PARAMARIBO, Suriname, Nov 14, Former president Jules Wijdenbosch is warning Suriname that it needs to act quickly to deal with a number of developments that continue to complicate the quality of life in the country.
“We particularly mention runaway inflation with an undesirably high price spiral, mainly fuelled by unbridled murderous exchange rate increases. As long as we as a nation and people cannot reverse this development quickly, we will end up in a deeper socio-economic crisis,” Wijdenbosch said in a statement titled “Message for the Future.”
Wijdenbosch, who served as Head of State of the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country from 1996-2000, said the fight to change the ongoing socio-economic situation “must therefore be fought with man and power and make way for a liveable Suriname of economic growth, stability, and well-being.”
In his message, Wijdenbosch said that for the existence and survival of the nation, a choice must be made between economic politics and political economy.
He said in economic policy, economic laws become the main objectives that must first be served in society, followed by social objectives. Political economy refers to the circumstances in which social objectives are regarded as the ultimate main objectives, while economic objectives are indispensable to help achieve social objectives.
The message provides the framework for an operational policy to be realized, based on the principle that the policy for the coming years must be based on the political-economic and social reality of Suriname.
He identifies safety, the environment, public health, education, and housing as key policy areas, and according to Wijdenbosch, Suriname’s political task is to bring all stakeholders together to exchange ideas.
He said other development approaches would have to be sought that are socio-economically, socially, and educationally acceptable, that promote quality of life, and that encompass social integration, comprehensive ‘ diversion, and inclusion. ‘
“We will also have to hurry in 2022 with regard to national development, and decisions will have to be made about, among other things, the national approach or individual or group and interests, the order of priorities in the approach, population policy, education, and political reorientation.
“We must have the courage to outline the sharpness and extent of the national problem in an unvarnished and realistic way. A process of rational opinion formation will have to be stimulated so that decision-making is accelerated on a number of key points of national policy.
“In the implementation of the foregoing, it must be prevented that unfounded expectations are aroused in the population, for example, that all problems have a direct answer, that everything can be tackled at once or that “the job” can be done just as long as there is an all-encompassing national master plan coming.”
The former president said that the Surinamese national must realize that the wide scope of financial and political problems and financial relationships in the country can only work through shared responsibility, noting that there must be clarity of policy, especially since the financial problems are more painful than ever before.
Wijdenbosch, who also served as prime minister, and vice president, said he is appealing to the people of Suriname “to seize the content of his message to use the opportunities offered in such a way that it offers a guarantee for a good future in order to improve the socio-economic and social climate in our country.”
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