Braganza Marketing Group N.V. denies involvement in the settlement and relocation of the Mennonites who were removed from the Masonia area.
Braganza’s statement follows the eviction of Mennonites from the Masonia area in the district of Sipaliwini. According to reporting by Suriname Herald, 60 Mennonites from 33 families were transferred to Kraka in the district of Para. The transfer took place during the night from Sunday, October 25, to Monday, October 26, 2026.
Those involved include three babies and seven children aged two to seven. The group has been accommodated in a barracks where camp beds have been arranged as sleeping places.
The eviction followed a police order requiring those involved to leave the area by 8 a.m. on Friday, October 23. According to police, they were staying on state land of the Republic of Suriname without the required permission.
Urgent injunction against planned deportation
Attorney Derrick Veira has filed an urgent injunction case against the State of Suriname on behalf of the Mennonites involved. The attorney wants to prevent the group from being deported from the country.
According to reporting by Suriname Herald, Veira indicated that the authorities intend to remove the Mennonites from Suriname on Tuesday, October 27. Through the legal proceedings, he is seeking to halt this deportation.
When the case will be heard on its merits by the court, and whether a ruling will be issued before any possible deportation, was not yet known at the time of reporting.
Braganza refers to Suriname Green Energy Agriculture
Braganza Marketing Group N.V. states in a declaration that the company was not involved in the settlement of the evicted group in Masonia, the recent relocation, or the land on which the families were staying.
According to Braganza, these matters were arranged independently of the company with Suriname Green Energy Agriculture N.V., led by Roy Kong-A-Foek.
Braganza therefore stresses that it bears no responsibility for this group. The company itself does cooperate with other Mennonite agricultural groups in developing large-scale agricultural projects in Suriname. The company previously announced that this concerns three projects with a combined area of 34,185 hectares.
Discussion also over residency status of Braganza Mennonites
Apart from the eviction in Masonia, there is discussion about the residency documents of Mennonites connected to Braganza’s projects.
The company previously refuted reports that these Mennonites were staying illegally in Suriname. According to Braganza, those involved entered the country legally and the required procedures are being followed for long-term residence.
According to the company, visas have been applied for for Mennonites from Mexico and procedures for residence permits have been initiated. For persons from Belize, Braganza refers to that country’s CARICOM status, meaning they do not require a visa for short stays. According to the company, a registration procedure for a certificate of residence has been started for their further stay.
This does not confirm that all residency and registration procedures for the groups concerned have been completed. Braganza has indicated that the necessary administrative processes are being followed.
Earlier, administrative office Profil & Partners, which handles residency applications for Mennonite families, reported that applications had been submitted on time, but that no substantive response had been received from the competent authorities. According to the office, the individual applications have traceable application numbers.
However, submitting an application does not automatically mean that a residence permit has been granted or extended. No independently confirmed overview of the current residency status of all Mennonites involved in the projects is available.
Government previously pointed to expired residency documents
Minister Stanley Soeropawiro of Grondbeleid en Bosbeheer (GBB, Land Policy and Forest Management) announced in August that Mennonites at various locations in the interior had been instructed to cease their activities and leave.
This concerned Bantipasi, Albergapasi and Masoniakreek. According to the minister, those involved had residence permits that had expired. In addition, the required permissions for activities at the locations were said to be lacking.
The government stated at the time that, among other things, homes and container houses had been placed at the locations concerned and deforestation activities had taken place.
Braganza previously refuted the allegations of illegal residence and unauthorised activities relating to its own agricultural projects. The company states that the work is being carried out within agreements made with the government.
Braganza hopes for humane handling
Although Braganza distances itself from responsibility for the evicted group in Masonia, the company says it sympathises with the affected families, including young children.
The company expresses hope that the authorities will handle the matter carefully and humanely. Braganza says it will make no further statements about the situation of this specific group.
