TAS director Wendy Jap A Joe is awaiting a formal decision from President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons regarding her position at the Telecommunicatie Autoriteit Suriname (TAS). Despite a summons from the Raad van Commissarissen (RvC, Supervisory Board) to hand over management by Monday, October 19, 2026 at the latest, the director refuses to comply.
According to Jap A Joe, the authority to decide on her appointment, suspension or dismissal rests exclusively with the president. Meanwhile, Key News has learned from reliable sources that members of the RvC wanted to enter the TAS building on Monday in the presence of the police, but were not admitted.
It is still unclear whether the government will extend Wendy Jap A Joe’s appointment. Information available to the Key News editorial staff indicates that her position may have been discussed during consultations within the Raad van Ministers (RvM, Council of Ministers). However, no final decision has yet been taken on whether or not to extend her appointment.
The uncertainty arises as her current five-year term of appointment is due to expire, according to the Raad van Commissarissen. RvC chairman Emanuel Scheek states that, as of Tuesday, October 20, 2026, Jap A Joe is no longer authorised to manage the organisation unless a new legally valid appointment is made.
Jap A Joe: decision rests with president
In a letter dated Monday, October 19, addressed to chairman Emanuel Scheek, Jap A Joe makes clear that she will not comply with the RvC’s summons.
The director refers to the Wet Telecommunicatievoorzieningen. According to her, this law stipulates that the appointment, suspension and dismissal of the TAS director take place by resolution of the President of the Republic of Suriname.
“Given this statutory division of powers and the importance of legal certainty and continuity of management, I cannot comply with your summons to hand over management to the Raad van Commissarissen,” Jap A Joe writes.
She stresses that she does not wish to pre-empt the head of state’s decision-making. “I consider it appropriate to await the formal decision-making or further instructions from the competent authority, the President of the Republic of Suriname.”
With this response, Jap A Joe makes clear that she does not regard the RvC’s summons as sufficient legal grounds to hand over her management responsibilities.
RvC wanted to enter TAS building with police
While Jap A Joe awaits the president’s decision, tensions between management and the Raad van Commissarissen are mounting.
Key News has learned from reliable sources that RvC members today, Monday, October 19, attempted to gain access to the TAS building in the presence of the police. However, the RvC members were not allowed inside.
Why exactly the board wanted to enter the building is unclear. It has also not yet been established what role the police officers present were expected to fulfil.
The incident took place on the same day that the RvC had instructed the director to hand over management.
In a letter dated October 16, the board had summoned Jap A Joe to arrange a full transfer of management on Monday at 12:30 p.m. This was to include, among other things, financial and legal files, ongoing contracts, bank documents, keys and digital access tools.
The RvC had also announced that a legally sworn bailiff would be present during the handover to officially record the proceedings.
Scheek had previously threatened to resign if appointment was extended
Any extension of Wendy Jap A Joe’s appointment could also have consequences for the position of RvC chairman Emanuel Scheek.
During an earlier press conference of the Raad van Commissarissen, Scheek made clear that he is prepared to step down from his position if the government decides to retain Jap A Joe under the current circumstances.
According to earlier reporting by de Ware Tijd, Scheek said he was prepared to resign from his position at any time.
Key News also previously reported on Scheek’s statements. The chairman then indicated that he would submit his resignation letter after October 20 if Jap A Joe remained director.
The RvC chairman has previously criticised the manner in which TAS is managed. The board has raised questions about financial accountability, the provision of information and cooperation with management.
Scheek’s earlier statements gain renewed significance due to the absence of a final government decision. Not only Jap A Joe’s position, but possibly also that of the chairman, is therefore linked to the head of state’s decision.
Difference of opinion over statutory powers
The discussion between the RvC and Wendy Jap A Joe largely centres on the interpretation of the Wet Telecommunicatievoorzieningen.
In his letter of October 16, Emanuel Scheek refers to Article 2, paragraph 2 of the law. According to the RvC, this provides that the director is appointed for five years. Since Jap A Joe took office on October 20, 2021, the board states that her term of appointment expires as of October 20, 2026.
The RvC also invokes Article 4, paragraph 2, which according to the board provides that management is temporarily assumed by the Raad van Commissarissen when the director and all deputy directors are absent.
According to Scheek, there are currently no deputy directors in office. The board therefore states that from October 20 it is authorised to temporarily assume management as long as no new director has been appointed.
In her response, Jap A Joe does not explicitly dispute the stated start date of her appointment, but argues that formal decision-making on her position is reserved for the president.
The difference between the expiry of a statutory term of appointment and the authority to formally dismiss or reappoint a director is therefore central to the conflict.
Earlier tensions between management and RvC
The current situation is the continuation of a longer-running conflict between TAS management and the Raad van Commissarissen.
The RvC had previously urged the government to take measures against Jap A Joe. However, Minister Raymond Landveld of Transport, Communicatie en Toerisme made clear that far-reaching measures such as suspension or dismissal must be sufficiently substantiated.
Earlier reporting by Key News on the relationship between the ministry and the TAS-RvC made clear that the government was reluctant to take such measures without sufficient substantiation.
There had also previously been calls to restore cooperation between the two parties. Key News reported on this in the article Director and RvC TAS must work together again despite ongoing conflict.
In addition, Jap A Joe has taken six members of the Raad van Commissarissen to court over alleged damage to her honour and reputation. The RvC addressed this case during a press conference, which was also reported by ABC Suriname.
Clarity from president must provide outcome
With the expiry of the appointment term cited by the RvC, a situation has arisen in which both parties hold different positions on TAS leadership.
The Raad van Commissarissen assumes that it can temporarily assume management from October 20, while Wendy Jap A Joe refuses to hand over her responsibilities before President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons has formally decided or issued further instructions. This is also stated in the letter addressed to Jap A Joe.
The absence of a decision leaves uncertainty for the time being about management powers and the representation of TAS.
Attention is therefore focused on President Simons. Her decision on Wendy Jap A Joe’s position must provide clarity on the future leadership of the telecommunications authority and may at the same time be decisive for whether RvC chairman Emanuel Scheek remains in office.
