SURINAME-Embassy official suspended following remarks made on radio

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC—President Chandrikapersad “Chan” Santokhi’s son has been suspended with immediate effect from his position at the Surinamese Consulate General in Miami following statements he made during an interview with a radio station in the Netherlands.

Foreign Affairs, International Business, and International Cooperation Minister Albert Ramdin confirmed that Richano Santokhi disobeyed instructions when he appeared on the radio program last Friday.

In the interview, he is reported to have made far-reaching statements and accusations against President Santokhi, the Attorney General, the President of the Court of Justice, and other high-ranking officials and government institutions.

Ramdin said that Santokhi has been “immediately suspended” and will be asked to defend himself within two days. After that, it will be decided which measures will be taken.

Ramdin said that last Thursday, Santokhi received a letter from the ministry informing him that he did not have permission to do the interview with Radio Awaaz that had been announced earlier.

“He has received that warning. He has received the information that he is not allowed to give such an interview because he did not follow the procedure, Ramdin said, adding that an Embassy official was told that if he continued with the interview without the express permission of his direct superior, the consul general in Miami, he would be acting in violation of the Personnel Act.

He would also be violating the code of conduct he signed upon his appointment in Miami. Santokhi is a civil servant at the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

“He received that warning. He received the information that he did not have permission to give such an interview because he did not follow the procedure,” said Ramdin, adding that it is not allowed for matters of the State of Suriname to be expressed at that level. The code of conduct also extends to private issues of those involved.

In the interview with Radio Awaaz, Santokhi stated that he no longer works at the consulate and is no longer employed by the government; he is an employee of a private company in New York.

Ramdin said Santokhi’s statements regarding the head of state are “absolutely unacceptable, and besides the truth, it is not part of his job to make these kinds of statements.”

He said it is “regrettable” given that the person concerned is also the President’s son. But that doesn’t matter at all in this case. We will take the steps that need to be taken. “Santokhi is, therefore, suspended, and his defense is awaited.