The judge on Tuesday announced Solomon’s verdict in the law suit that President Desi Bouterse had filed against Chandrikapersad Santokhi. The VHP had been added to the lawsuit. The judge ruled that Bouterse, Santokhi and the  VHP are inadmissible which means that none of the parties has to apologize to the other.  Santokhi told Times of Suriname that he and the VHP respect and value the judge’s verdict. He indicated that the verdict comes during the period of the election campaigns. He also indicated that the verdict makes it possible for politicians to continue their election campaigns while sticking to a code of ethics…[+]

SURINAME – The National Blood Bank (Stichting De Nationale Bloedbank) which had aimed at getting 500 blood donations in one week reportedly missed its ‘target’ which is why it is urging all active blood donors to once again report for duty. The National Blood Bank on March 12 started the I Donate  blood drive aimed at bridging the gap between the demand for blood products and the blood supply…[+]

SURINAME – The V7 will go down in history as the first political bloc to sign up for the general elections at the Central Main Voting Bureau (CHS) on March 16.  Mahinder Rathipal (NF/VHP) and  Hesdy Pigot (NF/NPS) handed the necessary papers over to the chairman of the CHS, Eugene Merkus. The people from the V7 bloc applauded loudly in the Chamber of Commerce after  it was announced that the political parties that have formed the V7 meet all requirements and can therefore participate in the general elections.  VHP Chairman Chandrikapersad Santokhi pointed out that “the V7 has set a good example and that the political bloc will be more visible from now on.”…[+]

SURINAME – The current Voting Act could embarrass Suriname on the international stage as it lacks safety valves aimed at ‘absorbing’ bumps on regional level to keep them from affecting the outcome nationwide.  Jennifer van Dijk-Silos, chairwoman of the Independent Voting Bureau (OKB), is in favor of amending the Voting Act. Given the current ‘composition’ of the law, the outcome of the 2010 elections should have been declared null and void because of the breach of the law that took place in the Sipaliwini District. If it were up to  Van Dijk-Silos, she would have declared the 2010 elections  null and void because the AC bloc had delivered its list of candidates for the Sipaliwini District after closing time…[+]

SURINAME – “Each patient who visits the Academic Hospital Paramaribo (AZP) will receive treatment as usual. The same goes for the medication that comes with the medical treatment,” said Antoine Brahim, general director at  AZP. Brahim pointed out that the financial situation at the AZP is “indeed alarming and that everything is being done to keep the situation from escalating.” The AZP is seeking various ways of dealing with the shortage of medicines…[+]

All illegal gold miners were removed from Dam 10 in the Brokopondo District. Police inspector Rieknath Kalloe who headed the massive operation, under the supervision of chief inspector Stanley Benschop together with the commanders of the Mobile Unit and the Regional Assistance Team (RBT) Central Suriname confirms that the massive evacuation ended Friday afternoon. After the operation members of the Gold Sector Regulation Commission are patrolling the area to make sure that all illegal gold miners will not return to Dam 10. All machines have already been removed. Only two defective excavators are still on the location, because these have to be repaired first, before these can be removed…[+]

Minister Michel Blokland of Health sees many advantages in the ‘Bun Funderi’ project, which was launched in the RGD polyclinic in Koewarasan, the Wanica District, on Wednesday. According to the press release of the Ministry of Health, the objective of ‘the Bun Funderi’ project of the Cabinet of the First Lady is to engage in the development of a child at an early age. Without a solid foundation it is impossible to build a proper house says Blokland. If the development of a child has already been taken up at an early age, then it will be a good foundation for the future. We would like to offer that great advantage to children through this project…[+]

“The curtain has fallen for NDP and PALU. And we as a party have plans to cooperate with ABOP”, said Jim Hok, chairman of the Progressive Workers and Farmers Union (PALU) Saturday night during the 38th anniversary of the party in party centre Bun Dyari. Further, the red-green party is preparing to maintain its headquarters in the Coronie District, while it is also trying to gain seats in the other districts. The chairman says that the National Democratic Party (NDP) indicated that it did not want to work with them anymore. The NDP informed him that it will not enter into a joint election battle…[+]

SURINAME – Just like all of the other hospitals the St.Vincentius Ziekenhuis (RKZ) is facing financial troubles. The RKZ currently owes its creditors about SRD 4 million. General Director  Manodj Hindori indicated that the foreign suppliers of medicines and medical equipment have ceased all deliveries. The general director also indicated that local suppliers of medicines, blood products and other services come knocking at the RKZ’s door every day to demand their money. The people who deliver medicines and goods have made it clear that they will only make deliveries on cash payment. A concerned Hindori explained that this has forced the hospital to only purchase things that are absolutely necessary…[+]

SURINAME – Parliament on Friday gave its approval for amending the 1913 Copyrights Act. 32 legislators voted in favor of the amendments while nobody voted against the amendments. Legislators discussed the amendments until 10 p.m. After the ‘new’ Copyrights Act goes into effect, the only organization which currently represents copyrights in Suriname, Stichting Auteursrechten Suriname (Sasur), has exactly three months to meet the new requirements. The most important requirement is that Sasur which currently operates in the form of a foundation must ‘become’ an association. “Parliament has done what it needed to do and time will tell how effective these amendments will be. Sasur will have to adapt itself to the current situation on behalf of its members…[+]