PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC—President Chandrikapersad “Chan” Santokhi said Monday that more than a century after the abolition of slavery, “It is clear to each of us that slavery, which has been abolished for 161 years now, still has its effects on our behavior and the way we live together.”
In a message marking the abolition of slavery by law in Suriname on July 1, 1863, Santokhi said that slavery was an “oppression that started before the birth of every slave until the last day of their life and for more than 200 years”.
He said the effects that are still felt by the descendants of the enslaved, in particular, have not been limited to the descendants of the enslaved.
“Slavery has also indirectly affected other population groups in our society through social interaction with the descendants as well as through the humiliating system of contract labor that followed slavery.”
Santokhi said that transatlantic slavery set in motion a horrific past. This past was fueled by divide-and-conquer tactics cleverly applied by European slave recruiters when they set foot in Africa.
“These tactics were intended to play our ancestors, people of African descent, against each other and to transport the rejected victims like cattle for inhumane labor to a foreign continent.
”It is essential to realize that we are still confronted with variations of divide and conquer tactics. Sometimes even by our people. But it is more important that we know that the initiative to make us victims no longer lies with the Europeans or others, but with ourselves.”
President Santokhi said that the commemoration of slavery is a national affair, and the people of the Dtch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country have consciously chosen to commemorate it with dignity every year.
“We prefer to do this in harmony and brotherhood with all population groups, including our white brothers and sisters in and from the Netherlands. We cannot change the past, and we cannot hold anyone guilty for the crimes committed by their ancestors.
”What we do expect from the heirs, however, is the realization that there is a responsibility resting on them to acknowledge the oppression and its consequences, to work with us on healing and contributing to the repair of the scars we carry with us until now.
“Scars that we are still reminded of when we experience personal discrimination, but also when we as a people, who have raised the Dutch flag for years, are repeatedly confronted with obstacles in personal and financial transactions,” Santokhi added.
He said Suriname expects that the descendants of the slave drivers, slave traders, financiers, and legislators will “work with us on healing the deep wounds, but above all to ensure that these wounds are not reopened with obstacles that drive our peoples, who are inextricably linked, further apart”.
He said last year, the Dutch government took “a bold but welcome step to apologize to descendants of those enslaved.
“Although we have been calling for this for years, this announcement has taken us all by surprise, and we have already expressed our gratitude several times. As a government, we immediately took steps to hold structured consultations to fill in the paragraph after the comma of Prime Minister Rutte, together with the Netherlands.
“Unfortunately, we have to conclude that the interpretation after the decimal point has not progressed much after a year. Much remains unclear, and the administrative elaboration of both promised funds is taking much longer than expected. But as Surinamese, we must never forget that we, as a community and sovereign nation, also have the power and ability to heal ourselves.”
Santokhi said Suriname will use the apology offered as a source of inspiration to heal the wounds of the past by using its resilience and determination to develop the country further.
“ We will acknowledge and respect our history, but at the same time also work on identifying the negative after-effects of slavery and formulate targeted policies to tackle these.
”Our gaze must not be directed towards the past for too long. As a people, we must move forward with our heads held high. It is our responsibility to make our children aware of the nasty consequences of the despicable, deep-rooted urge that still slumbers in many people, namely to dominate and rule others, all based on their appearance, social status, and orientation.
“We see the proof of this every day in the world news. But this latent urge must make way for mutual respect and tolerance, for the recognition of the equality of each of us, regardless of our origin or beliefs.”
Santokhi said he is addressing the nation “with confidence in the Surinamese people because I know we have the power to overcome this dark shadow of slavery.
“We can learn from past mistakes and strive for a better future. I call on you to make a solemn promise to ourselves and each other today.
“Let us commit ourselves to being a community where mutual respect and tolerance are the guiding principles. Let us resist the urge to dominate and control others and instead strive for equality and respect for each other.
”I believe in the power of our community to make this difference. Together, we can be a source of light and hope for the world. Our commitment should not be limited to today, but we must strive every day for a world in which no one is oppressed and the richness of diversity, our broke dyari, is celebrated.
“The sacrifice that our ancestors made must pave the way for a better society in which we are all freed from mental slavery,” Santokhi added.
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