PARAMARIBO — After subdistrict court judge Deborah Haakmat-Sniphout on Thursday rejected the claim of Suriname Green Energy Agriculture (SGE) to stop the deportation of 63 Mennonites, lawyer Derrick Veira has filed a second summary proceedings against the State. In this new procedure he directly represents the foreigners involved. The case will be heard on Monday, November 2.
In the first summary proceedings, the judge ruled that SGE’s economic interest in the residence of the Mennonites does not outweigh the power of the State to enforce the immigration law. According to press judge Marjorie Sanches, those involved do not have valid residence permits.
“The authorities are preparing a charter flight, but a departure date has not yet been announced”
In the second procedure, Veira argues that the Mennonites came to Suriname in connection with an agricultural project for which, according to him, cooperation from the government had previously been promised. The families involved would have made significant investments and relied on their ability to carry out their agricultural activities.
The lawyer also objects to the way in which the group was removed from the Mazonia area and transferred to Kraka. According to him, access to legal assistance has been hampered. He also points out that a request has been submitted to the President to review the rejection of an application for a short stay. He believes that the decision on this should be awaited before the Mennonites are deported.
In the meantime, police spokesman Michel Elskamp has announced that preparations for the deportation of the 63 people, including three babies, are continuing. Authorities are preparing a charter flight, but a departure date has not yet been announced.
