, was guilty of corruption.

Safety valves

The approach to corruption is quite a challenge, because it is deeply rooted in Surinamese politics, also within Simons’ party. “Corruption is something that has been a major problem in Suriname for a long time, also within our own ranks such as NDP. We will build up safety valves so that people do not accidentally go wrong. Think of strengthening the institutions to combat corruption. I also want civil servants to be well paid so that they are less susceptible to the government and I am an advocate of the government and I am a prospect of the government and I am in favor of the government and I am a prospect of the government and I am in favor of the government and I am in favor of the government and I am in favor of the government and I am in favor of the government and I am in favor of the government and I am in favor of the government and I am in favor of the government.

“But if politicians and coalition partners really go wrong, then I will not keep a person’s hand to such a way in any way. That must be clear. That may mean that the first thing that does is out of it. The population no longer trusts politics, we have to get that trust back.”

Simons also sees this approach to corruption and good governance in the context of important future developments in Suriname that are expected to take place during its reign. In 2028, in three years, the first oil income is expected. Large oil reserves have been found off the coast that Suriname can earn billions. For a country with just under six hundred thousand inhabitants, this can mean a metamorphosis, provided that the money ends up well, and not disappearing into the pockets of a small group.

We cannot go from a mud pool in one step to a glass of drinking water. That will cost a lot of steps

Simons feels the pressure. “We also have the responsibility to ensure that young Surinamese will soon be able to work in the oil sector and not only foreign staff will get the job. In the first time we will also have to put on sober and economical. We have to bridge three more years before the oil collars arrive.”

Norway is a great example for her. The oil princes are housed there in a savings fund for future generations and is invested in health care and education. “We will have to invest in those sectors, and you will not count ourselves rich. You will not see me live in luxury either. I have more than twenty -five years of political experience, I have a house and a car and everything I need.”

Zoom in

In 2012, Simons was discredited when she guided a controversial amnesty law through parliament as a parliamentary chairman. As a result, Bouterse could not be prosecuted for the December murders. She is still supporting that decision, because according to her, a conviction would have caused instability. Subsequently, this amnesty law was declared invalid years later by the Constitutional Court.

Funeral

Simons wants and cannot compare himself with Bouterse, she says. “Not because I am distance from him, because that is not the case, but because I am another person. I am not Bouterse, I am myself. Bouterse has played an important role in Surinamese politics for forty years, that is not to be denied, whether you agree with him or not. Multi-ethnic party, as an example for society.

It is important that the Surinamese in the diaspora know that they can always go back

The relationship with the Netherlands had deteriorated under Bouterse, the Dutch ambassador was even recalled. Does Simons think she is an acceptable president for the Netherlands? “You know, I don’t really interest it. The Dutch government will have to determine. We have enough friends in the world. We have relationships with the United States, with China, India, with our neighboring countries Brazil and other countries in South America. I am for a business, normal relationship with the Netherlands, also because a lot of our people are very close to that.”

“We also have to pay attention to them because nowadays it is no longer a guarantee that they are being treated well in all times in Europe or America, by the political climate and the intolerance there. It is important that the Surinamese in the Diaspora know that they can always come back and even if they do not come back, the bond with Suriname is there. If they are a small one, there is also one of them, but there is also one of them there is also one with one, but there is also one of them, but there is also one of them, but there is also one of them with one, but there is also one of them with one, but there is also one of them with one too. a lot of wealth. ”

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