The part-time teachers of the evening junior level secondary schools who were told to stay home as of January 1, 2015 will be reassigned to their posts. The deputy director at the Ministry of Education and Community development (Minov), Roy Narain, pointed out that “the order has already been given.” “The fact that teachers were placed above the formation at the expense of the part –time teachers is due to the fact that an official has probably misunderstood the signals,” said Narain…[+]

The Offender Care Department of the Ministry of Justice and Police has given its permission for inmates to help clear overgrown lots located in Paramaribo North of weeds. Deputy Director Paulus Pinas told Times of Suriname that District Commissioner Jerry Miranda recently requested that the ministry to allow inmates to participate in the project. The inmates started working on Monday. Reports indicate that they work from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. under the watchful eye of prison guards. Miranda had also made the same request when he was the district commissioner of Para…[+]

“Suriname has not met minimum requirements of fiscal transparency”

Suriname is one of 50 countries which have not managed to meet the minimal requirements aimed at making annual tax collection as transparent as possible.  According to the FY 2014 Fiscal Transparency Report, Suriname does not fully report on the financial performance of some significant state-owned enterprise and related government transfers. The executive branch often fails to provide Suriname’s supreme audit institution with sufficient information to conduct thorough oversight. The government does not disclose information about how it awards natural resource contracts and licenses, nor does it disclose basic information on awards granted. Suriname’s fiscal transparency would be enhanced by improving the transparency and reporting of natural resource contracts, providing more robust reporting for state-owned enterprises, and strengthening its auditing function…[+]

Documents that were recently dropped off in the mailbox of Times of Suriname indicate that local construction company  Pahlad Suriname NV (APS NV) has received more than SRD 25 million since September 2012 for the work that it has done for the Ministry of Public Works (OW).  APS NV was  officially registered at the Chamber of Commerce (KKF) on February 28, 2011. Five of the six members of this company’s management team are Pahlads. MP Charles Pahlad was appointed commissioner on May 31, 2011. APS NV is  currently repairing the  Pandit Tilakdharieweg in the Commewijne District…[+]

Suriname and India recently inked several agreements at the fifth meeting of their Joint commission in India. Reports indicate that India has made $ 50 million credit line available to Suriname. India also gave Suriname the option to increase this figure if necessary. Suriname seized this golden opportunity by presenting  several projects for financing. India and Suriname discussed the entire gamut of bilateral relations, including political, economic & trade, traditional medicines, technical cooperation, education,consular and cultural issues. The meeting was co-chaired by Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh and Surinamese Foreign Affairs Minister, Winston Lackin. Minister Lackin was accompanied by the   Minister of Education & Community Development (Minov) Ashwin Adhin, Agriculture, Cattle Breeding and Fisheries Minister  and a large multi-sectoral delegation…[+]

SURINAME/ GUYANA – The Guyanese government has failed to honor a ruling by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) to pay Suriname company Rudisa Beverages some US$6,047,244.47 ($1.2 billion) over the collection of an environmental tax that contravenes the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC) and according to Attorney General Anil Nandlall this is because of the current non-sitting of the National Assembly. It should be noted, however, that the CCJ’s judgment was made last May, which would have given the government enough time to honor the ruling. AG Nandlall on Friday pointed out that “the government has no money at present.” …[+]

The chairwoman of Parliament,  Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, is not planning on changing the current agenda which has already been presented three times. The chairwoman told Times of Suriname that the Constitutional Court Bill will still be the first item on the agenda. Needless to say that the opposition does not approve of this. The opposition wants its own bills to be given priority. The bills that have been presented by the opposition are also on the agenda but not as the first item…[+]

The legislators from the coalition on Monday convened to discuss the work that has to be done within the next two months.  The chairwoman of Parliament, Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, wants to summon all legislators so that important matters such as the discussion of the budget draft can take place. During Monday’s meeting, it was concluded that the coalition still has 26 legislators on its side  and therefore has the majority of seats in Parliament.  MP Noureen Cheung and MP  Charles Pahlad are still being considered legislators of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP)…[+]

Pertjajah Luhur (PL) which was kicked out of the coalition several months ago is reportedly preparing to file a no-confidence motion against  President Desi Bouterse. PL Chairman Paul Somohardjo told Times of Suriname that the objective is to file the no-confidence motion at the next session of Parliament. MPs of the opposition have already started the lobby work but sources indicate that the motion would not survive if it were to be filed under the current circumstances. A majority of votes is needed to adopt the motion but sources told Times of Suriname that  Nieuw Suriname (NS) will not support the motion. NS-leader Harish Monorath confirmed that his group  will not back the motion…[+]

A five-year-old child who was playing with a lighter, probably caused a house fire in the Latour area on Saturday. Fire Officer Olton Pinas tells the newspaper that probably a five year old child was busy playing with a lighter on the bed in a bedroom, which set the whole house on fire leaving sixteen people homeless…[+]