PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC – President Chandrikapersad Santokhi says there should be more people-to-people contact between the populations of Suriname and the Netherlands, even as he acknowledged an excellent relationship at the political level.
“Within the dynamic nature of the historical, cultural, bilateral, and multilateral relations between the countries, the Surinamese government is committed to further fully support and promote the mutually beneficial partnership between the respective governments, including between the private sector and civil society,” said Santokhi during a meeting with the Dutch Ambassador Henk van der Zwan.
Santokhi recalled that during the recent visit of Prime Minister Mark Rutte, apologies were issued for the Dutch involvement in the slave trade in its former colonies.
Santokhi said that the process which should follow the apologies should be carefully managed and widely consulted and that efforts to increase people-to-people contact between the two countries must be increased.
He said the renewed relationship between Suriname and the Netherlands since he came to power in 2020 had been based on equality and mutual respect in the interest of both countries, referring to the Makandra program through which the Netherlands provides technical assistance to the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.
“This initiative makes a sustainable contribution to the rule of law, good governance, and the socio-economic infrastructure of our country,” the head of state said, adding that he expects development aid from the Netherlands to be used for further socio-economic development in the country.
In his address, Ambassador van der Zwan spoke of the consequences of the Russian/ Ukraine war and its effects on countries like Suriname.
He said the Netherlands would support implementing the recovery program agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
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