PARAMARIBO, Suriname, Newly appointed Finance and Planning Minister, Stanley Raghoebarsing, is urging businesses operating in the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country to rethink their policies so as to help reduce inflation and the burden on the population.
Raghoebarsing told a news conference that while he does not want to implement measures against the private sector, he is urging businesses to stop the practice of driving up prices for services and commodities.
The Finance Minister said that there are many options to getting rich without taxing the people and that stopping the price increase is one such policy.
“Everyone understands that a price rise is disastrous, that a price rise is disastrous. Some people think that banks and companies have an interest in a price increase. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Every time the price rises, our banks weaken. The banks and the business community do not live on price increases. The cheaper the products, the more they can sell,” Raghoebarsing said as he gave reporters an insight into the financial policy of the government.
“The price rises will stop, not with force but with calls from companies that do, to take responsibility,” Rashoebarsing said.
“We can always coerce. There are coercive measures, but preferably not. I prefer to ask the corporate sector to take responsibility. Because there is enough in this country for everyone to earn and get rich without having these kinds of problems about the take the neck off our people,” Raghoebarsing added.
Consumers have been clamoring for the government to initiate new policies to deal with the high cost of living as well as the high foreign exchange needed to purchase goods from overseas.
Raghoebarsing said that the government understands a social program is in order but that the economic program must also be properly implemented.
Earlier, President Chan Santokhi told Raghoebarsing that he would have to submit a new budget given that the financial and economic environment is different from when the budget was presented in September.
Santoshi said that the government is consulting with the business community and trade unions and that the concerns raised by the protest groups are being dealt with.
He said while it is a democratic right of people to protest, at the same time, they must also offer an alternative.
Santoshi said that the pressure of society is felt by the government, and that is why it has decided to change the policy. He said consultations on the adjustment of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program are still ongoing and that the emphasis will be on the social program. T
The government is preparing an integrated package of measures to protect society. Some have already been approved for implementation,” Santokhi added.
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