HAVE IN SURINAME we have very weak institutions. Our enforcement can often be compared to a sieve with large holes. Many organizations and companies use and abuse this to their advantage. This is no different when it comes to our freshwater resources.
The legislation is far behind reality. As a result, there is little supervision of the detection of water sources and the protection of groundwater. For years it has been urged that the Water Laws, the drafts of which have been drafted for more than three years, should finally be finalized and presented to the National Assembly.
Last week it became clear again why chaos reigns in our country instead of law and regulations
Suriname is one of the five countries in the world with relatively the largest amount of freshwater. This is special, because there are countries worldwide with a serious shortage of freshwater sources and fresh water. With a quantity of 158,867 cubic meters of freshwater per inhabitant per year estimated by the FAO in 2022, Suriname belongs to a small group of countries where the available freshwater supply is particularly large in relation to the population. This is in stark contrast to the situation in many countries, where clean drinking water is already scarce.
All the more reason to protect this natural resource with legislation. Last week it became clear again why chaos reigns in our country instead of law and regulations. The mentors of the Mennonites decided to use this group to install a water pipeline for the population of Witagron, where, despite the existing water purification plant, there is often a shortage of clean drinking water. There was rightly a lot of fuss about this, because the mentors of the Mennonites in Suriname know that permission from the government is required for this. Coordination with the Kwinti granman is also required, because the work takes place in the Kwinti area.
The mentors of the Mennonites apparently ignored these rules and played the lifesaver. This is good for the group’s image. Mennonites, who have caused great damage to the environment in some countries in South America, are also a valuable subject to criticize — if only for the clicks and likes on social media.
But isn’t that hypocritical? Shouldn’t we especially point out the weak institutions that, through their weakness and inability to enforce, make it possible to facilitate groups such as the Mennonites? Water laws were advocated well before the arrival of the Mennonites, but no one listened. Even before their arrival, there was a demand for recognition of land rights, so that the role and powers of traditional authority are legally established. Decision-making has also been delayed on that point for years.
The fact that the Mennonites are still there and are apparently given so much space, while it is clear that given the position of President Jennifer Simons, their activities in the interior of Suriname are not wanted, is not their fault. It is the fault of the system in Suriname and the Surinamese who abuse it. If we don’t fix that, it will be the Mennonites today and another group tomorrow. In this way, we have given the Brazilians a wide berth in the gold sector, with all the negative consequences that entails. Suriname does not seem to want to learn from its mistakes.
