DE SNIJD / Armand Snijders
It doesn’t matter which party is in power and who manages the Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing (Sozavo): it remains one big gang of thieves there. Whether Uraiqit, Ines, Diana – or one of the many before them – is in charge. No one has managed to prevent gross fraud and, above all, theft from taking place there. Or didn’t want to do anything about it. This time it is dozens of civil servants who could not resist the temptation and put the money in their own pockets when paying out moni karta funds. Even from dead people!
I sometimes wonder how exactly this stealing comes about. Those at least thirty civil servants did not suddenly think at the same time that they are going to disadvantage compatriots who are already having a hard time. There must be someone who came up with the idea because he or she also knows that the control mechanisms are inadequate. It then collects – it seems to me – people who all form a link in the chain of thieves, with, if necessary, a crucial person in the part of the control system that happens to work. All these criminals have one thing in common: they think they earn too little and want more. They see it as a supplement to their salary, even if it is at the expense of the state.
Those at least thirty civil servants did not suddenly think at the same time that they are going to disadvantage compatriots who are already having a hard time.
Everyone has a price, I’ve learned. If there is enough money to be made from cheating, people will change tack. A well-known example is that of Combé Markt, where the staff is reportedly so underpaid and where there are too many employees who have to monitor each other, that from time to time they join forces to fake things together. But that’s another sidestep on my part. Back to Sozavo.
I can’t remember a time when there was no theft in the department. Current NPS Minister Diana has confirmed that this time a large group of civil servants were guilty of stealing money intended for rights holders. But the statement issued by the ministry really says it all: “The officials involved have been suspended or transferred, depending on the nature of the case,” it was stated simply. Why were you suspended or transferred? If I dig into De Ware Tijd’s coffers with my claws, I will be immediately fired and probably arrested by the police. And rightly so, because you have to keep your hands off other people’s money.
But this does not apply to Sozavo’s thieves (and other civil servants) who – if they are sidetracked – are usually allowed to sit at home without any worries for many years to come, with full pay and emoluments. After all, that is how it works in the constitutional state of Suriname. Over the years, hundreds of millions of SRDs have disappeared through child benefit, old age provision, purchasing power reinforcement and other benefits for the socially disadvantaged, while some genuine claimants remain empty-handed. It started during the reign of the fallen Abop warrior Alice, a quarter of a century ago. Things haven’t gotten any better since then.
Hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars have slipped into the pockets of corrupt officials, politicians and their families or friends. And – with a few exceptions – no one has been punished. Despite the fact that every minister has announced upon taking office that he/she will put an end to fraudulent practices.
Current NPS Minister Diana also continuously shouts that she wants to clean up the department, but she is not making any progress yet. On the contrary, as recent revelations show. The result is that everyone reacts skeptically in advance when the ministry announces another well-intentioned plan. Because you can set the clock to the fact that it will ultimately end in a vale of tears of corruption again.
Such as the new registration system for home seekers announced by Sherwien (also NPS) director to tackle the housing shortage. Of course, anyone who needs it will sign up for it against their better judgment. Due to unspecified ‘teething problems’ in the system, some registrations could not be processed. Technical defects were already discovered at the launch a week ago, or so it was said. It is a harbinger of things to come: in a year or so it will appear that it has not yielded any results and that those seeking housing are still looking for a roof over their heads.
At Sozavo, almost all political parties (whether red, yellow, purple, green or orange) have been in charge over the past twenty years.
It reminds me of the previous period of government, when people were allocated a piece of land through the intervention of a VHP advisor in the president’s office and had to pay a ‘modest’ amount for it. But when May 25 was over, everything was put on hold and the lucky ones (especially young people) were able to whistle for the plot (which may cost the VHP a few extra votes in the next elections).
That’s how it will go now, I expect. Diana and Sherwien won’t be able to change that. After all, they are – unwillingly – part of the corrupt political spider web that will prevent things from ever getting better at the ministry. Aunt Jenny and the judicial authorities must finally intervene and put an end to the gang of criminals who can steal away with impunity. They prefer to be publicly nailed to the cross by name, so that society can see which good and respected families have lived for years with money they have not earned. No privacy rules, they don’t care about others either.
However, there is a good chance that these crooks are affiliated with a political party and that this has even helped them get their jobs. In that case, that party will do everything it can to protect the person in question from sustaining harm. And at Sozavo, in the past twenty years, almost all political parties (whether red, yellow, purple, green or orange) have been in charge – or have had a clear finger in the pie through strange committees. So none of them will cheer if the broom is really swept through.-.
