Safety in the Lawa area has come under even more pressure following the recent robbery in which a police recruit was shot and died as a result. This is associated with the presence of many illegal Brazilians, who flock to the area’s gold reserves like bees to honey. Even criminal gangs are present in the hinterland. The Minister of Justice and Police Harish Monorath has confirmed this many times.
Text and image Euritha Tjan A Way
Simeon Glunder, the granman of the Aluku tribe, believes that the situation cannot continue like this. He notes that crime is increasing in the Aluku area – the southeast along the banks of the Lawa and Tapanahony rivers. “The many Brazilians in particular cause a nuisance. Many of them have not only come to look for gold; they have come to rob and steal. They are on the river all evening and a lot of drugs are used,” says the grand chief in conversation with the True Time.
The granman has already discussed this “unsustainable situation” several times with the Ministry of Regional Development and also with the Ministry of Natural Resources, which is responsible for the regulation of the gold sector. “But I haven’t seen any improvement, on the contrary.”
When asked whether he has already discussed this situation with the district commissioner (DC) of Tapanahony district, Obed Kanape, Glunder said he has not yet seen him. “I understand that he came to the area once, but he has not yet come to me,” responds granman clearly irritated. According to him, it is appropriate for the DC of an area to personally meet the granman. “Ala liba abi and tiriman”, Glunder adds knowingly.
French traditional authority
The person who has already spoken to the DC is head captain Akoebi Constant, an Aluku who has French nationality, but sees no boundaries. “Mi na businengre“, says the captain, who stays in Maripasoula on the French side and who, according to reports in the area, has traditional authority over the places and Antonio du Brinco and Ronaldo in the Lawa area diagonally opposite Maripasoula. That area is on the Surinamese side and has many large Chinese shops.
‘The many Brazilians in particular cause a nuisance. Many of them didn’t just come to look for gold; they have come to rob and steal.” – Granman Simeon Glunder
Where granman Glunder sees the solution to the violence in more effective action by the authorities in the area, but district secretary Baltus Doea would prefer that Antonio du Brinco and Ronaldo come under Glunder’s authority. “For a long time there wasn’t one granmanbut that has now changed. Granman Glunder is there now, so better let this area fall under his authority.”
Doea is not satisfied with the way Constant works with Antonio du Brinco and Ronaldo. According to him, it would be better for law enforcement if Glunder were to take over authority.
No finger pointing
Kanape, in response to Doea’s comment, says he doesn’t want to point fingers. He confirmed in February that he had been to the area for the first time since his appointment as DC, but also reports that it is not unusual for a DC to not be in the area all the time. “The Sipaliwini DCs do come to the area, but also have an office in Paramaribo on Zwartenhovenbrugstraat. The last time a DC came to Antonio du Brinco’s area was 2024.”
Kanape, who studied sociology, describes his impressions of the area as being of regimented chaos. “I was there for a few days and did participant observation, because I want to know who exactly regulates that chaos. I want to talk to those people.”
Kanape knows that this will be a complex matter, because people do not speak Dutch and do not know Surinamese laws and regulations. “Yet they have permits for which they must be able to read the conditions and adhere to the safety regulations.”
He also finds the situation where the police officers of the Regional Assistance Team are in very poor housing – squeezed between the Chinese shops – not ideal. “The mail has to come elsewhere, but the one from Stoelmanseiland is not finished yet.” The district commissioner would also like to see the soldiers being seconded to the area again.
Information sessions
Kanape is toying with the idea of holding two information sessions. “One in Chinese and another in Portuguese or French. People must know that it is Surinamese territory and then we will slowly work towards a more orderly situation. Issues such as garbage collection, walking with weapons, paying in SRD and complying with permit conditions will then slowly but surely be discussed.”
Kanape is aware that it will take time. “But I don’t have much time. I don’t have five years left.” He also says that the Tapanahony administrative resort has far too few staff. “Since 2023, we have not had any new people to replace those who have retired. I do believe that this new government will listen to the needs of the region and respond,” said Kanape, who is happy that he was able to arrange a boat and an outboard motor for the service.
*read also ‘Police recruit stabbed in Ronaldo: ‘I want to know why he was there alone’
