PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC – Police used teargas to disperse demonstrators, who gathered outside the Parliament building on Friday, demanding the Suriname government reverse its policies that have led to the removal of subsidies on several items, including fuel.
The Suriname government says it will save approximately US$10.9 million annually on hydro and thermal energy as it moves to phase out electricity and gas subsidies.
Natural Resources Minister, David Abiamofo, told the National Assembly on Thursday that new electricity tariffs, which had been introduced in 2021, would be phased out in three phases within two years.
“In present circumstances, that subsidy will reach SRD3.2 billion (One SRD=US$0.03 cents) in 2023. An increase and a heavy burden on the government budget,” Abiamofo said, adding that proposals by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would increase the price for the commodity in four phases by 20 percent each time.
But the protestors are also calling for the removal of President Chandrikapersad “Chan” Santokhi, chanting “Chan go home,” as well as Vice President Ronnie Brunswick.
At one stage during the protest, the demonstrators stormed the Parliament Assembly building, breaking windows and looting several stores nearby.
Police fired tear gas and blanks as they attempted to crack down on the protest, and some persons who remained in Independence Square threw bottles and flower pots at the police and the building.
Last Friday, under the leadership of activist Sibrano Pique, several dozen people took to the streets to protest against the measures. On Tuesday, one of the largest trade union federations in Suriname, C-47, sent a request to the Head of State.
The union is calling for several new measures, including the removal of subsidies to be rescinded and payroll tax should be abolished. Teachers affiliated with the Federation of Education Unions in Suriname will stay away from their work on Thursday and Friday.
On Wednesday, the Suriname National Party (NPS) said it had left the coalition government after two of its ministers were instructed to submit their resignations.
Education, Science & Culture Minister Marie Levens and Spatial Planning and the Environment Minister Silvano Tjong-Ahin have been instructed to leave the government as the NPS also announced that it was leaving the coalition that included Santokhi’s Progressive Reform Party (VHP) that won the 2020 general elections.
NPS chairman, Gregory Rusland, told a news conference the party decided to quit the coalition and the government because President Santokhi and Vice President Brunswick have been making policy decisions for quite some time without involving the NPS.
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