SUBMITTED
As leader of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Ms. Simons entered the 2025 elections with the slogan: “kenki a system”. What has changed since Madam became president of Suriname? A division is said to have been brought about by the largest party in the previous government coalition, the VHP. However, the poor have now become even poorer and the rich even richer. This will not change with the expected oil and gas revenues, at least not for the poor. I mean, it takes something more than a slogan.
Admittedly, a woman as president is different from a man. But what’s in a name? Change of taste is something like change of troubles! When Mrs. Simons was chairman of the National Assembly (DNA), she facilitated the then president of Suriname, who was also chairman of the NDP, to exercise the highest power in the country. However, the Constitution of Suriname states that the highest power in the country rests with DNA. It cannot be both at the same time. Either one or the other.
“It is a pity that the insight into what good governance is has not always dawned on Surinamese administrators”
In a democracy there is a dualistic system or a monistic system. In a dualistic system, the government and parliament (DNA) have their own responsibility. In a monistic system, the view prevails that the government is the executor of the will of parliament. The latter occurs in Anglo-Saxon countries. However, they usually have a two-party system in which the winner of the election is in charge until the next election. This is called the “winner takes all”.
In Suriname, however, in practice there is neither a dualistic system nor a monistic system. It’s neither meat nor fish! The president decides what happens, facilitated by the chairman of DNA. This chairman is also a member of NDP. Participating parties in a coalition government do not consider this an insurmountable problem. As long as they are virtually autonomous within the ministry assigned to them.
Money doesn’t stink, pecunia non olet! It has nothing to do with serving the general interest, but with serving separate, often party-political interests, which are also based on ethnic principles. Colonialism is therefore still rampant. This also applies to state-owned enterprises, provided the changes necessary for this case are made. The government is a majority shareholder in state-owned enterprises. There is a supervisory board and an executive director, a director. This is a dualistic governance model in contrast to a monistic governance model, one-trier board, which could lead to more unity in policy. This occurs in Anglo-Saxon countries. In a dualistic management model, two-trier board, it is better guaranteed that the commissioners and director (executor) act more independently.
A country, a company, cannot be governed without rules that everyone adheres to. Then everyone knows what they must adhere to. If this does not happen, it will undoubtedly lead to chaos and corruption and the rule of the strongest. I don’t even want to talk about blackmail practices in the board. A good listener only needs half a word or as the French say: à bon entendeur, demi-mot suffit. It is a pity that the insight into what good governance is has not always dawned on Surinamese administrators.
Anyone who is interested in this subject or would like to know more can contact:
1. WJL Calkoen, The One-Trier Board in the Changing and Converging World of Corporate Governance 2012;
2. NJM van Zijl, The Importance of Board Independence, 2012;
3. Filia Kramp, The Importance of Governance 2026, also available as a free E-book.
Rinaldo van Rhemen
The editorial staff of the True Time allows readers to submit articles for publication. In principle, all submitted articles will be included, unless the content is harmful, hurtful or insulting to third parties. Pieces posted do not necessarily reflect the views of the True Time. The editors reserve the right not to publish articles, or to shorten or edit them without taking them out of context.
