SURINAME IS IN A difficult period. Prices are rising, government help is not enough and many salaries are embarrassingly low. Sometimes these are even so low that it has a discouraging effect on the motivation to work. Crime is also rampant; armed robberies are the order of the day.
In such a difficult period, people turn to the supernatural for support: God must assist them in their time of need. Believing in a force that will solve everything gives hope and that in itself keeps people going. People donate their last cents to the church or the church in the hope that the next day their problems will disappear like snow in the sun. And in some cases that happens somehow.
Belief in a God, a supreme being, is therefore human, because people feel that they cannot do it alone. We also see that representatives of political parties hold blessings and attend many church services during election campaigns. They pray together and speak to the people.
Some leaders imagine themselves as an extension of God on earth. “God put me here” has been a common statement from past presidents. Of course it means: ‘Trust me, because if God put me here, everything will be fine.’ Apparently God makes mistakes, because the same leaders who claimed that subsequently lost the elections.
So there have been leaders who tried to reach the people through prayer services. Now there is a party with a clear Christian foundation in the government. But he does not speak out harshly about abuses. On the contrary, A20 from pastor Steven Reyme is the party that stands by and watches it. It may be that that party makes its voice heard behind closed doors, but while the most vulnerable groups in society are doing very poorly, A20 is publicly silent. The religious doctrine that this party adheres to calls for more action for these groups.
Last weekend, President Jennifer Simons also showed up at a prayer service for country and people. She sat next to none other than pastor Steve Meye, who is a controversial figure for many. The True Time has written extensively about a suspected case of sexual abuse abroad. His role as spiritual advisor to President Desi Bouterse, now the late, which included a generous compensation, also raised eyebrows.
Other government leaders, such as the recently deceased Chandrikapersad Santokhi, also attended prayer services and gave speeches during their terms of office. Everyone is free to practice their faith, that is not the point. But the church especially teaches people to hope and build on a force outside themselves. That power will make everything right: if one only believes, prays and works.
However, Suriname currently needs leaders who inspire people and encourage self-reliance and action. Our fellow countrymen should not rest assured, because if they do not take charge of their own future, nothing will come of it. Hoping in God and the government is not wrong, but nowadays it is wiser to help yourself first; then any extra help is a plus.
