SUBMITTED
President Jennifer Simons’ Annual Address for the 2027 service year contains numerous ambitions. The government presents plans for economic growth, good governance, social development, institutional strengthening and preparation for expected oil and gas revenues.
For the VHP, the most important question is not how many intentions the government presents, but what is actually implemented, what it costs, who is responsible for it and when society can expect concrete results. In the past, Suriname has often seen ambitious policy plans that were ultimately inadequately implemented. Precisely for this reason, 2027 should not be the year of new promises, but of demonstrable implementation.
“New loans and financial obligations must be made transparent. Transparency is not a favor from the government to society”
Big ambitions, limited financial space. For 2027, government income is estimated at approximately SRD 70.1 billion, while expenditure is approximately SRD 80.9 billion. This means an estimated budget deficit of approximately SRD 10.8 billion, or approximately 4 percent of GDP. These figures require a clear explanation of how the deficit is financed and what consequences this has for the national debt and future budget space.
The VHP emphasizes that the current financial position must be viewed against the background of the heavy debt burden found in 2020, the subsequent debt restructuring and the international obligations that Suriname had to meet. At the same time, it must be prevented that the past is continually used as an explanation for new financial problems. obligations arose during her own reign.
After all, responsible financial policy does not only mean solving past problems, but also preventing new problems from being created. Oil money is not a license for new spending. Suriname represents a historic economic development. The expected oil and gas revenues could significantly increase the state’s financial capabilities.
The VHP believes that future oil revenues should not be used as justification for structurally higher government expenditure. Good governance therefore means that it is already determined today how these resources are managed, controlled and invested. The proceeds must contribute to sustainable development: strengthening state finances, infrastructure, education, health care, economic diversification and human capital.
The petrodollars must not only be spent, they must be converted into lasting value for Suriname. The government rightly talks about local content. But local content should not remain a policy concept that only sounds good in speeches. Surinamese companies must actually have access to orders. Surinamese employees must actually be able to grow. Young people must actually be trained for the jobs that the oil and gas sector creates.
This requires transparent tenders, clear criteria, training, knowledge transfer and monitoring of compliance with agreements. If Suriname soon receives billions in oil and gas revenues, but remains largely dependent on foreign expertise for crucial knowledge and activities, the country has missed an important opportunity.
The VHP endorses the announced attention to digitalization, combating corruption, supervision and institutional strengthening. But here too, an institute on paper is no guarantee of good governance. Strong institutions require independence, expertise and continuity. The rules must apply to everyone and government decisions must be verifiable.
Citizens must be able to see where tax money goes. Tenders and government contracts must be transparent. New loans and financial obligations must be made transparent. Transparency is not a favor from the government to society. It is a condition for trust in the government.
Education and healthcare should not come second. Human capital development must be much more than a chapter in the budget. If Suriname wants to prepare for the new economic reality, it must invest in young people, vocational training, technical education and higher education. The same goes for healthcare. Availability of medicines, sufficiently qualified personnel, digitalization, prevention and sustainable financing require concrete measures and not just policy intentions.
Diaspora and CARICOM offer opportunities. The VHP welcomes the attention for the Surinamese diaspora. Surinamese people at home and abroad have knowledge, experience, entrepreneurship and international networks that can contribute to the development of the country. The CARICOM presidency in 2027 also offers opportunities to strengthen regional economic cooperation. This should not just involve diplomatic meetings, but concrete results in the areas of trade, investments, food security and regional cooperation.
The VHP will judge the Simons government on its actions. Not on the number of announced plans, but on the results. For every important policy intention it must therefore be clear: What is being done? When does it happen? What does it cost? Who is responsible? And what does society get in return?
The VHP will certainly support policies that demonstrably contribute to the development of Suriname. At the same time, the party will remain critical where financial substantiation is lacking, implementation lags behind or transparency is insufficient. Suriname has enough plans on paper. What the country needs are results on the ground.
VHP
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