SURINAME – The government on Wednesday announced that it expects the budget deficit for 2015 to be SRD 666.480,000 which is equal to 3.4% of the gross national product (GNP). The government expects to earn about SRD 8.6 billion and spend SRD 9.3 billion this year. President Desi Bouterse presented these figures to Parliament on Wednesday…[+]

SURINAME – “Election year or not, this administration will continue to work until the last day,” said President Desi Bouterse during his annual speech on Wednesday. He pointed out that given the special nature of the election year, the government will carry out its policy on prosperity and wellbeing at a faster pace until the very last day…[+]

SURINAME – “The government has not actualized anything these past four years and also will not be able to carry out anything in the remaining 8 months. That is the reason why we from the Opposition walked out of the conference room during the president’s annual speech. We are not interested in repetitions and empty promises. Leaving the conference room was aimed at sending a clear message to the president and hopefully he has understood the message,” said MP Chandrikapersad Santokhi (VHP) on behalf of the members of the Opposition during a press conference which was held after the president’s annual speech on Wednesday…[+]

SURINAME – A boy, 11, suffered the consequences when he ignored all the warning signs that have been placed at the Overbridge Vacation Resort in the Para District. Reports indicate that piranhas gnawed at one of the boy’s big toes and one of the other toes. The boy reportedly climbed over the fence in order to retrieve a ball. As soon as he had climbed over the fence the piranhas attacked the boy. They reportedly bit off a portion  of his big toe.  The acting manager of  Overbridge, Susan Wong, confirmed the incident that reportedly took place on Sunday afternoon…[+]

SURINAME/ USA – Suriname criticized the world powers during the 69th General Assembly of the United Nations (UN). Suriname’s Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Lackin who spoke on behalf of President Desi Bouterse send a strong signal to the United States of America and the West European countries which are having problems with the suspected annexation of the Crimea by Russia and the military intervention in Ukraine. Minister Lackin referred to the unfair attitude of the West because “in the past they have supported similar political and military operations…[+]

SURINAME – Principals of the nation’s schools on Tuesday received instructions regarding a crash program that has been put together for schools. The crash program is aimed at encouraging principals to spare no effort in maintaining a clean environment so that the schools can’t be used as breeding grounds by the mosquito that spreads the Chikungunya virus…[+]

SURINAME – Four fishermen were assaulted and robbed along the coast of the Coronie District on Sunday night. Police Inspector Harnarain Mohan, regional police chief of Coronie, confirmed the reports. Five sea pirates reportedly targeted the fishermen. Two perpetrators remained in the sea pirates’ boat while three entered the boat of the fishermen and ordered them to hand over their fish and swim bladders…[+]

SURINAME – Students from the primary school (GLO) and  secondary school junior level (VOJ) will attend  classes again on October 6. The deputy director at the Ministry of Education and Community Development (Minov), Roy Narain, explained that the new school year will start a bit later because of the spray campaign aimed against the Aedes Aegypti mosquito which spreads the Chikungunya virus and not because of the request of the principals…[+]

SURINAME – Justice and Police Minister Edward Belfort told Times of Suriname that the police force’s surveillance with flashing lights is having a positive effect. According to Minister Belfort, the people feel safer because they know that the police are patrolling the streets. The minister explained that this strategy is very common in many foreign countries. He has personally witnessed it during his visits to several foreign countries…[+]

SURINAME – The governments of the Republic of Suriname and the Kingdom of the Netherlands have decided to completely normalize diplomatic relations between both countries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release, indicating that both states have decided to exchange representatives at the highest level. President Desi Bouterse on September 8 gave his approval to Ernst Albert Noorman. Noorman will be the Dutch ambassador to Suriname…[+]